OT: Messed up body clock

sweetjesus · Post by **sweetjesus** » Sun Mar 06, 2005 11:58 pm

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have any solutions for a messed up body clock?

It's been a good 4 years since I've slept from a reasonable time at night till morning.

I can sometimes manage to live in daylight if I stay awake for a whole day and sleep the following evening, but that never lasts for more than 2 or 3 days and I'm back to the same old vampire mode...

I've tried dowsing upto 20g's of valiums and even that doesn't do anything except make me behave like a cow on prozac for a few hours...

Any suggestions welcome!
SJ

glaive · Post by **glaive** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 12:05 am

I have had similar problems ever since IU Music school in the early 90s. Try Ambien. It's fabulous for regulating sleep. Also, melatonin might straighten your clock out.

TruePlaya55 · Post by **TruePlaya55** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 1:12 am

take 2 soma wait until u should be going to bed promice youll sleep for a good 12 hours haha

MrYellow · Post by **MrYellow** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 1:44 am

glaive has the idea.... melatonin should reset your clock.

Nothing wrong with sleeping days tho

3am+ is the best time for
computers and music.

-Ben

sweetjesus · Post by **sweetjesus** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 1:59 am

MrYellow wrote:glaive has the idea.... melatonin should reset your clock.

Nothing wrong with sleeping days tho 3am+ is the best time for
computers and music.

-Ben

I appreciate peoples responses. Yes I find 3am + to be the best time for makin electronic music, especially twilight. Something magical happens then.

But I'm more concerned about the longterm impacts of not recieving any sunlight. I'm sure there are more immediate ones, but for example I cannot go outside if there is sun without shades anymore, my eyes water like nothing you've seen.

I will never forget having to find a sunglasses shop in Taiwan, walked half a kilomoter crying my eyes out ... like this ...

minimal · Post by **minimal** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 2:54 am

sweetjesus wrote:
MrYellow wrote:glaive has the idea.... melatonin should reset your clock.

Nothing wrong with sleeping days tho 3am+ is the best time for
computers and music.

-Ben
I appreciate peoples responses. Yes I find 3am + to be the best time for makin electronic music, especially twilight. Something magical happens then.

But I'm more concerned about the longterm impacts of not recieving any sunlight. I'm sure there are more immediate ones, but for example I cannot go outside if there is sun without shades anymore, my eyes water like nothing you've seen.

I will never forget having to find a sunglasses shop in Taiwan, walked half a kilomoter crying my eyes out ... like this ...

sunlight is very important for us.
I can't be very technical here but I remember something from the old days of school, like exposure to sunlight allows our body to produce substances we need. These could be leading to some long term effects due to lack of substances.
sorry for being vague but long time has passed since I was learining this stuff and, just to keep on the groove of mryellow's post is almost 4 am here, a bit tired... i I think I'm going to power on my music computer now.
I wouldn't loose any sunlight by sleeping the whole day tomorrow.... it's grey here and still snowing.

all the best and stay groovy

adhmzaiusz · Post by **adhmzaiusz** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:33 am

get a full time job 9-5 and your sleep troubles will be solved. Youll be just like me, tired all the time, with your last bit of energy to muster on music

robbmasters · Post by **robbmasters** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 11:43 am

Sunlight makes your body produce vitamin D.

Me, I take vitamin supplements.

rikhyray · Post by **rikhyray** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 1:08 pm

Exposure to sunlight is the most important to fix that clock, specially by jetlag etc. Why you think that the 3 am is just electronic music thing. It is so since thousands of years most musicians , perhaps most artists work better at night.
Siesta is a good thing, afternoon is rather useles time for artistic activity ( though my favourite for sex) So what`s wrong going to sleep at 5am get up early ( like 11) and then when you need have a nap later.
Seriously getting some sunlight daily is essential , go for a walk, jog whatever or if you are workaholic like me, dump that raw mix of whatever you working on to your mp3 or whatever walkman and checkit out while walking ( I do it a lot).
Dont fuck around with your body, I overdid in last 2 weeks and have some grave consequeces ( they wanted to put me in hospital, which I refused since I have the deadline/ project to finish) SHL -Sudden Hear Loss & tinnitus. Working on my own to get rid of it, I didnt feel like getting cortisone infusions. It was too little sleep and too much work, now I pay the price. I didnt even do these little walkman breaks, just worked like a maniac, without going out for 2-3 days at streach.

conny · Post by **conny** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 1:34 pm

I thin rikhyray is a good consultant here.
Don't think that one or unother pill will fix you up in the long term. I myself is off work for some time because of working to much with things I dont like and spending to many nights with things a like - it ruined the body and mind. Now I have ordered myself a good walk for 1-2 hours a day, rain or snow does not matter.
Before I also had the red wine next to my laptop at night. I don't do that now, it ruins thoses important moments of deep sleep.
So, it's a hard work to come back. I am constant bad morning person, works best from 10 am but also have to sleep nine hours to fill up the gas. So I will have to comprimise, find a schedule.
I two days I am supposed to show up at work - and I am treally trembling with horror of how sick I may feel there. That price is too high for not listening to what the body and mind have shouted at me for years.
And don't be to proud - if it's a phichic/medical contact you need, than go for that, too.
Find something that is good for you to do at daytime - make it a habbit.

// C

MrYellow · Post by **MrYellow** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 2:18 pm

Don't think that one or unother pill will fix you up in the long term

Melatonin is the exception here..... It's the hormone your body uses to tell
you it's sleep time. If you constantly have to switch timing, such as work
night shift 2 days a week, work days 2, or whatever... It will help switch
you into the different modes. This gives you a chance to get a full deep
sleep rather than an afternoon nap at 3am or a deep sleep when you
have to get up in 2 hours.

-Ben

conny · Post by **conny** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:14 pm

Yes Ben, right. But sunlight is the thing that produces meletonin for us I think, and if you have the option to change your life in a way that will fix this without the pill then you will have some more positive things happening as well.

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/publicat ... act.cfm#13

"People with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS) are only able to fall asleep late into the night or early in the morning. Although rare in adults, the syndrome is quite common among adolescents. Several studies suggest that melatonin may be of help for this condition. However, exposing yourself to light when you want to be awake may be just as helpful."

The pill is sure good for a short term fix, I don't doubt that. But changing your life style will probably be the long term solution anyway.

Edit: This written after a hour of fast walk and a strong urge to take a nap... at the wrong time...
Edit2: I was wrong about the production of melatonin - the daylight delays the onset of its production.

// C

Hypomixolydian · Post by **Hypomixolydian** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 3:43 pm

Unfortunately, taking some kind of pill or supplement is not the way to go about it. I used to be and often still am (when I am on holidays) the type to stay up all night and sleep during the day type of person. Getting a 9-5 job isn't a solution either. Come weekend time you will probably revert back to old habits.
Also Rikhyray is WRONG that musicians/artists work better at night. Most composers find that they work best very early in the morning shortly after they have woken up. That is actually when you are at your most creative.
I have discovered that waking up at 5 a.m or thereabouts (sometimes earlier) is actually a great time!! I wouldn't have thought so when I lived my old life.
The only remedy to your problem is to force yourself to change. It's a bit like giving up any bad habit. Rather than approach it from the angle of oh how horrible it would be to wake up early and go to bed at a sensible time. You have to approach it from a positive frame of mind and see it as how wonderful it will be to break free from my habits. It is a question of reprogramming yourself. Humans are creatures of habit, as you no doubt know. Try it!! You will see that it works. Plus getting up really early still gives you that privacy that you get when you stay up really late, but you will feel more rejuvenated and rarin' to go.
I am speaking from experience.

rikhyray · Post by **rikhyray** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:07 pm

Astral Fridge Magnet wrote:.
Also Rikhyray is WRONG that musicians/artists work better at night. Most composers find that they work best very early in the morning shortly after they have woken up. .

Who Robbie Williams , Sasha ?
Morning hours are good because of better hearing so can be well used for many musical activities but not the inspired ones.
I know it is nothing healthy, and it might be politically wrong but that is the way it is. I am for over 20 years in this game and had pleasure to work with some world top musicians yet to see any great session done during "office" hours. There might be some office hours working composers, I can easily do commerical shit, jingles or produce someone else music ( for good money nothing else) any time of day or night, but I understood we talk here about being inspired.
Anyway the wierd, vampire like working hours might be unhealthy but definitely better then stuffing yourself with pills, hormons, cocaine,heroine, crack and any kind of other shit.

Hypomixolydian · Post by **Hypomixolydian** » Mon Mar 07, 2005 4:17 pm

rikhyray wrote:
Astral Fridge Magnet wrote:.
Also Rikhyray is WRONG that musicians/artists work better at night. Most composers find that they work best very early in the morning shortly after they have woken up. .
Who Robbie Williams , Sasha ?
Morning hours are good because of better hearing so can be well used for many musical activities but not the inspired ones.
I know it is nothing healthy, and it might be politically wrong but that is the way it is. I am for over 20 years in this game and had pleasure to work with some world top musicians yet to see any great session done during "office" hours. There might be some office hours working composers, I can easily do commerical shit, jingles or produce someone else music ( for good money nothing else) any time of day or night, but I understood we talk here about being inspired.
Anyway the wierd, vampire like working hours might be unhealthy but definitely better then stuffing yourself with pills, hormons, cocaine,heroine, crack and any kind of other shit.

How about Beethoven, Bach, actually virtually most classical composers of any era. Musicians I admire these days Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, John Mcglauclin ( I am primarily a guitarist) to name but a few. I really don't understand why you think working "office hours" means you can only produce commercial shit or jingles. It's a complete fallacy that you only get inspired by staying up all night. REALLY!!!! Plus waking up and working at 5 a.m is hardly what I would call office hours!!! I suggest you do some research on the subject. At least try it!! All I can say is that waking up early is a more productive way to begin the day. I have for the majority of my life done the whole sleep during the day and work at night thing and still do sometimes. But, I have discovered that the opposite lifestyle is far more productive and CREATIVE!!!! It is also a scientific fact!!! As I said research it. It doesn't just apply to the artistic field, but all spheres of life.