How to Deal With Teenage Insomnia

A teenager that's dosing off during the day may seem normal, but this should be a warning for parents. Their teen may suffer from insomnia. Does your teenager wakes up frequently at night or can't get to sleep at bedtime? The first potential sign for insomnia is a adolescent who is constantly tired all day long.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Talk with your teenager about their sleep habits. Trouble falling asleep, wakes often, wakes too early in the morning or feels tired in the morning, he may have insomnia.
2. Promote healthy exercise during the day. Some teens lack physical activity that helps regulate their body's time clocks.
3. Make an appointment with a pediatrician. Write down your teen's sleep patterns. Include when he is awake, sleeping and when he seems most tired during the day. Your doctor may use this to determine if he has insomnia.
4. Keep track of your adolescent's daily life to help the doctor determine if the insomnia is brought on by another medical, physical or mental condition such as depression, asthma, heartburn, alcohol or drug abuse.
5. Discuss life issues with your teenager. Know what's happening with your adolescent by having regular conversations with them. A leading cause of teenage insomnia is stress from school, work or relationships.
6. Eliminate any environmental factors in your teenager's bedroom that affects his sleep. Put in dark shades, get rid of noisy radios, keep the temperature regulated.

Tips & Warnings

• Establish a quiet bedtime routine for your teen.
• The doctor may recommend a sleep clinic to address your teenager's problem.
• Don't let your teen drink alcohol or use drugs. Besides being dangerous, they can also cause insomnia.
• Don't allow your teen to drink caffeine less than 2 hours prior to bedtime.
• Don't let your teen exercise or do to much physical activity before bedtime.