Smoking Facts Teenagers

Adolescent Insomnia – How to Help Your Teens Conquer Insomnia

If you are not aware of the impact of insomnia among adolescents, you can take a second search. No wonder you can not keep your teenagers to watch the show late night, or why they always looked tired in the morning after going to bed early. Insomnia or sleep disorders among teenagers may not appear serious at first, but insomnia in teenagers is very much a reality. In fact, insomnia in teenagers is very common.

In a study particularly among American teenagers, over 90% reported having problems sleeping at least twice a week in the past year. For some, insomnia seemed chronic and recurrent, from the age of 11 years.

And because the school the next day, the adolescents still need to get up early, despite the lack of sleep. This sleep deprivation can cause irritability, mood swings, and difficulty learning and concentration, which affects school performance of adolescents. A more serious effect of insomnia is that it may be a prelude depression or anxiety. Studies also show that young people (16-29 years) are more prone to automobile accidents as a result falling asleep at the wheel.

Causes of insomnia among adolescents

In early puberty, the biological clock of a person changes. Before adolescence, this clock directs the person to fall asleep naturally around 8 or 9 hours. For teenagers, but this time is delayed two hours or more later.

In addition, as this age is usually the time of exploration and discovery among adolescents is is when they start drinking, smoking and staying out late with friends. They may also start drinking coffee to stay alert during the day. These habits, though, can cause or aggravate insomnia among adolescents and may lead to other sleep disorders.

Stress at school as peer pressure academic performance and relationship with teachers can also contribute to insomnia.

Some cases of insomnia, though, can begin in childhood and continue through adolescence. Insomnia in children usually occurs when the child became dependent on a person or a condition that he / she associates with sleep – for example, a parent. Otherwise, these children have a hard time sleeping.

Treatment of insomnia in adolescents

Here are some treatments for insomnia among adolescents. Although they may be on yourself, it is always best to consult a doctor or qualified medical practitioner.

1) light therapy. Expose your teens bright light in the morning. This will help their body feel it is time to wake up. A device called a one day box can be used for this end.

2) On the other hand, keeping the room dark or in dim light may signal to the body it is time sleep.

3) chronotherapy. Sleeps delay of two or three hours every evening gradually over several successive nights. For example, if your child usually sleeps at midnight, you can make him stay until 2 or 3:00 and get up to 10 or 11 hours. The next night, he / she sleep at 6 am and wake up 2 hours, and so on. Continue this until you reach the desired bedtime. It may be better done late the summer break.

4) Medications with melatonin. Melatonin, a sleep hormone may help you. Let your child take five hours before the desired bedtime. Taking this, however, should be more of a last resort because it can have side effects. It is preferable take this under the supervision of a physician.

Apart from these treatments, you can follow these steps to help your teens sleep better:

1) Encourage them to exercise during the day, but not within three hours before bedtime. Regular exercise can help to establish habits healthy sleep.

2) deter them from doing their homework or something that stimulates the intellect, one hour before bedtime.

3) Decrease of caffeine in their diet.

4) Remove distractions from their bedroom, such as telephone or television.

5) If they are concerned by things to do tomorrow, let them make a list to eliminate anxiety for the moment.

Though insomnia in teenagers can be serious, it is possible to treat. With you and your teens are working together, they can sleep better and healthier.

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