Since childhood I have slept 3-6 hours a night, usually no more than four hours.
I simply cannot sleep like other seem to. I cannot sleep unless my body really wants it.
I am alert as long as I get my four hours and feel no tiredness during the day.
Once asleep I sleep perfectly soundly, but am naturally a light sleeper in that I can be woken quickly if disturbed. Without that disturbance I will continue to sleep.
My problem is that I live in a world which operates from 9-5. If I do not feel tired, I will not sleep until I am. If this happens at 3 am, I will sleep till 7 or 8 am and be late for school, uni, or work. The reality is that I will often opt to make do with 2 hours, and go to wherever i need to be.
Throughout my 28 years, I have learned to occasionally survive on very little sleep, sometimes skipping a nights sleep so that I fee especially tired later that evening.
While at University, i discovered that smoking Cannibis would knock me out. I have continued intermittently to use it to accelerate artificial sleep, so that I get what sleep I need, while still conforming to everyone else's rhythm.
When I do this, I feel stoned when I wake and can take a few hours to be mentally alert. This is not the same as feeling tired, just the effect of smoking cannibis, IMO.
Although I manage to hold down a job, ( I have a senior customer-facing in a traditional corporate company ) . I have no problem keeping alert during the day, and am known for having high energy levels. When I have talked about my sleeping condition, the response is usuallly disbelief.
I do not suffer from insomnia, and have always seen my sleep habit as a gift as well as a curse. I have more time to do things, and have a lovely 4 hour period each day when everyone else is asleep and I am awake, when I read, watch tv, internet.
I do not want to continue smoking cannibis, and I want to be able to dream again.
I am I sick? What should i do?
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Insomnia...