Night Owls Unite!!!

So, I was in session today, and I told my therapist that I have a schedule of sleeping all day and staying up all night.

He hated the idea, saying its very damaging to me. I even suggested that when I am ready to go back to work, I should take a night job since I feel at peace at night. He hated that idea too.

Is my T wrong? How do other Night Owls feel? Do you feel you are doing something wrong by staying up all night?

Hi, I'm not sure how it affects us or our circadian rhythm (we're still working on that chapter in class lol) but I am a night owl, too. I generally think better at night, work better at night, and even feel better at night. During the day I just feel like I'm trudging along. Barely living. At night, I come to life. I get most of my writing done at night, even. I've never felt like I'm doing anything wrong personally. I do realize, though, that it seems to go against our nature as we're not really nocturnal.

I agree with this, as I often do my best thinking at night. I seem more alive and focused, and I drown out the world with all the noise and hooplah that come with the living. Yes the living world bothers me that's why I focus better at night. I wonder though if its bad? My therapist disapproved so strongly it made me feel guilty for having this schedule.

I'm nocturnal and I feel better being awake during the late evening/night compared to being diurnal. I feel more comfortable since it's quiet at night and I can focus on school work. I also chose to be nocturnal for work because I can't work a day time job due to anxiety from people. I tried to work a volunteer job during the day, but that caused so much anxiety that it gave me hives and made me sick. Taking the 3rd shift at night is so easy and it allows me to actually have a job with little contact with people.

In regards to circadian rhythm that's up for debate. Technically being awake all night and sleeping all day when you're diurnal is terrible for you, especially if you have bipolar or other mood disorders. It takes a while for your body to get used to switching to being nocturnal for the sleep/wake cycle and some people aren't able to do that. It took me a year to successfully switch over and now I can sleep during the day and stay asleep. I don't plan on always being a 3rd shift worker though since I miss doing day time activities and I want to spend time with my family. Also like bronzeowl said, it's against our nature and it shouldn't be something you should do for the rest of your life unless you don't have any other choice.

I've never worked 3rd shift, but I'm contemplating it, because I am the same way! It is so annoying and frustrating I'm assuming diurnal is the opposite of nocturnal? Lol I feel dumb, just never heard that word befu

Happy to meet other nocturnals !
Just wondering if you know the time of your birth?
Were you born during the daytime or night?
H.

Yes, diurnal refers to being awake during the day. I was born near midnight, I think 11:50pm or something close to that.

I have been a night person since I was in high school.

When I became a nurse I worked 7PM-7AM for years until I had a child. Then I switched to work days so I could be with my child and participate in school meetings, cub scouts and such. I haven't worked for awhile but my child is now an adult and I want to return to work part time and I will prefer nights or evenings. When I teach/take classes I have to be on a day schedule and I hate it and it is really hard for me to sleep the night before because I fret about it.

When i first was diagnosed with a mental illness, i was awake all night. i had to learn how to sleep during the daytime, then after i got out of the hospital, i went back to my old way. again bcause of other hospital stays, i learned i had to stay awake during the day to get what i needed like showers and meals at set times. i did read a book called Peak Learning that suggested some of us do stay awake into the weee hours of the morning and said that would be the best time for a person like that to study and do schoolwork, or even a job.

Wow, I didn't realize there were so many nightowls that posted on this thread! I hope it keeps going.

An interesting question, was I born at night?

Yes I was. Exactly at 8:00pm. Right after dinner my mom says!

Does being born at night affect you being a nightowl? I wonder.........

No, I don't think birth time affects us. I was born at 5am and my son was born at 11:15am and we are both nocturnal.

Go night owls. Mornings have crushed me ever since I was a kid. I got the nickname coma because, with morning classes in college, no one could find me. I'd always be asleep afterwards!

Then I had a job where you had to get in 8a every day. It literally broke my sleep schedule so I'd only get 4 hours per night. No bueno for a bipolar. The mania it triggered was fun, but not in a "hey let's do this for the rest of my life" sort of way.

Before I turned into bizarro-man, I actually went to a sleep doctor about the issue. She said I had "delayed sleep phase disorder". The Wikipedia entry for it is spot on for night owls. But there's the implication that it's... well... a disorder. The suggestion of light therapy to become day-shifted was also no bueno for a bipolar.

I think being night-shifted is as natural as being left-handed. I also think people who try to change that don't have as much information or understanding about it as we do.

I agree with this. I am on a constant different clock. I got to bed around 3 or 4am every night. I can't help it! Its like wired in my system.

Here is a question I have been curious about that seems like it would fit here. Have you had experience with significant romantic relationships with other night owls vs non night owls. Staying up late together vs. Having alone time if you live together. Have you felt closer bonds because of sharing the night owl tendency? Etc. I suppose any opinions or experience might be interesting.

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That's a very good question. I have had a relationship with a person that wasn't a night owl. I would have my alone time when I stayed up at night and get what I needed during the day.

I have been in relationships in which we had similar schedules and I often felt suffocated.

Being a night owl and dating a non night owl gave me a good balance.

Dear PlatinumHeart and to all other night owls thanks for all the post and responses.
I was born at night and thought there might be a correlation in the variables
of being a night owl.
I am 40 now but even as a child I preferred the nighttime. I would sneak out of the house and wander, I felt free.

I worked for 12 years as a bartender, so when work was over I enjoyed the silence and freedom of the open roads, and found in my experience that night owls were more trustworthy and honest.

What are some of daytime things do you prefer to do at night?

Like some people prefer to go to the supermarket at night.
Or find studying in early am hours more comprehensive and beneficial.
Me, I have low energy during the day and suffer from chronic pain so I have to do things on my timetable.
Today my neighbors are use to me gardening at night, at first they probably thought I was a little/lot odd , but harmless.

I think you having your own time and partner theirs to unwind is great.
Too much time spending me looking at you looking at me, will drive me nuts!
Any comments/questions?
Happiedasiy

Hey Happiedasiy!

Thanks for responding. I enjoy watching tv late at night, because all the good shows are on and I feel more relaxed in the evening. Its another sleepless night again because it is almost 4am and here I am again.

I was born at night so I guess that's why I love the night so much. No matter what job I have or what I do, I always come back to staying up late at night.

Night owls Unite!

I was born at exactly 10:32 pm ...even before I was a full-blown insomniac, mornings have always been completely impossible as long as I have been able to remember, ugh.

I'm sorry to hear that . Mornings are pretty bad for me too

All I can say is, what is this "daytime" you guys are speaking of? I've never seen it before

LOL! That makes sense. I have seen daytime, even though I am up all night.

Another sleepless night for me here.

another nightowl here

not by choice, but it's how it is..

I understand totally. I was hoping to get some sleep a little earlier, but its not happening tonight.

Remember Good Morning is a oxymoron.

How is it an oxymoron?