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I Sleep Through My Alarm Almost Everyday - And It May Cost Me My Job

I am a 31 year old high school teacher. For as long as I can remember, I have had a hard time waking up on time. As a child, my mom usually had to wake me up most mornings even if I had an alarm clock. I can remember many occasions when my roommates have had to wake me up after turning off my alarm. That's right, my roommate sleeping in a different room heard the alarm but I did not.


As you can imagine, this is not an ideal situation when your job necessitates a prompt arrival (like teaching teenagers). I typically go to bed around 11:00 and set my alarm for 5:00. I know this is not ideal but I rarely even get home before 7:00, and then I have to prepare and eat dinner, shower, etc.

Even when I get to bed early, like 9:00 or 10:00, I sleep through my alarm. In fact, my body naturally wakes up around 8 or 9, regardless of when I fall asleep (10PM, 2AM, 4AM).

I also tend to wake up once or twice in the middle of the night. Sometimes I am aware of this and can control my actions when I wake up. Other times I have no control. Once I turned on my oven in my sleep, another time I ate an entire load of bread. This does not help with my sleep issues at all or make it more likely that I wake up on time.

I am now approaching the point where I may be suspended or terminated for late arrivals. Anyone have similar symptoms or advice?

Comments for I Sleep Through My Alarm Almost Everyday - And It May Cost Me My Job

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Oct 26, 2017
 Multiple alarms... NEW
by: Anonymous

Try having at least 2 alarms. One on a traditional alarm clock that is extremely loud (perhaps a loud slightly static radio station or even an alarm designed for deaf people). Place that alarm across the room where you have to get up to turn it off. The second alarm could be on a phone (or perhaps set multiple on the phone as well). I usually set the phone one closer to me and have the alarm set 5 minutes earlier than the really annoying, loud one.

I can totally sympathize with you. Very heavy sleeper here.

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