Help me? What's wrong with me?

I've had sleeping problems since I can remember. When I was younger I could barely get out of bed in the morning and would sleep through my alarm. It was shocking... I would do anything to sleep in and I was almost physically unable to get out of bed. My body just didn't want to respond? I also slept walked, talked, slept with eyes open (apparently this isn't overly uncommon in children).

I stay up late. If I'm left to my own devices I will stay up till around 4am and then sleep for usually over 12 hours. I have been known to sleep for over 18 hours in one go. My sleeping has varied over the years... I've tried to change the staying up late habit, but even if I'm exhausted, I still have the will to stay awake at night.

Especially in the last few years I have been getting less and less quality sleep. I toss, turn, my mind is distracted, it takes hours to settle (if ever). I feel so restless. I wake up all the time. I think I also have restless legs because I cannot keep them still - after about 10 seconds they feel kind of numb/uncomfortable and I have to move them. Gets frustrating.

For the last few weeks I have had very little sleep... I have been staying awake for over 24 hours -- then going to bed and sleeping for about 3 - 6 hours, then waking up and not being able to get back to sleep, then do it all over again!

I've never used sleeping pills before, admittedly I want to but fear of getting addicted or something. My mother never let me have them because of this. It's been a living hell. I have a host of other issues I'm sure are contributing... I just feel so exhausted all the time. I can't do this anymore It's killing me.

I think first and foremost you have to regulate your sleep schedule somehow. You sleep like a shift worker and shift workers are one of the groups of people that suffer from sleep problems the most. Have you considered seeing a sleep doctor? They would be able to determine if you do have something physical like restless legs. And then at that point treat that and you might find resolution to your sleep problems.

If can't get to a sleep doctor, anything you read about insomnia is a constant to bed and wake schedule. It's hard, I know. Especially if you don't have a reason to get up in the morning, like work or school etc. It's very tempting to sleep in.

It will be difficult and you may feel sleepier in the beginning, but I think that might be the best place to start. A lot of sleep doctors will suggest sleep restriction - it's a way to consolidate your sleep and improve quality. Most restrict a person to 5-6hrs in bed. So if you go to bed at 12:30am you would get up 5-6hrs later, no matter what, no matter how much sleep you did or didn't get. Another thing to do since it's summer now and the sun is up (instead of the darkness of winter) get sunlight on you right as soon as you wake up. Sunlight helps to reset your circadian rhythms and you sound like yours are off with the going to bed when some people are actually getting up for the day. Your brain sleeps according to light. So if you can go sit outside in the sunshine when you wake up and then go to bed at a constant hour, that might help to start resetting a more conventional sleep cycle.

Sleep restriction can be hard. I tried it but didn't have much success. Others swear by it. But you have to stick to it. I heard if you can make it through the first 2 weeks, it becomes easier.

There are some things you could try to help relax you like valerian and chamomile. Most younger people don't benefit much from melatonin, but since you seem to have a disrupted circadian rhythm, you might try melatonin at bedtime. Some people can see benefits with 1-3mg, I have to take 6-9mg to make me feel sleepy - just start low and work up. But like I said, if you're in your teens or 20s, your body should be making sufficient amounts of melatonin. A calcium/magnesium supplement might help as well. It's very calming to the nerves and muscles and could help with what you think might be restless legs. Any muscle twitching is usually a sign of some magnesium deficiency. So you might consider trying some of that before bed. If you have an ipod or some such device, try downloading some mindful meditation exercises. They are simple and guide you through breathing/relaxing meditation that might help also to calm your body at night to sleep. Decreasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline is very important. When you sleep poorly, your body produces more to keep you awake and moving - your body is trying to survive this stress of poor sleep so will make a lot of those stress hormones, which sometimes don't decrease enough by night time to allow you to be sleepy and sleep soundly. Meditation can help calm the body and reduce those hormones. But meditation does take practice and consistency with it is key.

Good luck to you. Seriously consider seeing a sleep dr. if you can. Especially if you think you have restless legs. There could actually be a "fix" for your sleep problems.