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DSPS Is A Major Problem With My School!

by Anon
(England)

Before I start, I am writing this and the time is 0:11pm. And I am awake and ready for a run (seriously I could go for a run now).

I am 15 years old and have the classic symptoms of DSPS. The one major reason this is affecting me is because I go to a boarding school. At school the times that we are “forced into” is 7:15 start and 10:15 bedtime.

I have read (Wikipedia) that some symptoms or impacts are sleepiness, fatigue, headache, decreased appetite, or depressed mood. Patients with DSPD often have difficulty maintaining ordinary social lives, and some of them lose their jobs or fail to attend school. Another thing I have noticed, not sure if it’s just me but, I always seem to distract myself from what I am meant to be doing because I am tired.

I seem to have all of these symptoms when I'm at school, but when I'm at home I only have the sleepiness due to sleep debt. I sleep 6 hours every night (at school) before I force myself up and have a cold shower to give me a bit of a shock. Then I am completely unresponsive in my classes up until midday. After that I am completely fine, but I have no lessons then I have a sports activity.

I usually get into the routine (sort of) about 5/6 weeks in and then I have a break and it all goes back to square 1. At home I usually fall asleep anywhere from 4-6am (depending on what I'm doing, i.e work, Facebook) and if I'm left alone will wake up around 1-2pm, if not then I will stay in bed until I physically won’t be able to move any faster to do what I have to do when I get up.

Sorry for the all over the place, I just don’t really know what to write. Anyway, the main reason I write this is because I am failing in school (considering asking me to leave) and have exams soon and I don’t know whether I should go and see a doctor or not? I'm not even sure if I should tell my mum about it. Even though she thinks the problem is that I'm lazy and have no motivation.

**Quick note** I am extremely shy and wouldn’t know how to approach a situation like this, i.e what to say to someone.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Comments for DSPS Is A Major Problem With My School!

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Mar 18, 2023
 Communication NEW
by: Anonymous

I have a 15-year old daughter with the same issues. It saddens me to think that she may think that I think she’s just lazy or not motivated. So, my first suggestion would be to talk to your mum about this issue in general. Discuss and educate on the scientific level. Keep statements to "I" instead of ‘you’
I.e. say "i feel misunderstood’ instead of ‘you always say I’m lazy’ or similar. The latter is accusatory and puts the other person in a defensive position. Vice versa, of course, with mum saying what she feels: ‘I’m worried about you’, ‘i feel like I’m failing at parenting’ - whatever.
Then perhaps mum can help in a more targeted and jnderstanding way.
Alternative is to approach a person you like, admire who is sympathetic and.. knowledgeable. As a mum myself, I would want to be the first person my daughter wants to talk too. I was a teenager myself, of course, and remember all to well about not wanting to bring up my problems in case I’d be criticised.
So much more comes to light in adopting these communication techniques. Hope that helps, I’ll try it myself again with my daughter.

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