What is Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome?
Just as it sounds, delayed sleep phase syndrome is a disorder occurring when a person regularly cannot fall asleep at his or her desired bedtime. Those who experience this syndrome often take two or more hours to fall asleep, which not only often results in difficulty waking at the desired time but also often results in insufficient amounts of rest. It is considered a debilitating disorder because the sufferers sleep patterns do not adhere to the normal circadian rhythm, which is the body’s biological cycle that normally recurs at 24 hour intervals. Because of the inability to sleep at night, delayed sleep phase syndrome sufferers are often excessively sleepy during the day, which interferes with their work or school.
