Medical Questions > Mental Health > Sleep Disorders Forum

Why do I find it easier to sleep durring the day.

I have always found it harder to fall asleep at night, It's as if I become more awake when it gets dark. However I can drop off almost instantly if I go to bed during the day, whether I've had a full nights sleep or not. I used to counter act this by sleeping with all my bedroom lights on at night, which helped a little, but my girlfriend cannot sleep with them on.

If I lie there long enough and make an effort to quite my thoughts I do eventual fall asleep, but surely it shouldn't be so difficult when I am tired after long day.

I've been like this for as long as I can remember. Any help as to why my sleep patterns are so screwed up would be helpful.
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replied January 2nd, 2013
No replies!? I have been like this my entire life as well, so, at least you aren't COMPLETELY alone lol. It is just like you said, I am so vividly alert at night, even if I havent gotten much sleep in the last 24 hours. Something in my mind keeps telling me to stay awake. Then, when I do finally crawl into bed during the morning, it feels absolutely and completely blissful! I get excited to go to sleep during the day. Is it like this for anyone else?
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replied January 3rd, 2013
Experienced User
Hard to answer that question from just the info you've posted.

But I can say that normally sleep is controlled by our natural circadian rhythm. A number of mental and physical systems are designed to sleep, rest, and rejuvenate at night when it's dark. And be active during the day when it's light.

Light is normally the key to this circadian cycle, but it doesn't seem to be that way with you.

It's possible to switch this day/night cycle of course, and in fact many people who work the night shift do exactly that. But that doesn't change the fact that our mind-body systems are intended and work best for sleep at night.

What you are describing could be some sort of a circadian rhythm disorder. This would be something that a healthcare professional could diagnose.

A second system that controls sleep is the homeostatic sleep drive, which reinforces the circadian rhythm.

If and when you have these two systems synchronized and working together, they reinforce one another, and sleep becomes easy and natural, in fact practically irresistible.

It may be possible for you to entrain your circadian rhythm back to a night-sleep/day-wake pattern by keeping a consistent schedule. And especially have a set wake-up time in the early morning.

After about 16 hours of nonstop wakefulness, your homeostatic sleep drive should powerfully reinforce your circadian rhythm to sleep.

Taking these sorts of actions with a disciplined sleep schedule is something anyone can do. It might help you if you haven't already tried it.

Still, you may want to mention this to your doc in case you have some underlying medical issues that need to be addressed.
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