Interestingly, I have all my life fallen into REM Sleep in my naps, and fall asleep really quickly, frequently straight into REM. I believe that this is generally portrayed as a hallmark of sleep deprivation - but I do wonder.
I have *never* slept more than 7 hours at a stretch - and that has been about twice or 3 times in my whole life (I am 35). I cannot stay awake easily for long periods. Hard to give you a typical sleep pattern, it varies hugely how often I wake up and for how long, but this one isn't unlikely:
Go to bed, go to sleep very fast, often straight to REM for 20 or 40 minutes (maybe as much as 60-90). Then I'll probably go straight back to sleep for 3-5 hours. It is probably about 3:30 - 5:30 by now. Then I'll be awake for an unspecified period of time. Depends on the company and other distractions offered ;-) (which can use up half an hour, an hour, two hours - you know how it is....). Maybe then I get up, or if I (or boyfriend) are tired, have a light nap/doze again for an hour or so. If it is light - I tend to want to be up and about.
In the normal course of the day - I get pretty tired after 8 hours, really tired after 12 - but do just fine with my sleep being in widely seperated chunks - which is really handy in my hobby of sailing, including offshore racing. Typically in anything over a day sail, you go into 'watches' there you have 4 hours 'on' (awake) 4 hours 'off' (asleep) or 3 on, 3 standby (stay dressed and on deck but can doze if you aren't needed) and 3 off.
I have observed that most people go strong for the first 24-36 hours then flag dramatically thereafter - mostly due to not getting their full sleep time and basically just staying awake. This is fine for weekend races/sailing but not for (a)week(s) at sea! I go straight into the watch pattern and have no trouble sleeping when it is my slot to. I am also very alert in the 4am-8am type slots which most people hate.
I used to worry about my sleep pattern - particularly since I suffered very badly from afternoon tiredness, but I now think it is normal (for me, at least). The afternoon tiredness is much less these days - I gave up caffeine and alcohol, which seemed to do the trick. I still prefer to do my heavy thinking at work in the morning and will alwyas coem in early rather than stay late, but that's not so bad :-)
ARGH!! I made a whole raft of additions and lost them!!! I particularly wanted to agree with CarrieB re: feeling 'abnormal' and social pressures. I will get back to it after work!
quick one:
Circadiana