Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Rhythm – What is it?

If you have Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Rhythm, then your sleep times and wake times shift later and later every day, and therefore you are sleeping at a different time every night, later and later, until you are sleeping at very odd times during the day.

What causes it?

The number one cause of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Rhythm is blindness. The majority of people do have a circadian rhythm that lasts longer than 24 hours, so if left alone, they would fall asleep later and later every night on their own. However, other factors like morning light and the need to go to work or school in the morning keep us from doing that. Blind people do not recognize this light exposure in the same way and therefore have difficulty resetting their circadian rhythm each day like the rest of us. Light is the most important factor in resetting our internal clock.

Possible solutions

Using Melatonin at the correct time of night can help establish a nightly routine that your body can pick up on. Also having things scheduled in your day to make sure you need to wake up can help while practicing overall healthy sleep hygiene. For example, waking up at the same time every morning to go to work or for a certain activity. Your body will adjust as it catches onto consistent bedtimes and wake times. Bright light therapy is helpful for the rare cases of individuals who are not blind and have Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Rhythm.

Why get treatment?

Treatment is necessary to maintain a job and normal day to day responsibilities. Even shift work jobs do not align with this kind of sleep disorder. One will eventually be awake at all times of day varying from week to week, but even alternating shift work runs according to a regular schedule.