Autism and Sleep - Why am I always tired? (Excessive Daytime Sleepiness)

Рет қаралды 59,395

Күн бұрын

Grow your mind with detailed book summaries at shortform.com/paul and receive 5-days of unlimited access and an additional 20% discount on the annual subscription.
Sleepiness, low energy, fatigue, always feeling tired?
What do these have to do with autism?
And how do you know if you're getting enough sleep? (or too much?)
I've been learning a lot about sleep recently. In fact after reading a fantastic book on the subject, I decided to do an experiment, on myself. I was suprised at how some small changes made a big difference to my sleep, AND my daytime sleepiness.
🎞️Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:55 - Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
02:40 - What is the cause?
04:00 - What was I getting wrong?
06:19 - Early Morning REM Sleep
08:38 - Hours in bed vs hours asleep\
09:35 - Things I've Learned
10:40 - You're probably not getting enough sleep (statistically)
11:00 - Shortform Explanation - shortform.com/paul
11:35 - What is sleep like for you?
-----------------------------------------------
👋Welcome to Autism From The Inside!!!
If you're autistic or think you or someone you love might be on the autism spectrum, this channel is for you!
I'm Paul Micallef, and I discovered my own autism at age 30.
Yes, I know, I don't look autistic. That's exactly why I started this channel in the first place because if I didn't show you, you would never know.
Autism affects many (if not all!) aspects of our lives, so on this channel, I want to show you what Autism looks like in real people and give you some insight into what's happening for us on the inside. We'll break down myths and misconceptions, discuss how to embrace autism and live well, and share what it's like to be an autistic person.
Join me as I share what I've found along my journey, so you don't have to learn it the hard way.
Make sure to subscribe so you won’t miss my new video every Friday and some bonus content thrown in mid-week too.
➡️️ / @autismfromtheinside
👋Connect with me:
➡️️ Patreon: / aspergersfromtheinside
➡️️ Facebook: / autismfromtheinside.co...
➡️️ Twitter: / aspiefrominside
➡️️ Written Blog: aspergersfromtheinside.com/
➡️️ Email: aspergersfromtheinside@gmail.com
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy my channel!
Peace,
~ Paul
#autism #asd #autismawareness

Пікірлер: 410

@MagusMirificus Жыл бұрын

The solution here is kinda wild to me, because the album I'm working on opens with a song called "Sailing the Bed", which is about doing this exact thing: staying in bed a while after waking up, letting the day come to you rather than immediately chasing after it. It struck me way back when I was inspired to write it that it's a deeply human, freedom-affirming thing to do; most of us wake up in a state of mild panic because we don't think of our time as our own, we act like we rent it from the people who set our responsibilities. But your life is your own, and it should always be your choice to loan your time out for the use of others, and affirming your basic human right of ownership over your day itself is a very centering way to begin it.

@galespressos Жыл бұрын

❤😢😊 This was so well said. It is sad that we act as if we need to borrow or get permission to use for ourself some of our time. It’s our time,

@BIBLE-a-s-m-r Жыл бұрын

Wow❤

@zennomad258 Жыл бұрын

Amen to that

@sayusayme7729 Жыл бұрын

Wow, going to try this. Thanks

@missmayflower Жыл бұрын

Yes, as a retired person, I’m learning this. I don’t hop out of bed anymore. I just lay there, maybe do stretches and just enjoy not having to rush.

@misterbulger 10 ай бұрын

I call it the "forbidden sleep" which is when i have to wake up early to do something but then I just go back to bed. That is by far the best sleep.

@InsideAut Жыл бұрын

I'm an autistic person from Germany and I mostly experience a good, continuous sleep without waking up and not be able to sleep again. But my problem is to go to bed in time. I regenerate and get my energy from about 9 hours of sleep per night, so sleeping enough is important, if I want to start as refreshed as possible on the next day. But when I go to bed late these crucial hours are missing and I feel exhausted. For this reason keeping my routines is all the more important, so I can go to bed in time.

@anniestumpy9918 Жыл бұрын

Hi Nico! Im watching your channel too, nice to see you here! As long as your sleep is good, just be grateful and don't waste another thought about it. Just consider yourself lucky :) Greetings, a person with horrible sleeping...

@InsideAut Жыл бұрын

@@anniestumpy9918 Oh yes, I'm very grateful for that 😊

@victoria_m13 Жыл бұрын

i have exactly the same problem. so now i shut every psycho-activity for two-three hours before going to sleep. on that condition i manage to fall asleep well and sleep without dreams

@Step_on_a_lego 2 ай бұрын

Are you familiar with Circadian Rhythm? It sound like you may have figured out what yours is, and how to take care of your body in the way it prefers

@anniestumpy9918 Жыл бұрын

I recently had an interesting and unexpected - almost wanna call it - revelation when I had a talk with a psychologist at the employment center. She incidentally was also kind of an expert in autism and we had a little talk about that too. And her explanation why I always feel so exhausted and need a lot of sleep (especially after a day with social interaction) was the sensory filter problems that a lot of autistics have. (For me, amongst other things, this is the auditive aspect). She said that the unfiltered sensory input is taking such a toll on the brain (like running a marathon does on the muscles) that it leads to this exhaustion. I don't know if this is scientifically confirmed but it sure did make a lot of sense to me!

@needles1975 Жыл бұрын

hello my name is Stephen S. Rodrigues, MD, Family Doctor 40 years, I finished medical school in 1983, Howard University College of medicine Washington DC learned my lessons well from 100s all bold brave bodacious black marvelous majestic magnanimous miraculous matriarchs natural born Masters of medicine midwifery taught me how to treat the deadliest event in existence sudden-death of pregnancy with megadoses of magnesium tenderness loyalty and compassion. I've been giving this message out continuously for 40 years I'm tired I cannot care more about saving children's lives from their parents then their parents so here's the recipe ... I never considered trying to persuade females that a good night sleep is worth awaiting goal and working for money will accelerate your death from postpartum depression, sleep deprivation, malnutrition, mineral depletion, parasitism cannibalism neuromuscular metastatic cancer failure leading to multi-organs systems shut down sudden death no treatment you and your baby are dead no afterlife just being recycled into the ecosystems just like any other animal. Don't forget this is blue planet, animal planet, predators versus prey, kill to eat be killed and eaten continuously in play. Humans must never kill and eat our own family members like in war Jeffrey Dahmer Doctor Death of Dallas Jack the Ripper or treat mothers like Europeans treat witches hanging by the neck until dead or dunking them in cold water and if they survive proving their oil witch so you have to kill them anyway and all moms needs can be fulfilled with a free guaranteed good night sleep. C'est la vie so Eradicating Americanism is actually naturally biologically of pregnancy 3-year-old common sense simple 3 steps simultaneously 1-2-3 1. put females in charge of the health and well-being of females all learned about pregnancy, egg + sperm -> New life ignited within females fallopian tubes, muscles meat motor locomotive engines generating manpower heat steam 37°C she energy force of life incubating our species existence in every females pelvis ovaries both sexes, guardians of DNA, the embodiment of God. 2. All receive 5 TLCs per day basic survival life supports for free for eternity. 34 TLCs per day will fulfill God's will just takes a little sweat equity muscle power. And all 8 billion of us learn understand and comprehend and self-master DIY Acupuncture. the link explains why. 3. Lots of bicycles and ear protection. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pduAkq5prMCZg2w.html

@needles1975 Жыл бұрын

Autism is due to Americanism. So the solution to autism is to eradicate Americanism. I've been put in jail trying to explain to females that money does not exist so you do not have to work for money. Who am I to sacrifice my life for God's will?? Whatever females design and live by ... that is God's will! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/p7ajgqdm3bK9Y3k.html

@misschieflolz1301 Жыл бұрын

I consider this when I attend anime conventions. While it IS something I enjoy, the sheer amount of stimulation sustained on the brain is ridiculous. I've gone as far as planning as much as I can in advance for 'break times' which involves finding the quietest areas to decompress. It isn't always an option so, you take what you can get. Regardless of this I will be absolutely exhausted for a solid week after a 2 - 3 day con weekend. Similarly to this I'm now in talks with occupational health at work because the rota is playing hell on my sleeping habits and the amount of days working vs not, break/lunchtimes are hindering me at a fundamental level and bringing about anxiety making my performance terrible. They can't use autism since I haven't got my diagnosis yet despite having fought for the past 15 years for it

@ajkooper Жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing this. Makes sense.

@ZhovtoBlakytniy Жыл бұрын

For me I'm just so exhausted from everything that I sleep better, like a kid that had a long day at the playground. It's the nights that I'm playing a thousand scenarios in my head or hyperfocusing into the night that makes me exhausted the next day. Even if I go to sleep at a good time I will wake up and think about things.

@dazryan3463 Жыл бұрын

I can so relate to this topic. That extra time after 'waking up' before I get out of bed is like drifting in and out of sleep but really affects how my day goes

@Rasmus230100 Жыл бұрын

It’s fun because, I’m the person who needs 9+ hours of sleep every night. I can still function on 7-8 hours, but my mental state is way worse and I get drained of energy way faster further down the day. So to me sleep is key to a happy me :)

@blackbird9521 Жыл бұрын

100%

@sokawai5 10 ай бұрын

I get 11 hours of sleep. Whether I sleep late or sleep early

@stephenmarsh3986 Жыл бұрын

I'm sure it has been proved that people can be early birds and others are night owls. It's wired in to each individual. The problem for night owls is that most work means getting up early and so we have to conform with the early birds who seem to dominate in number. I've always had issues with early starts and I'm most productive and creative at night when everyone else has switched off. However, I can't always stay up late into the early hours because of the demands of work or everyone else expecting me to be up and about and doing things. I often wish I lived miles away on my own somewhere, no clocks, no demands, no intrusions. Heaven. Dream on! 🖖

@dariusparris2698 Жыл бұрын

I wish there weren’t any clocks in existence. I rather work on my own clock.

@nancyneyedly4587 Жыл бұрын

kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ldGKicV2xMnTg3U.html This is a great video about night owls and the problem with the very outdated notion that waking up early is some kind of virtue. We are perpetually jet lagged by conforming to early bird schedules. So we must make change, and get rid of this "early bird" notion. Lets normalize being productive when we are productive and stop "bragging" about getting up before the sun is up but going to bed right after dinner. It's an antiquated notion, and it needs to die.

@ajkooper Жыл бұрын

The division between night owls and morning birds is roughly 50-50 and seems to be largely embedded in one's dna. From an evolutionairy standpoint this makes sense as there would be an overlap where there were always people awake in the tribe to keep an eye out for danger. If you really feel you're a night owl it will be hard to conform to a morning bird routine and vice versa. It is however possible that your internal sleep cycle shifts with age.

@lindsaysheffield Жыл бұрын

Same same - I do my best work in the wee hours of the morning when everyone else is asleep…I used to have a job that I had to be there at 7 AM and my sleep disorder (diagnosed with hypersomnia) went into overdrive. I can do it once it twice but not on a daily basis.

@alchemiaofficial1464 Жыл бұрын

I’m on the spectrum, and my sleep issues tend to come from my sensory issues. I can feel, smell, hear everything. I may be exhausted, but every little thing still keeps me up.

@OliviaWood14 Жыл бұрын

I have found that earplugs (and making sure all doors in my flat are closed so I can't hear the fridge as well), a sleep mask and spraying my pillow with some kind of relaxing smell can help with that. (Except for the days on which I can't deal with the feeling of the earplugs....)

@lindsaysheffield Жыл бұрын

My parents run Roomba in the middle of the night so it “won’t bother anyone” …except me, and I don’t matter 🙄 Even with noise-cancelling headphones it’s like Chinese water torture, waiting for it to hit a wall at random intervals…and heaven forbid it gets stuck somewhere and starts talking. They just left for a 5 week vacation and I turned the schedule off…and no one is waking up at 6:30 slamming doors and laughing and whatever else they can do to shatter my nerves.

@jellybeansi Жыл бұрын

I'm not officially diagnosed, but I'm certain I'm on the spectrum. Clonidine, recommended by my psychiatrist, has been a lifesaver for my own hypervigilance and sensitivity when trying to fall asleep. One of its off-label uses revolves around calming the central nervous system, and turning down the "knob" for being overstimulated. Maybe ask a doctor about it?

@turtleanton6539 Жыл бұрын

I listen to audiobooks

@chesspiece4257 Жыл бұрын

i have a white noise machine that keeps the silence from being too loud when i need to sleep

@Dancestar1981 Жыл бұрын

Executive functioning challenges having to mask all the time stress RSD and autistic burnout no wonder we suffer worse than someone with chronic fatigue syndrome. I’ve had all the tests under the sun to check medically for answers and they all come back normal.

@tiddlypom2097 Жыл бұрын

My tests come back not exactly normal, but "subclinical". I've just been told by my new GP that B12 tests are notoriously inaccurate. I have been asking for years to try B12 injections, since I know several people who have found these to be what they needed - and my tested levels are never very good. This is the first GP who has actually agreed it was worth trying, and I've just had my first. 🤞

@UnicornUniverse333 Жыл бұрын

Um try having chronic fatigue syndrome, which btw is very grave because it's a lazy AF diagnostic label without diagnosing the actual illness! Try having chronic fatigue syndrome while also being undiagnosed autistic. Chronic fatigue syndrome + autistic burnout. 5 years. Still recovering still not ok. It was all not ok.

@UnicornUniverse333 Жыл бұрын

I also had tests come back negative, very dehumanizing experience to be so ill and told there's nothing wrong with you lol. Acupressure mats saved my life! I highly recommend acupressure mats for chronic fatigue and autistic burnout and everything

@SusanS46 Жыл бұрын

@@tiddlypom2097 Thanks for this! I've recently been taking 1 sublingual 2500 mcg B12 tablet each morning (my GP had recommended it, not for sleep but because of some recent anemia), and after a week am sleeping far better than I had been; this includes waking up refreshed and able to function better in every respect. Other changes I've made have also helped--most importantly winding down before going to bed and forcing myself to stick to a daily routine--but maybe the additional of B12 has been complementing them! I'm sleeping well enough now that I don't want to go back to assiduously controlling for independent variables.😉

@Catlily5 Жыл бұрын

Check into POTS if you are diagnosed with CFS and also have problems with dizziness and shortness of breath. There is a medical test for it and it is more common in people with autism.

@hartleymartin Жыл бұрын

Sleep has ALWAYS been a challenge for me. Part of the problem is that it sometimes takes hours laying in bed before I actually fall asleep so I might only get 4 hours of actual sleep before a family member wakes me up and tells me off for sleeping too much and being lazy. If I have more than a couple of nights of bad sleep I end up with migraines that can put me to bed for days at a time.

@lindsaysheffield Жыл бұрын

Gotta love family members who think sleeping at non-traditional times is us being “lazy” - I have diagnosed Sleep disorders and I still just need to “try harder” to sleep at normal times.

@timtreefrog9646 Жыл бұрын

You are keeping yourself in an alpha state which is similar to meditation for that extra hour. It is very beneficial for stress, it brings a sense of calm, enhances creativity etc. You don’t need to be in full delta or theta (sleep states) to gain benefits. You can actually prolong the beneficial alpha state by moving slowly when you DO have to get up. Also do not look at your phone when you wake up, this slams you straight into beta and then it is game over for beneficial alpha. .

@missmayflower Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tips.

@klarafly7197 Жыл бұрын

And in this in-between state many times I get insights and good ideas.

@ShanesSquirrelShack Жыл бұрын

I’m autistic and literally just woke up from a nap to watch this. I’m very routine based with when I go to sleep. Even with 7.5-8hr I still get really sleepy for no reason still during the day.

@misskelevra Жыл бұрын

Maybe 7.5-8 hr sleep just isn't enough for you? I sleep between 9-10 hours a night 👍

@jordangarton2478 Жыл бұрын

I also just woke from a nap to watch this 😅 I usually get between 6-8 hours but lately I've been needing at *least* another 4 hour nap during the day 😵The other night, I'd slept for 7 hours and had *2* 4-hour naps that day 😬😬 I'm really tired of being this tired. 😭

@Fall_Spectacular Жыл бұрын

I am chronically tired

@Dustbuster725 Жыл бұрын

SAME! It’s a relief to know there are other Autistic people that also have idiopathic hypersomnia (you’re excessively tired and we don’t know why so sorry?). I did the same tests and everything. The only difference is I have IH with long sleep time, meaning sleeping 10-11 hours actually feels better to me than 7-9 hours. Awesome video!

@mynz4464 Жыл бұрын

I also have IH and am on the spectrum.

@mynz4464 Жыл бұрын

I also have IH and am on the spectrum.

@sirgalah561 Жыл бұрын

Whats IH?

@mynz4464 Жыл бұрын

@@sirgalah561 Idiopathic Hypersomnia. It's similar to narcolepsy somewhat. Basic explanation is you need way more sleep than most ppl do, and so you're always sleep-deprived.

@charlotta5660 Жыл бұрын

This is really interesting! I have idiopathic hypersomnia but no autism diagnosis, although I've begun to wonder if maybe I might be autistic.

@LionessHiker Жыл бұрын

I was diagnosed with insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy 15 years ago and just recently learned that I am likely autistic. (On a waIting list to get an appointment for adult autism diagnosis.) I have tested strongly positive for autism on several online tests. I have suffered with depression and ADD since I was a young adult. Just learned that sleep disorders are common with ASD. Wow! I only wish I had known so much sooner. I will be 61 next month. I think I would have not been so harsh on myself. I never understood why I was such a social dunce.

@Cubs-Den-Reactions Жыл бұрын

Grateful you’re learning more about yourself, sorry you lost out on time, but hope you’re able now to learn to work with it. I’m 34 and my last 3-4 months have been very similar with the high self assessments, learning more about myself and that others experience the same things… I hope for both of us, that we use what we’re learning as more information about how to take care of ourselves… good luck fellow struggler… we’re not alone 😢

@LionessHiker Жыл бұрын

@@Cubs-Den-Reactions Blessings to you, I hope the same. I have walked an hour or two intermittently over the past ten years. Started again as I hope to hike the AT. Just saw a study proved that walking 10,000 steps per day can alleviate depression and sleep issues. I am up to 5 miles a day. The depression is lifting and I suspect that sleep will improve over time.

@bernadettesavage4786 Жыл бұрын

That’s really interesting about the idea of laying in bed for an extra hour. Coincidentally I recently started putting music on as the first sensory input when I am in that initial semi awake dream state. I put songs on that set my emotions positively for the day and really give me a nice ecstatic energised feeling waking up. It has really improved the outcome of my day.

@techagaufururipaws1883 Жыл бұрын

Wow, that means why I feel so tired when I don't get my extra hour sleep in the morning. Thank you for the video, I'm always worried about sleeping too much, but this is key to understand how my body works. Thank you a lot Paul.

@dopaminecloud Жыл бұрын

I have difficulty telling apart "being tired" and "being burned out". They have the same physical information.

@heathermalone Жыл бұрын

This has been a major issue for me too, thank you for raising it. I think I might either be nocturnal or have a non-24-hour sleep wake cycle. Both mean I am out of alignment with the rest of society (as if being autistic wasn't enough!) but I'm definitely healthier when I put my own needs first. I have no problem sleeping when I need to, but I have had trouble sleeping to a "normal" schedule, and also excessive daytime sleepiness (not so much during nocturnal hours - possibly because of reduced expectations & sensory stimulation). Hadn't realised that about early morning REM sleep (although it might not technically be "morning" for me, I will translate it to mean when I wake up). Might check out that book you mentioned too, thanks!

@aquababe7 Жыл бұрын

I'm nocturnal too! I'm just going to sleep how my body wants me to and have my lifestyle follow accordoingly. Most people don't understand and think I just need a routine, but nomatter what I do, I am a hardcore night owl and I'm okay with that.

@joskeguereza3714 Жыл бұрын

i have sort of the same problem, if i only listen to my body, then i wake up and go to bed an hour later than the day before, day after day, with the result that my day rotates around the clock in a period of 3-4 weeks. Forcing myself to try to sleep "in time" and wake up with an alarm just leads to being totally exhausted after a few weeks because i end up getting only 3-4 hours per night anymore.

@frederik0014 Жыл бұрын

@@joskeguereza3714 Do you get (early morning) sunlight exposure? I had the same kind of issues, but found going for a 10-30 minute (the lower the light intensity the more time you should spend outside) walk outside, right after getting out of bed helps me anchor my day/night rhythm, as it should (according to theory).. Ideally do it again around sunset, but morning is most important.

@joskeguereza3714 Жыл бұрын

@@frederik0014 i do but it doesn't seem to have much effect for me.

@victorhugotoledocofre1366 Жыл бұрын

Years ago when I used to work as a linguistics professor, intelectual demand to my brain was so high I used to sleep 9-10 hours a day. Now things have taken a bit of a turn for me and I work as a toilet cleaning janitor, with very little physical demand (and no intelectual demand whatsoever), and I'm sleeping just 3-4 hours a day.

@kind_of_willow3193 Жыл бұрын

It's funny that you mentioned this "feeling lazy" thing, because i thought: why do you get up so early in the morning, when you have no regular working time? I'm happy that i'm lazy enough to go to sleep late and wake up late, because that's the best rhythm for me. We probably should not care about beeing considered as lazy, when we like to sleep longer.

@0hffs Жыл бұрын

Am I getting enough sleep? Nope, I’m not. I require multiple naps from burnout or just mental exhaustion. Plus to make matters worse, i have always been a nocturnal night owl, being far more productive at night than during the day so I windup sleeping or taking naps throughout the day. I wake up around 7pm and find myself up til 3 or 4am. I also suffer from RLS (restless leg syndrome), require my room temp to be cold 10 Celsius or lower 🥶, have my pillowcases made of towels (I love the texture of bath towels. I hand stitched and made my own pillowcases using the material), can’t turn my brain off from functioning when I try to sleep, and suffer from GERD (acid reflux) which ruins any amount of sleep I wish to get. I temporarily was on a relaxer called hydroxyzine which did help a bit but I need to talk with my GP about upping my dose.

@DeannaWalsh Жыл бұрын

Try a product called Hyland’s Leg Cramps. They have a daytime version and a PM version but they’re both about the same so I just buy the daytime version because it’s priced better. You can take it at bedtime and during the day as well. It’s very easy on the system in the body. It is not a drug but it actually helps me feel better in a lot of ways, including leg cramps and other circulatory and muscle aches and pains. Again, it is not a drug and it is sold over the counter.

@lisalamphier1410 Жыл бұрын

I used to have frequent, horrible migraines. I stopped consuming dairy products and I never had another. If I sleep more than six hours a night, I become severely severely depressed. If I take a nap during the day, I wake up unable to function, crying uncontrollably. It takes a couple hours to recover. If I keep my sleep below six hours, I'm great. I average 5 hours a night and have no daytime fatigue. When I was trying to force myself to sleep longer, i was convinced that I had a sleep disorder because I couldn't do it. I would often fall asleep and immediately wake up having a massive panic attack, and then I couldn't sleep at all. Eventually, I came across an article about studies done that showed that some people are sensitive to sleep and need to manage their sleep and sleep less. For years, I thought my problem was lack of sleep, when it was really too much.

@ombra711 Жыл бұрын

Sleep apnea messes with my normal sleep, and I'm a night owl, but sleeping more, going to bed much earlier actually helped me get more energy during the day. I can't sleep without playing a lecture or Podcaster file on my phone, my brain chills out and gets bored to let me sleep.

@ArtsyMegz_On_Etsy Жыл бұрын

I am getting more sleep ever since I changed jobs and now have a job delivering groceries, all on my own time! I can start working when I want, take a break when I need one, and my stress levels have gone down a good 70%! I hope that this thing works out for me, because I noticed that my OCD isn't as bad, because I am living a low-stress lifestyle and am finally getting enough sleep and rest in general.

@javi7636 Жыл бұрын

The bane of my existence is the 9-to-5 work schedule. I am definitely a night owl and would naturally go to bed around 2am and wake up around 10am, but my job doesn't allow it. I always have to take naps during my lunch break, or naps after I get off work. It's frustrating that it's so necessary, but nothing else has worked.

@Guillaume-uw5oc Жыл бұрын

this video made me realise that the only times I really get rested is wen I had a day at the sauna and I am chilling out on a bench after just having showered in cold water after geting out of a specialy intense trip in the sauna

@SiobhanDoyle Жыл бұрын

This confirms so much for me. I also get migraines that result in me needing extra sleep for a day or two. I've known since I was a teenager that active dreaming was something I needed for my mind to be organised, especially during crunched study or testing periods. And to this day I have zero patience for people who tell you never to snooze haha. The snooze alarm is my best friend and I can feel, in the morning, if I need that extra time to be properly rested or not. If I can't do that I'm less productive, and might need a power nap later in the day just to get through. Working from home has given me a lot more autonomy around my morning sleep. Thanks for the detailed explanations, it really helps to understand.

@silicon212 Жыл бұрын

I learned in my teens that getting 8 hours of sleep a night was the key. I also know that sleeping more than 30 minutes beyond the 8 hours is a guaranteed migraine attack. I can *function* on 6 hours of sleep in emergency situations, but I still tend toward my 8 hours.

@puttervids472 Жыл бұрын

Wow. That’s exactly my timetable. I swear. My wife loves to sleep late on the weekends. And she always complains that I get out of bed well before she will. It’s because I’ll have a headache 100 % if I don’t.

@silicon212 Жыл бұрын

@Yuqing Lee You never "get over autism" ... please stop perpetuating this myth.

@MeadeSkeltonMusic Жыл бұрын

I have had chronic insomnia for a long time.

@relentlessrhythm2774 Жыл бұрын

I've been sleeping more lately because of long term burnout. I sometimes feel guilty but I have to remember my fabulous brain is healing.

@maaderllin Жыл бұрын

I saw the announcement for that video at 13:00. My time. It's now 17:25. In all that time, I had to take a nap. I feel this will be extremely relatable.

@moartems5076 Жыл бұрын

What heck is "13pm"?

@maaderllin Жыл бұрын

@@moartems5076 I wrote this coming out of my nap. Excuse the clear confusion

@missmayflower Жыл бұрын

This is what I’ve been doing for the past few months - having the bonus hour in bed in the morning. I never know if I slept or not.

@johnmyers8633 4 ай бұрын

Huh, that early morning REM sleep has often been rather instinctual for me. It's my favourite part of the weekend. Although, before, I thought it was an unhealthy guilty pleasure of mine. When I don't have to rush to go to work, I let myself drift between wakefullness and sleep a could 1-2 hours before I actually get up. While I can't remember the dreams for long after waking up, I get the most interesting dreams, during this time as well.

@CraigRodmellMusic Жыл бұрын

Always Being Tired has been a major problem for me since 2003. I too have had very little joy from the medical profession.

@crystald3655 Жыл бұрын

Same, Doctors just decide I'm "depressed" and put me on antidepressants, which make the fatigue worse. Off the meds I can stay awake during the day, on the meds I can't.

@jfnoxus 10 ай бұрын

Had a lot of trouble with sleep. I used to roam around until 2/3 am in a game of "avoiding going to bed". Growing up I didn't like going to bed and I laid awake for hours. My parents not being happy with me reading or playing my gameboy, instead of sleeping. Being in bed was a trigger for me, it made me feel unsafe. And so I still wanted to avoid it. My therapist taught me to feel safe in bed and made me enjoy it even. I have a set time where I will start getting ready for bed. Which can take an hour. Once I'm in bed I just lay down and relax as much as possible. It's nice to just lay down and relax. I don't notice when I fall asleep. I do know it doesn't take as long as it used to. Having a morning routine helps as well.

@Islandswamp Жыл бұрын

I was told that I could be on the spectrum by a mental health professional, but I've never been formally diagnosed. Tons and tons of autistic experiences seem just like what I go through. I think that when I was growing up, unless you had major behavioral problems like my autistic cousin , you weren't likely to be tested for autism.

@Ihavegivenup825 Жыл бұрын

ok but what's the point of a diagnosis if you don't have any major behavioral issues? The entire idea of the DSM diagnoses is based around identifying and classifying divergent behaviors. If no divergent behavior occurs, no diagnosis can be made.

@lm86531 3 ай бұрын

I was misdiagnosed as depressed 10 years ago but recently I've realised that both of my main symptoms (extreme tiredness and tearfulness) are actually due to autism and being overwhelmed. I'll definitely try to give myself more early-morning bed time!

@cynthiagabriel5737 Жыл бұрын

Take extra vitamin D for sleep and B complex for migraines.

@patrickbanzon7145 Жыл бұрын

Bro why is this so spot on >

@izzyonyoutuba Жыл бұрын

I found this video at around 6:30am and I normally wake up around that time so I though, let's try it. Turns out I could sleep for another 2 hours.. So thanks for promoting me to try sleep a little more 😊

@skathwoelya2935 Жыл бұрын

Useful video. Thanks.

@aeron-gi7qv Жыл бұрын

KZfaq algorithm recommending this video as I’m wide awake when I should be getting up for work in 5 hours but can’t sleep

@mikeylarsen5627 Жыл бұрын

I will sleep up to 15 hours a day help

@gregoryegan 2 ай бұрын

Love the channel sharing it with some of my clients

@ChristChickAutistic Жыл бұрын

My sound machine is crucial for my sleep. I have a hard time getting to sleep, and the machine really helps.

@frithkin Жыл бұрын

Helpful video and information presented in it . Thank you.

@cherylyoke4872 Жыл бұрын

I read once about something called the second sleep, the sleep typically of farmers who get up early tending to animals, milking cows etc then going back to bed and sleeping a very relaxing sleep. I definitely sleep better in the morning and since I’ve retired I get up when I feel like it, sometimes reading for a while sometimes falling back to sleep. It seems my memory has improved. I remember people’s names better.

@jsfoster100 Жыл бұрын

I (almost) never set an alarm. Mathew’s book scared the hell out of me and I now have a whoop sleep tracker. Am still tired, I think it is due to residual stress.

@henriqueferreira1748 Жыл бұрын

It can be bad when you have OCD and waste so much energy over stimming/tics and involuntary/accidental movements and actions. Intrusive thoughts are also annoying, specially if you force yourself to have "corrective thoughts" to fight them back. When you're asleep or simply laying and doing nothng, your brain is still active and does tricks, so the risk of intrusive thoughts is higher. Thinking too much can be annoying because your brain is like a TV that cannot be turned off, you can only change the channel.

@allisoncurtis4260 Жыл бұрын

The stimming became really bad for me when I started to play with my hair constantly, I would pull hairs with coarser textures and it got to where my hair was thinning in the front(someone else wouldn't notice but I definitely could. So about a month ago I cut my long hair off and now have hair that is only 2-3 inches long. I'm hoping it will help me break the habit because I really don't want to have bald spots!

@Absolumdan Жыл бұрын

It's uncanny how much i'm resonating with what youre saying

@anjaschatz640 Жыл бұрын

Big Tank You to Paul and especially the people who share in the comments. I find information valuable like gold nuggets! Still on the way of finding what is and what helps in a family with some tragic and many absurd health and mental health issues.

@paularubina3778 Жыл бұрын

I’m going to indulge in morning dreaming from now on. Thanks for this discussion!

@justasomeone7860 Жыл бұрын

That's really interesting that your sleep tracker showed you got REM sleep while you were awake. Maybe it is similar for me and that's one of the reasons why I tend to feel lying in when I wake is really important for me (I have ME/CFS so rest when I feel I need it is really important, and it can be easy to think I'm just being lazy sometimes when actually I'm really doing what my body needs.

@cristinagonzalez6591 Жыл бұрын

I've got ME/CFS too and have trouble sleeping

@Step_on_a_lego 2 ай бұрын

You're insights on early morning REM sleep make so much sense. I have a sleep tracker that I wear for similar reasons, I've started to notice what you were describing in that section! I had no idea that there were other people that experience being awake, or even half awake sometimes, and getting more sleep. I made the exact same separation in my head about sleep vs unproductive rest time

@sonjabarber9308 Жыл бұрын

Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this idea! It's sleep advice that actually works for me. I enjoy your channel, thank you for all of your work!

@vickieapted7556 Жыл бұрын

I have a lot of the same medical conditions you have sweetie and I hope you find something positive that helps you feel better and keep positive 😊Sending positive vibes your way my friend 😊

@rebeccaelle135 Жыл бұрын

Thank you…. That one hour of rem is amazing… I get it!

@ros8986 Жыл бұрын

just ordered book!

@ksthoughtpalace3042 Жыл бұрын

Very timely for me, thanks! Sleep has become my enemy again, after having lost the main routine in my life combined with a feeling of loss of purpose or meaning in life. Years ago my sleep problem was being able to Go to sleep. Now, I sleep too much and strangely that takes away a lot of my energy during the day.

@Mraquanetchris Жыл бұрын

I can get away with 6 hours of sleep maybe once or twice in a row, but then need to get a full 9 - 10 hours the next day. These two amounts of sleep are my sweet spots. If I have to hit the 6 hours multiple days in a row I start to fall apart. However, If I sleep past 6 hours, then I have to get 9-10. Anything in between messes me up. I just had a job where my schedule had changes to my sleep patterns - closing the store then back in the morning. It was very difficult and thankfully have a more sleep friendly schedule now.

@Wolf359inc 26 күн бұрын

When I was still in the workforce, I often had great trouble getting to sleep. These days, it is just myself and my wife, 24/7. We barely socialise, outside of the odd chat to the neighbours, or essential GP visits. I have no trouble sleeping anymore. When I get tired, I hop into bed (usually sometime between 11:00 pm, and 1:00 am). Once my head hits the pillow, I take three deep breaths, and I usually go to sleep pretty much straight away. I put this down to not having to spend time and energy masking anymore. When I was working, masking was exhausting, and I often found myself going over previous conversations I had had, or running through future conversations I was expecting. For the former, checking to see I had behaved “normally”. For the latter, to try to ensure the same. Not to mention the added stresses of shifting priorities, and an extremely heavy work load, due to short staffing. I don’t do this anymore, as, with just myself and my wife, I don’t need to constantly check myself, or go over what I had, or am going to, say. I have also noticed that I haven’t had a meltdown for several years now. When there is no stress buildup, there is no need to release. I really noticed this during the Covid lockdowns - my wife and I had been pretty much “locked down” for a couple of years by this point, but knowing I wasn’t going to be interacting with others on a daily basis really helped ease my mind. Is this healthy? Probably not. But I feel better than I have for years, and I hope I can maintain this for a few years more… :)

@shelteredsparrow2736 4 күн бұрын

I just realized I have autism. If I try to get up too early I am an emotional mess. I went to a camp where I was to help for a week. The nurse was also one of the leaders of the camp. To set a good example she was insistent that I get up early. I tried but after a couple of days I simply couldn’t stop trying. She then saw that I was right and left me alone. I looked into autism and your circadian rhythm. It says that getting up early can be really difficult for people with autism. I am careful to not let myself sleep in. But I do allow myself to not get up any later than 8:00. I also stay away from the couch so I don’t fall asleep. Having said that not getting up too early has made such a difference

@andreabuntpercy Жыл бұрын

That morning sleep information.... I fell into that habit when a friend suggested it worked for her. I've been feeling better for it.... now I know why! Thanks Paul, and everyone else confirming that. I know magnesium also helps with my sleep. I always take it an hour before going to bed.

@claireparker7093 Жыл бұрын

Great video ! Always enjoy learning from your videos. I always feel so overwhelmed by everything of harmful sounds. Smells and bright lights as of lately especially that i feel so sleepy and just wanna feel good again. I feel very weak but I'm seen as being lazy for just needing more rest but i know it's true in the morning just staying in bed just a little longer makes a difference

@cowsonzambonis6 Жыл бұрын

Oh WOW your description of a power nap after a migraine was *spot on* to how I feel! 😮 I’ve been dealing with fatigue for a few years now, and still haven’t figured it out completely. I was getting 7.5 hrs most nights, but I’ve been trying g to get to bed earlier, and then also sleeping in longer. I’m averaging 9.5 hrs and I’ve seen a difference in my energy.

@annkarin5732 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Paul. Ann from Norway

@Gideon_Judges6 Жыл бұрын

For a long time I have gotten away with very little sleep. My sleep tracker would indicate about 4-5 hours of sleep. I am 42 now and it seems like very recently it's caught up with me where I am very tired several days a week. I was never formally diagnosed with autism but my son is and some things are lining up. So I'm trying to learn more about it at least for him if not for me too.

@walief 3 ай бұрын

I remember, as a child, enjoying that hour of drifting between sleep and waking. For some reason, I don't get that anymore.

@conscienceaginBlackadder Жыл бұрын

So getting up slowly is healthy. Big thank you for a source validating that. I have always found that nineteenth century type abruptly getting straight up as soon as I wake, felt too awful to do regularly and.made life feel awful. To take it on a few rare occasions like an early start holiday journey requires not doing it much. Whenever getting up by alarm clock I have always found a need to set it for a time that allows me not to get up for at least another half hour - of course that means resetting the alarm or having a modern repeating one. On days of no obligation to get up I take as long as I feel, and feel better for it, including from slipping back into catch-up sleep if preceding days have been tiring. Doing a tradesman-type of work that does not tie me to classic office hours, so that most days have no demanding get-uo schedule, has felt healthier too. Traditional nineteenth century disciplined attitudes have turned out wrong and harmful about practically everything: work, fitness, war, family life, education - authoritarianschoolingcouk, and unsurprisingly this too. They were wrong about early hours.

@karolinaska6836 Жыл бұрын

I say, some people drink coffee to wake up; I just sleep in. I'm lucky to have the flexibility to do just that- lounge around in the morning and slowly and incrementally get up. First I'm awake. After a while I take out my ear plugs. Later I sit up in bed. Eventually I'm on my feet making my bed and moving on to my bathroom routine. I remember with great anxiety when I didn't have that luxury and I'm most anxious now on days when I have to be somewhere in the morning, because I can't lounge as much as I'd like. One of the best things to happen to me as a result of my late diagnosis (at 43) was being able to give myself permission to seek out whatever accommodations I need to function at my best, without feeling badly about it.

@davemason2290 Жыл бұрын

Thanks, really useful. I have had a problem for years of feeling tired all the time. I need to explore this further but very good video

@jliller Жыл бұрын

Any other Aspies (especially those that also have ADHD) have excessive dreaming? Pretty much every night I have vivid dreams, sometimes either complicated storylines or repetitive as if my brain is trying to solve a problem of which the dream is symbolic. I can often recall parts of them the next day. Ever since I was a teenager people have been surprised by my odd dreams and the frequency with which I not only have them but can remember them. If I nod off midday, I will usually dream, even though it's just a 5-10 minute power nap. Sometimes I feel like sleep isn't refreshing because my mind is still churning full-speed ahead.

@amandachapman4708 Жыл бұрын

I relate to that. Especially early morning, if I go back to sleep because it is really too early to get up, then I have surreal dreams where my brain has constructed an alternative version of the world where physics is distorted and my real world often appears as fragments within it. If I can make myself get out of bed before the happens, I'm much less depressed and anxious during the day. I hate the early morning REM sleep.

@EweOlive Жыл бұрын

I describe that period of time Loading and have learned that I don't like to/sometimes cannot speak or "human."

@arasharfa Жыл бұрын

my sleep quality improved drastically when I started supplementing with glycine and hydrolyzed collagen. it has helped normalizing my circadian rhythm and the sleep i get is much more restorative. people with autism often have low glycine. glycine is converted to serotonin and then melatonin.

@ZeroGravitas Жыл бұрын

When I tracked my sleep in detail, a decade ago, I found my REM mostly happen early and regular deep sleep towards the end. Backwards. But then I also have non-24-hour circadian rhythm, since school. And this all merged into gradual onset ME/CFS, later on.

@ZhovtoBlakytniy Жыл бұрын

Scaling back on hobbies helped me. By this I mean I don't do less, just less variety and I also don't agree to do as many free favors for people (which I absolutely love making things that make people happy). I would just think about it all night or work on it all night (sometimes stressful procrastination cramming) and how I'd have to meet up with people and present the items to them, anxious about how happy I'd make them!

@rebeccaelle135 Жыл бұрын

Types of sleep are critical for us… we got this.😊

@victoria_m13 Жыл бұрын

i will try this little move 🤝

@RodrigoAlgorta Жыл бұрын

You are so right about this, all my life this happened to me and I know it's mainly because of this and other bad habits and not eating well because its like a big ball, a chain reaction, you feel tired you don't want to cook so you don't eat properly so you get even more tired next day.

@mxsant Жыл бұрын

I am deaf autistic adult person. When I was childhood, I cannot get sleep quickly. When the staff (I stayed in dorm at school for deaf) ordered to go to the bed, I cannot sleep quickly. I just stay awake on the bed for 30 minutes to 3 hours, then I can get sleep with closed my eyes. Recently, I researched on the internet regarding sleep time, I discovered that sleeping difficult is linked to Autism for some people. So, I am one of them.

@Webgobo Жыл бұрын

Your stories sound so familiar to me, I had so much pain before I found out about all this stuff by my self.

@andrewsearle5845 Жыл бұрын

This is all well and good saying just stay in bed a bit longer,but when my alarm goes off it's time for work,or on the weekend,i cant just lie in bed doing nothing.

@joymiddlemas Жыл бұрын

I just found you and I'm still in shock! I'm 54 and I'm listening to this as an undiagnosed Autistic, It rang so true on all points to me that I'm just sobbing with realization and understanding. Finally, someone understands what I've lived a lifetime of. I am convinced that the USA is far behind in Autism understanding. So you can imagine my gratitude to you now as I hear your show! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!! You may have saved my life!!! ** I am working with Dr's to get a true diagnosis..no worries ;)

@jordangarton2478 Жыл бұрын

I'm so glad you've found the answer you've needed. I was late diagnosed, but at 30, and it just makes an entire lifetime of never-quite-rightness finally make sense! 😭❤❤ There's something so freeing about understanding yourself, and I have given myself so much more compassion since finding out. Quality of life has definitely increased ❤

@shawnholbrook7278 Жыл бұрын

I have had poor sleep habits for years. Thanks for the video. I have trouble with laying down and relaxing. I might need to take short naps like I did when I was younger.

@Justin-nq7qj Жыл бұрын

i need to go to sleep soon good night

@enfieldjohn101 11 ай бұрын

I have always been a light sleeper, but until I was six, I had high fevers every night that made me hallucinate and have nightmares. I can still remember seeing shadows moving around and sleeves of my clothes in the closet waving around. To this day, I feel uneasy and cant sleep if the closet door is open. I dont have high fevers anymore, but I get still heatstroke and sinus headaches easily. Now the past four years, I've had hyperparathyroidism. One of the many symptoms is insomnia, so Im back to getting very little sleep again.

@clarkesensei4651 Жыл бұрын

This was interesting. I have always prioritised going to sleep early but I'm going to try going to sleep a little later and waking a little later.

@ghenam7281 10 ай бұрын

Greetings ... Good video. Also, i noticed that lack nutrients, water, breathing and circulation can also lead to being tired chronically and bad sleep habits. ... i try to: sleep well, get up, drink a glass of water with some lemon juice and a pinch of salt to get the electrolytes up, do your bathroom thing, then limber up your body for 15 min. Outside on the sun if possible... Eat, take your supplements, shower, get on with the day...if those essentials are covered, life is manageable.

@amandaquillen 9 ай бұрын

I’ve struggled my whole life with sleep and waking up! Never do I feel refreshed when I get out of bed. I’ve always said my best sleep is in the morning. Unfortunately, I have to get up early to get kids ready for school, and I am so cranky by the end of the week. It doesn’t matter when I go to bed… getting up before 7 is hard to do. Another note, my son is also autistic and he was the worst sleeper as a baby. We were both miserably tired as a result. I didn’t know he was autistic at the time, but looking back, there were so many signs.

@ankaretharmer3362 Жыл бұрын

I am 75 years old awaiting a diagnosis. I stopped sleeping very suddenly 20 years ago, now I can't sleep without medication. An also awaiting to go to a sleep clinic to find out what's going on. I wonder if it might be my age?

@tkc1129 Жыл бұрын

Insightful video. Maybe that is the difference between when I sleep well and when I don't.

@berenedain8427 11 ай бұрын

I sometimes sleep for 18 hours like once a month, i have autism and I take tablets to help me sleep. If I don't take tablets I can't get to sleep my brain just doesn't switch off. Things that have helped are doing things like reading a book or listening to a podcast to get to sleep as preparation rather than just trying to will myself to sleep or sitting on my phone. Also, having a lumie lamp has been a great alternative to an alarm, it is a light that gradually turns off/on simulating the sun rise/fall it has made sleep come easily and I wake up gradually as well rather than having alarms blaring at me

@TheDalaiah Жыл бұрын

You are me!?! It's weird not being the only one, if it makes sense. But is also good to know that "I'm not making it up" (like I always am accused of). I'm autistic (high functioning autistic). Uh-huh. Thank you

@gtptvanbuuren3795 Жыл бұрын

Hi Paul. I am 63 years old and have found many answers on your videos to questions which I have investigated recently but never asked before because I thought everything was normal and that I just naturally did not understand. Getting good at being awesome. Ta Heaps Bloke......Tim from Tea Tree Gully..

@thayes6158 Жыл бұрын

Thank you. Your content is very helpful! Sleep? I tend to not get enough but I can relate to early morning REM _ kind of half aslepe.

@jilldickson4352 Жыл бұрын

I am so tired all the time and I believe the only thing I can do is go for a walk when I want to nod off! But I do power nap daily and I can sleep for ten to twelve hours at night. 😢

@hispoiema Жыл бұрын

I am so sorry about your migraines. I think I have only had a few in my life.

@hispoiema Жыл бұрын

@Yuqing Lee I am not sure who you meant to aim that at. I am not an herbologist but that sounds great.

@artbookgaming Жыл бұрын

My circadian rhythm is very off from societal expectations, so I struggle to sleep because I'm not in sync with my natural rhythm. It's really difficult for me to go sleep early and wake up early, so if I have to do things in the morning so before 10am, I will be needing 7 alarms in the span of 30 minutes before I need to wake up and won't be able to fall asleep before midnight, so I'm going to get whatever it is ~done~ but the quality will likely be bad and if it's a long day, like I'm studying or socializing from 9am to 3pm, woke up at 8am, by day 5 I will crash and nap for 2 hours the moment I get the chance to even though I was sleeping for 8 hours every night. That is a real life example from me just going to school. If I get to work on my own daily rhythm, I'll gladly sleep from 4am to noon, which is still 8 hours, work and socialize even longer than that 6 hours, I can sustainably do 1pm to 9pm, and then 9pm to 1am is creative power hours where I do arts, write, have fun by myself, and have the ability to get through the most difficult of tasks. Like washing the dishes or cleaning the entire house. And 2am to 4am I wind down with something less active like watching youtube or reading a book in bed.

@joalindkvist947 Жыл бұрын

Great video! Alkohol is a big No-no for my Sleep. But I get a urge for it when I get tired in the afternoon, as it gives me a boost for about 30 minutes. It’s not worth it, so I don’t usually keep it in my house. 😊 Best regards from Sweden!