Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders have become a very common -- and very serious -- cause of academic difficulty in adolescent and young adult students. This is so apparent on college campuses that many universities and colleges have put "Sleep Hygiene" information on their student websites, to encourage sound sleep in adequate amounts.
See for example, the following:
From Harvard University:
https://summer.harvard.edu/blog/why-you-should-make-a-good-nights-sleep-a-priority/
From Stanford University:
https://longevity.stanford.edu/lifestyle/2024/01/10/sleep-and-academic-excellence-a-deeper-look/
From Cornell University: https://health.cornell.edu/resources/health-topics/sleep
From the University of Oregon: https://sleepstudy.uoregon.edu/
Clearly, sleep is an important issue for serious students to consider!! Why? Because not getting enough restful sleep keeps your brain from functioning at its best, and that can cause all kinds of problems. Attention problems are very common in people who don't sleep well -- and this can have nothing at all to do with ADHD, but it can look and feel quite similar! If sleep deprivation goes on too long, it can affect memory, increase vulnerability to depression, and even undermine physical health.
Sleep disorders can show up at any age, and symptoms of a sleep disorder should always be discussed with your doctor. But what do we mean by a "sleep disorder"?
There are many, many reasons why a person doesn't get enough restful, restorative sleep. Some people have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, which is called Insomnia. Others have upsetting nightmares that too often disrupt their sleep. These difficulties can have various causes, but all may require professional support, in the form of medical consultation and/or counseling, to fully resolve. Seeking help for these difficulties is very, very important.
Others are quite able to sleep through the night, yet wake up still feeling tired, and may get quite sleepy, at some point during the day. This can also have many causes. One common one is breathing-related sleep disorders, that cause people to literally stop breathing while they are asleep. Movement disorders can lead to a failure of the normal "shutdown" of motor activity during sleep. This can manifest as "restless legs", sleep-walking, sleep-talking, or in a variety of other ways. Problems with sleep cycle can show up in people who have irregular sleeping hours due to changing work schedules or frequent travel over long distances, or who simply have very irregular sleep habits (often called "poor sleep hygiene"). Seasonal sleep problems can also occur, especially in places that are further from the equator, and therefore, have winters with fewer hours of sunlight and longer nights.
Finally, alcohol, marijuana, and some medications (both prescribed and over-the-counter) can cause trouble with sleep, also. Alcohol is a major cause of less than restful sleep -- even a single drink might affect sleep quality, an effect that is often not noticed, because the person FEELS more relaxed, and might fall asleep more easily. Regular, heavy drinking, of course, seriously disrupts sleep, and lead to cognitive changes that CAN become permanent. Marijuana may also seem to help the user relax, but some types can also disrupt sleep. Illegal drugs often cause sleep problems, too. Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can affect sleep also, such as ADHD medications and popular head cold remedies.
If you have had some of these problems, or if someone who has slept in the same room with you has suggested you might, please see your doctor! A sleep medicine specialist may be very helpful in determining why your sleep isn't restful, and how to help you get that important part of your health and well-being back in place.
Sleep disorders have become a very common -- and very serious -- cause of academic difficulty in adolescent and young adult students. This is so apparent on college campuses that many universities and colleges have put "Sleep Hygiene" information on their student websites, to encourage sound sleep in adequate amounts.
See for example, the following:
From Harvard University:
https://summer.harvard.edu/blog/why-you-should-make-a-good-nights-sleep-a-priority/
From Stanford University:
https://longevity.stanford.edu/lifestyle/2024/01/10/sleep-and-academic-excellence-a-deeper-look/
From Cornell University: https://health.cornell.edu/resources/health-topics/sleep
From the University of Oregon: https://sleepstudy.uoregon.edu/
Clearly, sleep is an important issue for serious students to consider!! Why? Because not getting enough restful sleep keeps your brain from functioning at its best, and that can cause all kinds of problems. Attention problems are very common in people who don't sleep well -- and this can have nothing at all to do with ADHD, but it can look and feel quite similar! If sleep deprivation goes on too long, it can affect memory, increase vulnerability to depression, and even undermine physical health.
Sleep disorders can show up at any age, and symptoms of a sleep disorder should always be discussed with your doctor. But what do we mean by a "sleep disorder"?
There are many, many reasons why a person doesn't get enough restful, restorative sleep. Some people have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, which is called Insomnia. Others have upsetting nightmares that too often disrupt their sleep. These difficulties can have various causes, but all may require professional support, in the form of medical consultation and/or counseling, to fully resolve. Seeking help for these difficulties is very, very important.
Others are quite able to sleep through the night, yet wake up still feeling tired, and may get quite sleepy, at some point during the day. This can also have many causes. One common one is breathing-related sleep disorders, that cause people to literally stop breathing while they are asleep. Movement disorders can lead to a failure of the normal "shutdown" of motor activity during sleep. This can manifest as "restless legs", sleep-walking, sleep-talking, or in a variety of other ways. Problems with sleep cycle can show up in people who have irregular sleeping hours due to changing work schedules or frequent travel over long distances, or who simply have very irregular sleep habits (often called "poor sleep hygiene"). Seasonal sleep problems can also occur, especially in places that are further from the equator, and therefore, have winters with fewer hours of sunlight and longer nights.
Finally, alcohol, marijuana, and some medications (both prescribed and over-the-counter) can cause trouble with sleep, also. Alcohol is a major cause of less than restful sleep -- even a single drink might affect sleep quality, an effect that is often not noticed, because the person FEELS more relaxed, and might fall asleep more easily. Regular, heavy drinking, of course, seriously disrupts sleep, and lead to cognitive changes that CAN become permanent. Marijuana may also seem to help the user relax, but some types can also disrupt sleep. Illegal drugs often cause sleep problems, too. Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can affect sleep also, such as ADHD medications and popular head cold remedies.
If you have had some of these problems, or if someone who has slept in the same room with you has suggested you might, please see your doctor! A sleep medicine specialist may be very helpful in determining why your sleep isn't restful, and how to help you get that important part of your health and well-being back in place.