r/N24

I find that my depression gets worse when I’m in a phase where I’m primarily awake at night. I don’t know if it’s the darkness, lack of human contact, or both. Does anyone else experience this or have any advice?

I have sighted Non-24, with a roughly 24.5-hour sleep-wake cycle, and I’m trying to find a realistic way to earn money without repeatedly sacrificing sleep to meet a fixed schedule.

I’m a veteran with ten years of Army experience spanning transportation/logistics, administration, communications, tax preparation, and event planning. I recently completed a BA in History and Political Science, with minors in Linguistics and Women’s & Gender Studies. Research, analyzing information, and language are strengths, but I don’t have an established civilian career to return to.

I’m also autistic/ADHD and have ME/CFS with post-exertional malaise, along with other chronic illnesses. That means the problem isn’t just when I can work, but how much work I can sustain. Mental exertion counts, too.

I tried FlexJobs and canceled the trial after finding very little that fit. “Remote” usually still meant fixed hours, daytime meetings, full-time availability, or quick responses during business hours. A night shift wouldn’t solve a sleep schedule that keeps moving, either.

Freelancing sounds more compatible in theory, but I’m worried about finding enough work, managing clients, and meeting deadlines with fluctuating capacity. I’d like dependable additional income, rather than occasional pocket money.

I receive VA disability compensation, so I have a financial foundation. However, I want to relocate to Washington, where that income won’t cover living independently. I just applied for VA vocational rehabilitation, but I’m struggling to identify a career goal that’s actually compatible with my circumstances.

For people here who earn money while living with Non-24:

• What do you actually do? Specific job titles or services would help.
• Can you work whenever you’re awake, or do you still have required meetings, response windows, or fixed shifts?
• Did you enter that work with specialized experience, or were you able to learn on the job?
• If you freelance, how dependable is the income, and how much unpaid effort goes into finding and managing work?
• If you also have fatigue, PEM, or another condition limiting your hours, what arrangements have been sustainable?

I’d also appreciate hearing about things that looked workable but weren’t. I don’t want to build a plan around “flexible hours” only to discover that it means choosing whether to start at 8 or 9 a.m.

I’m looking for actual work experiences, rather than sleep-treatment suggestions or advice about disability benefits. I’m feeling pretty discouraged, and hearing how others have navigated this would help.

Is it the word circadian that is too difficult?

Hi, I usually have a 25-26 hour cycle, but for the past week I have only been able to sleep once every two days. I have been holiday planning and I suppose it has got my blood pumping as I have been planning and suddenly realise I have not slept for 24 hours. I haven’t been getting tired until the 30-35th hour awake. I am also missing meals when I lose track of time and forget to eat.

Has anyone else experienced such a sudden change in sleep cycle length? Any advice on how to not do that?
And before anyone asks, no I am not bipolar, yes I have autism.