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April 18, 2015
Not Everyone's Internal Clock Is Set for the 9-to-5
Maggie isn't lazy; she suffers from delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS)—a disorder that affects one in 750 adults that causes them to be somewhat nocturnal.
By that estimate, DSPS affects over 400,000 Americans. Essentially, DSPS means a person's internal clock is set differently. These clocks, called circadian rhythms, are innate and often change over the course of a person’s life—which is why little kids wake up so early, and teenagers prefer to sleep in. DSPS sufferers have internal clocks that run at least two hours slower than normal, giving them "social jet lag" which is pretty much what it sounds like: They’re out of sync with the rest of society. They struggle to keep their eyes open during morning business meetings because their bodies are convinced it's the middle of the night. DSPS can wreak havoc on their health and careers, causing depression, anxiety, brain damage, heart disease, drug addiction, and a myriad of other afflictions due to sleep deprivation.- The Atlantic
Posted by gerardvanderleun at April 18, 2015 10:59 PM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
Circadian rhythms my ass. The thousands of round engine aircrew that flew trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific wide awake around the clock show that humans can get used to anything. Not to mention the millions of WW2 GIs.
Posted by: BillH ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://americandigest.org/sidelines/nav-commenters.gif)
at April 19, 2015 7:15 AM
This is in the "dog ate my homework" category.
People are rationalizing weakness and failure.
Ob du stehen canst, canst du spaziern.
Ob du spaziern canst, canst du marschieren.
Extra credit for the translation.
Posted by: chasmatic at April 19, 2015 7:19 AM