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INSIDE PERSPECTIVES of AS & Neurodiversity |
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SLEEP
Sleep disorders seem to be much more prevalent among autistic people than in the general population.
“The aspie sleep pattern has recently been a focus of research at the Astrid Lindgren paediatric hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. The study isn't completed but so far they have been able to state that sleeping disorders and autism are very linked. The amount of children with sleeping disorders and autism were as high as over 23/33. In the control group (children without autism) sleeping disorder was as low as 3/33. That shows a MAJOR difference.” - Lotta Abrahamsson, ADHD/Aspie teacher, lecturer and author from Sweden
ATYPICAL SLEEP PATTERNS
According to the latest sleep research, one’s sleep type is regulated by specific genes.
“15-25 percent of the population is made of B-persons. 10-15 percent are A-persons. The rest of the population are more or less either one or the other, or something in between.” - From B-Science
· Early birds (A-persons) have been found to have a 23 hour diurnal rhythm (also called ‘Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome’). Usually fall asleep early at night and wake up bright and early in the morning.
· Night owls (B-persons) usually have a 25-27 hour rhythm (also called ‘Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome’). Tend to be more nocturnal and function best at night.
“I tend to push the day forward with one hour per day. The 25-hour rhythm is most noticeable when I don’t have work/school.” - Emma, adult Aspie from Sweden
“My body clock doesn't run on 24 hours. My body clock runs closer to 25 hours or slightly longer. Because of this, my sleep/waking pattern wraps around the clock if I'm not careful. This isn't a problem for me. The problem comes because the world runs on a 24 hours clock as do most of the people in it.”
My sleep cycle seems to fairly consistently follow the moon’s 24,8 hour cycle (I’ve kept a sleep diary, that’s how I noticed the similar pattern), which usually coincides with the sun’s (or rather the earth’s) only during the time of the new moon. In the summertime it is somewhat easier to keep a 24-hour rhythm, in the winter all but impossible. - Inger, site-author
“I work best at night, then it’s nice and quiet for a change.” - ‘Underjord’, male Aspie from Sweden
“I normally go to bed at 6 AM and sleep until 1 or 2 PM. Sometimes I’ve gone to bed later too. And sometimes – on rare occasions – even earlier, though not before 4 AM. That’s what my rhythm looks like. But I think it feels wrong to sleep away the night, because that’s when it is finally quiet. No people walking in the stairs, no cars passing in the street etc. It is at night I can concentrate on things, for example my studies. So it feels really wrong to sleep at night because that’s when I come alive and am most alert.” - Maria, adult Aspie from Sweden
· Some have even more unusual sleep patterns.
“I haven’t had so-called normal sleep in all my adult life, I think... I sleep so that every second week or so I’m awake in the daytime, and every other week I’m awake all night... - ‘FreeSpirit’, male Aspie from Sweden
“I have a weird sleep rhythm, I’ve noticed, it seems natural for me to be awake 48 hours and sleep 14 - 16 hours... doesn’t at all take a toll on me oddly enough, but I’m not allowed to keep this rhythm because of all the things one has to do every day. ‘musts’.” - ‘skruw’, Aspie from Sweden
“The day should preferably be 28-30 hours. Often takes many long hours to go to sleep, but once asleep I usually sleep 10-12 hours. (If I can.) When I’ve had enough sleep I’m usually awake for 16-18 hours before I get tired.” - ‘Leon’, male Aspie from Sweden
· Among those with non-24-hour sleep rhythms, there are many whose internal clock is easily reset by light so that it stays synced with the sun and follows the 24-hour cycle if they only get enough daylight (in the morning for B-persons, in the afternoon for A-persons).
· Others have an internal clock that stubbornly follows its own cycle, no matter what.
Having a non-24-hour sleep rhythm is often an inconvenience when living in a 24-hour society, but that may be changing. Some schools and work places have specialised in catering to those with atypical sleep rhythms and more will probably come. Especially for studying, factory- & office work, there is no reason whatsoever for it to have to be done early in the morning. In those cases where B-person students and employees have been allowed to choose hours that fit their type better, the results have been very positive (surprise, surprise).
INSOMNIA
Some are born with a high energy level and just don’t seem to need as much sleep as others. Others really need to sleep but can’t. I know Aspies who have hardly had a single good night’s sleep in their entire lives, unless aided by sleeping pills, alcohol or drugs.
· Mental hyperactivity/clarity. Some of us find that our minds work extra well at night, especially when it’s dark & quiet and one is lying snugly in bed. No visual or other sensory distractions to interfere with visualising or pondering on things.
“I feel as if my brain has very much difficulty winding down before sleep, so I will lay awake for a long time with thought and ideas going around in my mind. It as always been like this since I was child. I used really like going to bed as a kid, since I could then lie there musing and thinking up good ideas.” - Emma, adult Aspie from Sweden
“I have tremendous problems sleeping, because I find it very difficult to stop thinking and analysing intently. Imagine a condition at night when your otherwise normally active mind becomes hyperactive and there is nothing you can do to switch it off. The thoughts I tend to have are of academic subjects, and the level of detailed analysis is them are phenomenal. It's as if I have been mysteriously administered a drug to turbo charge my mind at night. I ferociously delve into the most minute details in rapid succession, quickly coming to conclusions. I tend to study a particular subject or idea in the daytime and then analyse it at night; and it affects me like a desperately uncontrollable addiction. - Archit, adult Aspie from India/UK
- Inger, site-author
· Going to bed is a problem for many, especially if one’s head is clearest at night and one is so hyper-focused on a special interest that it’s impossible to let it go.
“I’ve always had extreme problems sleeping, and on top of it that problem with postponing sleep endlessly. Could go to bed at 7 in the morning and get up at 4-5 in the afternoon.” - Zooey, female Aspie from Sweden
“I feel sometimes that I get so hyperactive that I can’t fall asleep, that the interest gets so strong on something that I can’t let go so I skip food and sleep so that I can keep at it.” |