[stylist] off-topic, circadian cycles

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

Barbara,

It's true that blind people who don't have light perception tend to have
their sleep patterns off because of the lack of exposure to sunlight. A
similar thing happens to people living in Alaska where it's dark six
months out of the year. Alaskans have experienced similar off-cycle
sleep patterns along with depression.

There are also people like me, for whatever reason, who just are night
owls. Part of my problem is that my brain is always on the go. Even when
exhausted, I can't turn my mind off long enough to fall asleep. Perhaps
this accounts for my strange, vivid dreams. Smile

I still have light perception, though, so I doubt my sleep issues are
related to my vision. In fact, my vision has been clearing lately and
bright light is a bitch! Smirk. Plus, I had the same issue with sleep
and being a night owl when I was sighted.

I've learned some relaxing techniques, and often I have to have a book
or TV playing in the background just so I have something to concentrate
on to avoid thinking. I hate having a TV in the bedroom, so I usually
fall asleep in the spare room or livingroom then my husband carries me
into bed. Once asleep, though, I'm out, stone-cold, unless the baby is
here then I wake at the drop of a pin. LOL

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
 
"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

Message: 10
Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:29:02 -0500
From: "Barbara Hammel" <poetlori8 at msn.com>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [stylist] off-topic, circadian cycles
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But I think one's system can just be off just because that's the way one
was 
made.  I understand what you're saying and it does seem to hold true.  I

know since I lost what little vision I had, I seem tired all the time 
because I don't see the sun to make me feel alert.
But some people just seem to be off.  I'm a bit like Bridget in that I'd

love to be able to stay up later and get up later because I've always
found 
night time such an enchanting time for thinking and writing. Barbara