Sleep & ADHD Adults. Go To Sleep, Stay Asleep & Wake Up Problems
Topic: Problems With Sleep. How To Go To Sleep Easier, Stay Asleep Longer And Wake Up When You Want To. See the other Adult ADHD Issues.
Facilitator: Pete Quily
Thanks for Christopher Stanbury for taking notes
February 2nd 2013 Meeting Notes for the Vancouver Adult ADD Support Group
Many adults with ADHD have problems with going to sleep, staying asleep and waking up on time. Many of us also have sleep disorders and even those who don’t often have troubles with sleep.
Sleep deprivation can look like ADHD and is gasoline on ADHD symptoms. It’s much harder to focus and concentrate if you’re sleep deprived, let alone all of the numerous physical, mental and emotional problems you can have because of lack of sleep.
Sleep is vital for everyone and even more vital for adults with ADHD
1. Warm up question
What is one tactic that has worked for you in helping you to:
a) get to sleep easier or earlier
b) stay asleep
c) wake up on time
2. Sleep Disorders
Circadian Disorder (sleep cycle shifted)
Insomnia
Narcolepsy
Restless Leg Syndrome
Sleep Apnea
Sleep disordered breathing
There are medical problems that can interfere with sleep and non-medical problems too
Sometimes ADHD medications can interfere with sleep AND sometimes ADHD medications can help you focus earlier in the day and reduce distractions so you get more done and are able to get to sleep
Getting the proper ADHD medication(s) dose and timing for your unique biochemistry is important
Many people with ADHD have higher rates of sleep disorders and if they don’t have sleep disorders they have higher rates of problems with going to sleep, staying asleep and waking up
This is for youth but still some interesting points for adults.
Chart from that study. Sleep and ADHD: Bedtime Resistance/Prolonged Sleep Onset
3. Why do ADHDers have more sleep problems than other people?
Anxiety – will not allow you to go to sleep or wakes you up
Depression
Dysthymia
Hopelessness
Hyperfocus
Internet addiction
Last minute panic – working late
Mental hyperactivity, racing brain
No plan to get to bed / routine
Not eating / not eating properly
Physical hyperactivity
Poor executive functions mean you often get less done during the working day so you take your work home and stay up late doing it, and you have trouble creating and maintaining a doable get to sleep routine
Poor planning, poor organization
Poor time management
Rumination
Taking adhd meds too late
Too much coffee/tea/cola and/or too late at night. People’s sensitivity to caffeine can vary quite widely. Some adders have a cup of coffee to help them sleep, some can be effected by caffeine for several hours.
TV/ Computer/ Video game addiction
ADHD and Sleep Problems: Why You’re Always So Tired by William Dodson, M.D.
4. Ways to get to sleep
Black out blinds so your bedroom is in full darkness
Booze might get you to sleep sometimes but it often gives you crappier sleep and you often wake up more often during the night. Try other methods, especially since people with ADHD have higher rates of alcoholism and higher rates of drug addiction, 30-50% +, let alone behavioural addictions like gambling, internet addiction, etc
Caffeine (for some, not all)
Chamomille or other calming herbal tea
Do not look at clock when you wake up during the middle of the night
Gentle exercise in late afternoon or early evening
Google the Alexander technique for constructive rest. Highly, highly reccommend doing it during the day, and just before you go to bed to give your nervous system the equivalant of a warm bath and relex the nerves and muscles of your back and get the cerebral spinal fluid flowing freely up and down your spine
Guided audio meditation, or other types of meditation
Have a pad of paper and pen beside your bed and if you have a worry or something you think you have to do tomorrow? Write it down to get them out of your head so they’re not taking up psychic rent, and causing you to worry. BUT you must review it the next day so you can trust your system so it will work
Hot bath or shower
Internet Addiction problems? Many ADHD adults have them. Check out Internet Addiction Wake Up Devices
Keep your bedroom as dark as possible
Know your sleep patterns. Respect your sleep patterns
Mental body scan
Nap before noon / or a maximum of ½ hour if afternoon. Experiment to find out what time and how long is the best nap for you vs someone else.
Night lights can interfere with your sleep
Plan a bedtime wind down routine
Progressive relaxation
Proper sleep hygiene
Relaxing music
Remove clutter from bedroom
Review tomorows to do list before going to sleep so you don’t worry about it while going to sleep
Skull cap / toque
Take short, healthy non electronic breaks during the working day so you’re not fried out by the time you get home.
Taking melatonin
Turn off electronics, TV / internet / video one to one and a half hours before bed to allow the electronic stimulation that amps up your already racing brain to gradually subside so you can go to sleep
Warm milk
White noise (for some) / nature sounds
Your bedroom is for sleep & sex. Don’t use it for anything else.
5. Ways to stay asleep
Be aware of your body (are you too agitated?)
Don’t drink too much water late at night
Get out of bed after x minutes vs toss and turn for hours
Have more than 1 option
If you don’t find healthy ways to reduce your physical and mental hyperactivity before going to bed, you’ll increase the likelyhood of you waking up in the middle of the night
Meditate
Melatonin
No night lights unless needed
Notice and document your patterns
Progressive relaxation in bed
Routine to get back to sleep
See what works for you
Sleep hygiene
Stay in bed for x minutes before getting up
Warm milk
6. How to wake up in the morning and get out of bed
Alarm clock away from bed so you have to literally get your ass out of bed vs slapping the buzzer and going back to bed
Don’t use the snooze button – it is evil
Go to sleep earlier, have an alarm to remind you when to start and a get ready for bed routine
Reward system for getting up early
Set 2 alarms. When it’s late at night and you’re tired it’s easy to forget to set one properly ie right time or make sure the alarm is properly set. Having 2 set can save you from yourself
Set alarm for same time every day
Start your day earlier
Turn off phone
Use buzzer on alarm clock rather than radio
Use the radio station you hate to wake up i.e., a disco station.
Want more creative alarm options? See The Top Ten Most Annoying Alarm Clocks. ADHD Strategic Management
7. Design your sleep plan
Work in pairs or 3s. Pick a specific problem you have with sleep, going to sleep, staying asleep, or waking up.
i.e., Going to bed too late
Why do you have the specific problem?
What makes it worse?
What will make it better?
When will you do the specific actions that help you with your sleep problem? Pick a date and time. Tomorrow or later never happens for adders
How will you remember to do it at that specific time? I’ll magically remember without a reminder or alarm rarely happens for ADHD adults.
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