Maybe If I Was Getting Some SLEEP!!! Dec 22 '00    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Did you know that some of the most common sleep disorders occur in the late teens to early twenties? Narcolepsy, Idiopathic Hypersomnia, Sleep Apnea to name a few. It goes without saying that college students are sleep deprived. All night study sessions, constant activity, weekend (and sometimes daily) parties can effect the sleep of even the most healthy and active student. So, imagine how you would feel if you had a sleep disorder - and didn't know it. I am writing this editorial from personal experience as I was recently diagnosed with Idiopathic Hypersomnia at age 28. Even though I have had the symptoms since I was a Senior in High School, the disorder is hard to diagnose. It made it especially hard to adjust to Dorm Life. I was always tired. I couldn't concentrate. I had mood swings and memory loss. I caught every cold/virus/bacteria/flu that was going around. I eventually had to drop out, live at home, and go to college part time. I know that my quality of life has suffered the last 10 years because I wasn't under proper treatment for my disorder. I was diagnosed with CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME, told I had a non-specific virus that was resistant to antibiotics, treated for depression and allergies, and had just about every test and saw every specialist known to man. It was only by blind luck (says my family practitioner who ordered the sleep test) that we finally figured out what was wrong. And I haven't missed a day of work since May!!! Idiopathic Hypersomnia is a disorder common to Narcolepsy but without the sudden uncontrollable urges to sleep (cataplexy). There are some other differences also but this is not a contrast a comparison review. This means that even if you had a full night of restful sleep, several times (usually 5-30 times) during the day you would become extremely drowsy. You know, the kind of sleepiness where you would give anything to just lay your head down for a few minutes. And, worst of all (unlike Narcolepsy) if you took a nap, you would not wake up refreshed and alert. Sleep disorders and self induced sleep deprivation have serious symptoms including: Fatigue, Depression, Depressed Immune System, Memory Loss, Decreased Attention Span, Uncontrollable Urges to Sleep, Inability to Concentrate, Vivid Dreams that may make it hard to distinguish from reality and other psychological problems. The good news is that sleep disorders are treatable once they are properly diagnosed with a sleep test and a nap test. It requires an over night stay in the hospital hooked up to tons of wires and a little patience. So, if you or your child is having a hard time adjusting to the bustle of college life and the major complaint is that "I am just soooo tired" you may want to analyze your sleep habits and/or see your doctor. There is an excellent website dedicated to sleep disorders at http://www.thesleepsite.com. There are resources such as: *Sleep Disorder Self-Test *Information on Major Sleep Disorders *How to help someone with a sleep disorder (Great for professors, employers, family, friends, and roommates!) *Sources of solutions for poor sleep *Other Helpful Links The site is sponsored by Columbus Community Hospital Regional Sleep Disorders Center and accredited by the American Sleep Disorders Association. Even if you or your college student does not have a sleep disorder, you still might want to analyze your sleep and wake patterns to determine if you are getting the rest you need.

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