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How ADHD Can Hamper Your Sleep Schedule & Best Solutions

A sound sleep is the prerequisite for waking up feeling refreshed the next day. How we sleep at night can have a significant role in enhancing our feelings and productivity. However, sleeping can be a tough challenge for people with ADHD. In this case, people complain about physical and mental restlessness, causing them to toss and turn in bed all night. As a result, they feel exhausted the next day, and their body aches overall. Today, we will take a look at the different ways in which ADHD can hamper your regular sleep and the way-outs.

Insomnia

Even with a sedentary lifestyle, you might find sleeping difficult at night. These sudden spurts of energy might meddle with their sleep routine, leading to insomnia. We often focus on important projects at night as there are fewer distractions than in the daytime. But with time, this can tamper with your entire routine and change your sleep-wake routine. The condition worsens for people with ADHD who experience sleepiness and restlessness during the daytime. 

Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Sleep apnea and snoring are two of the most common types of sleep-disordered breathing, which is prevalent in around 33% of patients who have ADHD. This can make it challenging to relax correctly at night, causing sleepiness the following day. If you are facing a similar situation, then you can find an adhd doctor online.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Do you experience a tingling sensation in your legs, making it difficult to enjoy a good night’s sleep? If yes, then chances are high that you are suffering from restless leg syndrome. This periodic leg movement impacts around 50% of people with ADHD. Research studies have pointed out that dopamine and iron deficiencies are the key contributors to restless leg syndrome, both of which are associated with ADHD.

Narcolepsy

If you are suffering from narcolepsy, then you might doze off countless times during the day, only to have difficulty sleeping soundly at night. Adults who experience narcolepsy had ADHD as a child in most cases. 

Now that you have learned about the different ways in which ADHD can hamper your sleep schedule, let’s take a look at the various ways to improve this condition:

  • Caffeine can meddle with your sleep schedule and make you more awakened. This is the reason why students increase their caffeine intake before exam day. If you already have ADHD, then caffeine is a strict no-no. Even if you sip a cup of coffee during the day, having it before bedtime can make you more restless. The same can be said about sugar, which increases our energy levels and makes us more active. 
  • Suppose you have an important presentation to make the next day. Rather than spending the evening on it, try setting an early alarm for the next morning so that you can submit it on time. Studies have suggested that engaging in activities that require us to hyper-focus in the evening can hamper our sleep schedules.
  • Bed is the place where we rest after a tiring day at work. It should be explicitly reserved for sleeping, resting, and love-making. If you tend to carry out your daily activities, from having breakfast to working and sitting in your bed, it is bound to become difficult to fall asleep at night. 

Conclusion

If you want to improve sleep disorders of yourself or any ADHD individual, then the first step would be to treat the underlying sleep disorders. Consulting a doctor can help pinpoint your particular issue and proceed with the necessary treatments. Though sleep medication might tamper with your existing ADHD conditions and aggravate the same, talking to a doctor is mandatory before starting with any supplements. 

 

About the author

Jamie Moses

Jamie Moses founded Artvoice in 1990

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