ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Circadian rhythm disorder

Well, sweetie, our body has an internal clock that tells us when we should be awake and when we should be asleep. This is called our circadian rhythm. When we have a disorder with our circadian rhythm, it means our internal clock is not matched up with the time of day or our daily routines.

Let me explain with an example. Imagine if you always go to bed very late and wake up very late. But, you still have to wake up early for school or other activities. This can make you feel very sleepy in the morning and have a hard time paying attention in class. This is because your internal clock is telling you to stay up late and sleep in, but your daily routine requires you to wake up early.

There are different types of circadian rhythm disorders. Some people have trouble falling asleep at night and staying awake during the day, while others have the opposite problem and feel very sleepy during the day but wide awake at night. Some people's internal clock runs slower than 24 hours, which means they want to go to bed and wake up later and later each day. This is called delayed sleep phase syndrome.

Circadian rhythm disorders can happen for different reasons. Sometimes they are caused by our habits, like staying up too late watching TV or playing on our phones. Other times they can be caused by medical conditions or even certain medications.

Luckily, there are ways to treat circadian rhythm disorders. We can work on creating good sleep habits, like going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. We can also try to expose ourselves to light at the right times to help reset our internal clock. In some cases, doctors might even prescribe medication or a special light therapy to help regulate our internal clock.

In summary, circadian rhythm disorders happen when our internal clock is not in sync with our daily routines. But, with the right treatments and habits, we can help our internal clock get back on track and improve our sleep and wakefulness.