I can get a degree in Pancake flipping, and still fail; I need a Nootropic suggestion

College Life
1

<p>I’ll mention the main question since no one probably cares about my quick biography :D</p>

<p>I’m looking for a nootropic (except caffeine) for:</p>

<ul>
<li>The weaker, the better, assuming it will eliminate a crash. I am not looking for a magical “surge of energy”, just something that will keep my brain active as if I slept 7+ hours if I got <4.</li>
<li>Short-term use (for the days I get 2 hours of sleep), and not use it for the days I get 6+ hours of sleep. I’ll probably end up using these in cycles. I.e. 10 days off, 4 days on.</li>
<li>Fast-acting. Unlike antidepressants, you need to wait like 3 weeks for them to take effect. I need a nootropic that works instantly, like coffee.</li>
<li>One that is not addicting.</li>
<li>Safe for long term use (4 years)… well actually, maybe a lifetime since working a 9-5 job requires a steady sleep schedule.</li>
</ul>

<p>Why?</p>

<p>I believe I may have DSPS (delayed sleep phase syndrome). I’ve had it since high school. Must have been due to the video game addiction from staring at a bright monitor during later hours coupled with my windows blocked out because I like sleeping in a dark room. Furthermore I rarely had the will power to stay up until normal bed time after arriving home from school (since I slept <4 hours the night before). And if I did manage to stay up until 11 p.m., for some odd reason I would only sleep for 2-3 hours and I would not be able to sleep until early morning, and I would feel tired all throughout the school day; I assume my brain’s sleep signal is being released at the time of my first period class. Because of this, I always took a 3-4 hour “nap” when I get home. I eventually dropped out. Terrible.</p>

<p>So for 2 years I did not do anything, not even a job (I hated mundane jobs), now couple that mindless sack of a **** lifestyle with my DSPS… you’re gonna go insane. I noticed my days were longer than 24 hours. Awake for about 14-16 hours, and sleeping for up to 12-14 hours per day. The cycle is pretty linear, in which I would actually have a normal sleep cycle within the range of “normal” for several days, until I slowly creep back up to being nocturnal again. If I force myself to wake up at the same time every morning, I would eventually go through that time where I just would not be able to fall asleep at the right time, resulting in <4 hours of sleep again. Usually, the first day this occurs I can stay up for another 15+ or so hours until it’s normal bed time again. However, in this case I would sleep at an even later time, resulting <3.9 hours of sleep.</p>

<p>Just 4 months ago, I’ve fixed myself up now. I’ve completed an academic upgrading program for gaining entrance for my community college. However, the only reason why I think I’ve completed it was because it was an independent learning course. You never really had to show up for “class” because there were no teachers teaching a lesson. I had the luxury to sleep in for the days I had to.</p>

<p>While I am already able to enter Fall terms, I’ve decided to detour and go back to a different agency to obtain pre-university courses. The problem here is that the classes are traditionally taught (teacher + black board). The reason why I’m detouring is because I want to see how I’d fair if I had to show up for class every day in a traditional classroom setting. I would hate to drop out in college after paying $4000.</p>

2

<p>did you try consulting a doctor? ever?</p>

3

<p>There is no point, I’ve read articles about DSPS and apparently, it’s really difficult to treat. I already know what a sleep doctor would tell me. I can do chronotherapy myself, and I’ll buy a light visor as a last resort (mainly because it’s expensive). My doc doesn’t seem to help anyways, I’ve asked for random requests to investigate a possible problem and she seems to dismiss it. I am not wasting 2 hours of time to see her only to give me a little phrase of “you just need to do this…” , “you worry too much”, “It’s all in your head”</p>

4

<p>Let me get this straight. You, someone with absolutely no qualifications, have diagnosed yourself.</p>

<p>But you claim that the doctor telling you nothing’s wrong is wrong, and you refuse to see a sleep specialist. At the same time, you’re asking for medical advice on a college forum.</p>

<p>I think I found your problem.</p>

5

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</p>

<p>You need a referral from a family doc.</p>

<p>And I’m not asking for medical advice, if you know how to read I was only asking for a nootropic suggestion. The quick bio was an optional read.</p>

6

<p>So, you are looking for speed? You could get a perscription for amphetamines. WW2 pilots took them to get jacked up before combat. You’ll need a perscription for either obvs. I think dexamphetamine is probably the most poweful legal kind. I’m pretty sure adderal is an amphetamine too.</p>

7

<p>You don’t solely rely on one doctor to diagnose you. Sometimes you need to get a second or third opinion before you are turned in the right direction for treatment.</p>

<p>See a few sleep specialists. They’d know more then this forum.</p>