Help - My Teenager Can't Sleep!!!!

[dgeevanson]

Teenagers usually sleep their lives away but I have a 15 year old boy who has trouble sleeping. He's not depressed, he does get exercise, he doesn't go to bed listening to music. The temperature in his room is fine, he doesn't nap during the day - what other things should I be looking at??? Any tips? TIA Darla

[hollysmom]

What's the girl's name? Maybe he has a new crush?

SSM

[dgeevanson]

He has had various crushes off and on, but has had this sleep problem for over a year. He has lots of friends and is doing well in school. I don't know...

[erin elizabeth]

Caffeine? Cigarettes? Drugs--Rx reactions or otherwise?

[Hammster]

Allergies? Sleep Apnea? Pressure to do well at school? (Not necessarily from parents, but just his own sense of pressure)

[ClaraB]

What kind of sleep problem does your son have - trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep, or getting up too early? Does he sleep in late on the weekends? I've found that it's best to try to stay on the same sleep schedule on the weekends - if I sleep in later, it's hard to get to bed earlier Sunday night, then I'm playing catch-up all week.

Some other ideas - is he drinking a lot of caffeine in the afternoon or evening? Does he exercise right before bed? Does he have a TV in his room? All those things can affect sleep.

[Meganator]

Is he tired during the day? If so, it's a problem, but if not, it's not.

[DmOrtega]

He has had various crushes off and on, but has had this sleep problem for over a year. ...

What happened over a year ago? What changed? Something changed for him that has not been resolved. I'd start there.

[jmarie]

Like me, my son was diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). He has to take a prescription medicine, his is different from mine. But he does fine now.

[GingerPow]

It's been discovered that it is a natural cycle for teenagers to feel awake into the late hours, then need to sleep late in the morning. My teenagers are currently in that mode, I remember it myself (quite a few years ago). ;)

"Landmark studies into the adolescent brain have revealed that the contrariness of a teen's biorhythms are in fact just what nature intended. According to Dr. Jay Giedd, chief of brain imaging at the Child Psychiatry Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Bethesda, MD, and colleagues at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) as well as at McGill University in Montreal, daytime sleepiness and late-night alertness are the result of a shift in the sleep/wake cycle as growth hormones kick into high gear. Beginning in 1991, they used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study brain growth in 1,000 children every two years from the age of 3 to 18 years. They found that during the night, growth hormone is released during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) or "dream sleep," which takes place at the end of each sleep cycle."
http://www.canadian-health-network.ca/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1096654414508&pagename=CHN-RCS/CHNResource/CHNResourcePageTemplate&c=CHNResource

Does this describe what your son is experiencing?

[AvrilH]

I had insomnia for years before my thyroid problem was discovered. Could be worthwhile taking your son to the doctor.

[dgeevanson]

It's been discovered that it is a natural cycle for teenagers to feel awake into the late hours, then need to sleep late in the morning. My teenagers are currently in that mode, I remember it myself (quite a few years ago). ;)

"Landmark studies into the adolescent brain have revealed that the contrariness of a teen's biorhythms are in fact just what nature intended. According to Dr. Jay Giedd, chief of brain imaging at the Child Psychiatry Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Bethesda, MD, and colleagues at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) as well as at McGill University in Montreal, daytime sleepiness and late-night alertness are the result of a shift in the sleep/wake cycle as growth hormones kick into high gear. Beginning in 1991, they used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study brain growth in 1,000 children every two years from the age of 3 to 18 years. They found that during the night, growth hormone is released during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) or "dream sleep," which takes place at the end of each sleep cycle."
http://www.canadian-health-network.ca/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1096654414508&pagename=CHN-RCS/CHNResource/CHNResourcePageTemplate&c=CHNResource

Does this describe what your son is experiencing?


This does sound like him. He takes forever to fall asleep and then has to get up early for school, so he doesn't feel rested. We don't let him sleep late on the weekends, because I know it will make it worse for him on Monday. So, Gingerpow what do you do with your child - do you let them sleep in as long as possible on weekdays?

Haven't thought of RLS - thanks I'll check into that.

He doesn't have a TV or computer in his room and he doesn't exercise after dinner.

Hadn't thought of sleep apnea and he only has mild seasonal allergies so I don't know if that could affect it.

I have never smelled cigarette smoke on him and although haven't had him tested for drug use, I have no indication that that is a problem. Friends and other aspects of his life are so on track. This is my fifth teenager so I am not totally naaive about that sort of thing, but I guess you never know.

I appreciate all your comments. Today he came home from school and said that a kid in his band class is rude to him almost every day. Maybe it is stuff like that that is keeping his mind stewing at night instead of falling asleep.

Lots of food for thought. Thanks!!! darla

[dgeevanson]

I had insomnia for years before my thyroid problem was discovered. Could be worthwhile taking your son to the doctor.

Didn't know that was a symptom of a thyroid problem. I think I will go have him checked .

[GingerPow]

I had insomnia for years before my thyroid problem was discovered.
Were you hyper-thyroid? I'm hypo and before meds, all I wanted to do was sleep!

dgeevanson - in answer to your question, I do let my teenagers sleep in a bit on the weekends - work schedules permitting. Not half the day, just till 10ish. I read that some high schools have actually adjusted their starting time since this research came out. I found that interesting.

Since DS is teen #5 for you, have any of your other children experienced this same sleep disturbance?

[Debralynn]

Maybe anxiety ??

[dgeevanson]

Were you hyper-thyroid? I'm hypo and before meds, all I wanted to do was sleep!

dgeevanson - in answer to your question, I do let my teenagers sleep in a bit on the weekends - work schedules permitting. Not half the day, just till 10ish. I read that some high schools have actually adjusted their starting time since this research came out. I found that interesting.

Since DS is teen #5 for you, have any of your other children experienced this same sleep disturbance?

My other kids have not had this problem. I am going to try to let him sleep in a bit longer in the morning before school and see if that helps. When I let my son read that quote that you posted, he said it totally sounded like his problem.

Debralynn - I'm wondering also if the problem might partially be some anxiety about school and teen issues, but is there anything short of prescription meds to help with this?

[BucknellAlum]

Debralynn - I'm wondering also if the problem might partially be some anxiety about school and teen issues, but is there anything short of prescription meds to help with this?

There are definitely alternatives to prescription meds if anxiety is part of the problem. Some ideas are deep breathing exercises. . . specifically to produce what is known as the"relaxation response." I believe Dr. Andrew Weil is a big proponent of this, his website might have more info.

Also guided imagery or meditation are good, although teenage boys might not be very receptive to this. Relaxation tapes, in which you systematically tense and relaxe the muscles are also good.

Exercise is also good to alleviate mild anxiety and depression, but it sounds like he is already into exercise?

There are other techniques to help quiet that racing mind and calm one's self before bed, like warm baths and writing in a journal. Again, not sure how "cool" those sound to a teenage boy!

[GingerPow]

Also guided imagery or meditation are good, although teenage boys might not be very receptive to this. Relaxation tapes, in which you systematically tense and relaxe the muscles are also good.
iTunes has a free Podcast available by "Stin" which contains Creation Station meditations. Her voice is soft and the background sounds carry you away. When I have listened to these meditations on my iPod, I've never finished one! Zzzzzzzz
dgeevanson - I hope that something here is helpful to your DS, at the very least to learn that perhaps it's just a normal teenage growth stage. That can be reassuring unto itself. (I remember being 17, WIDE awake and cleaning my room at midnight. My poor mother. ;) )

[dgeevanson]

Can I just say again how much I appreciate all of you taking the time to respond? Very thoughtful of you all. I have new ideas , things to have checked out, and also some reassurances! Thank you. Darla

[Jessnc]

When I was in college (the first time around) I would always have trouble falling asleep at night. What really helped me was writing everything down that I had on my mind once bed time came. That way, once it was on paper and out of my head I could stop dwelling on it. It was mostly a "to do" list, but it kept my mind from reeling.

I'm not sure if this would help your son any, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

[AvrilH]

Gingerpow- I was ULTRAthyroid! :) It was crazy. My heartrate was 140 when I was SLEEPING (which wasn't too often).

Now I am very HYPO, and know what you mean about sleep. If my meds are off, I'm in bed by 9. Maybe I'm making up for all that last sleep when I was 15.