Circadian rhythm sleep disorder treatment at Sleep Health MD

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder Treatment

When your internal body clock is out of sync with your daily schedule, you may struggle to fall asleep at night and stay awake during the day. The sleep specialists at Sleep Health MD diagnose and treat circadian rhythm sleep disorders for patients in Santa Cruz, Freedom, Sunnyvale, and Monterey, helping reset sleep timing so you feel rested when you need to be.

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What Are Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders?

Your circadian rhythm is the internal 24-hour clock that tells your body when to feel sleepy and when to feel alert. It is influenced by light exposure, meal timing, activity, and genetics. A circadian rhythm sleep disorder occurs when this clock is misaligned with the schedule you need to keep, which leads to insomnia at bedtime and excessive daytime sleepiness during the day.

Types of Circadian Rhythm Disorders

  • Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder – falling asleep and waking much later than desired; common in teens and young adults
  • Advanced sleep-wake phase disorder – becoming sleepy very early in the evening and waking in the early morning hours; more common in older adults
  • Irregular sleep-wake rhythm – fragmented sleep spread throughout the day and night without a clear pattern
  • Non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder – a sleep schedule that drifts later each day
  • Shift work sleep disorder – sleep problems caused by night or rotating work schedules
  • Jet lag disorder – temporary misalignment after traveling across time zones

Symptoms to Watch For

  • Inability to fall asleep at a conventional bedtime
  • Great difficulty waking up for work or school
  • Waking too early and being unable to return to sleep
  • Daytime fatigue, poor concentration, and irritability
  • Normal, refreshing sleep when allowed to follow your natural schedule

How Circadian Rhythm Disorders Are Diagnosed

Diagnosis focuses on your sleep timing over weeks rather than a single night. Your provider may ask you to keep a sleep diary or wear an actigraphy device, a small wrist monitor that tracks sleep and activity patterns. If another condition such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome is suspected, a sleep study may also be recommended.

Treatment Options

Treatment aims to shift your body clock to a more practical schedule and support healthy sleep habits:

  • Timed bright light therapy in the morning or evening
  • Carefully timed low-dose melatonin
  • Gradual adjustment of bedtime and wake time
  • Limiting evening screen time and bright light exposure
  • Consistent meal, exercise, and sleep routines, including on weekends
  • Behavioral strategies from cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)

Circadian Disorders in Teens

Delayed sleep phase is especially common during adolescence, when biological changes push the body clock later. It can look like laziness or defiance but is a real, treatable condition. Our pediatric sleep services can help teens and families. Explore more sleep conditions we treat or visit our new patients page to prepare for your first visit.

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders FAQs

What is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder?

It is a condition in which your internal body clock is out of sync with your desired or required sleep schedule, causing insomnia and daytime sleepiness.

Is delayed sleep phase the same as insomnia?

Not exactly. People with delayed sleep phase can sleep well when allowed to follow their natural schedule; their problem is timing rather than an inability to sleep.

Does melatonin help circadian rhythm disorders?

Low-dose melatonin taken at a specific time can help shift the body clock. Timing matters, so it should be guided by your sleep specialist.

How does light therapy work?

Exposure to bright light at strategic times signals the brain to shift its internal clock earlier or later, depending on the disorder.

Do I need a sleep study for a circadian rhythm disorder?

Usually not. Sleep diaries and actigraphy are the main diagnostic tools, though a sleep study may be used to rule out other conditions.

Can teenagers have circadian rhythm disorders?

Yes. Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder is very common in teens and can affect school performance and mood.

How do I schedule an appointment?

Call (844) 387-5337 or request an appointment online with Sleep Health MD.

Reset Your Body Clock

If your sleep schedule is working against you, our team can help bring it back into balance. Call (844) 387-5337 or request an appointment online.

Request an Appointment