subject: Insomnia in Teenagers [print this page] Insomnia in Teenagers Insomnia in Teenagers
Have you wondered why your teenager prefers to stay up late watching crappy TV? Do you wish you could get to the bottom of their horrid mood swings? Are you sick of the constant battle to get them out of bed in the morning? Well, research suggests it's not simply because teens are grumpy and don't want to go to school and like crap TV. Many teens actually suffer from teenage insomnia.
A recent study into US teens showed 90% experienced problems sleeping at least twice per week. Teenagers need at least 8 and a half hours sleep each night, so, unless they go to bed very early, they probably won't get enough sleep most nights. Teenagers often try to "catch up" on sleep by sleeping in during the weekend
Teenage insomnia is generally caused by two reasons. First, it is during the teenage years that the body completely reprograms itself. Not only do hormones change, but the body clock changes. A child's body clock causes them to feel sleepy around 8-9pm, but a teen's clock is reprogramming itself to feel sleepy much later.
All these hormones wreck havoc with the body's sleep patterns, so often, a teenager doesn't even know whether they feel tired or not.
Added to this, typical teenage behavior involves staying up late, going to parties and experimenting with drinking, cigarettes and drugs, all of which have a negative effect on a person's ability to sleep. Add the stress of exams, peer pressure and strained relationships with parents, and it's no surprise teens have trouble sleeping.
Teenage insomnia can account for many of the bad behavior teenagers exhibit, like their moodiness and sullenness. Your teen may be having trouble concentrating at school, so their schoolwork may suffer. Insomnia can lead to depression, anxiety and other mood disorders, which can be devastating to a teen.
Young people are also more at risk of falling asleep at the wheel and getting into an accident.
If you suspect your teenager may have insomnia, you should have them checked out by a doctor or sleep expert. Plenty of treatments are available, including herbal remedies.
For more information about insomnia and sleep remedies you can visit the Sleep and Insomnia Guide
