Adult ADHD and Sleep Problems

Everyone needs 7-9 hours of sleep each night to feel productive and well during the day. But people with ADHD often have a hard time falling or staying asleep.

Because you feel tired, your ADHD symptoms get worse, and that makes it harder to sleep the next night. This cycle repeats. And it happens to a lot of people. One study found that roughly two thirds of people with ADHD — 67% — found it hard to get a good night’s sleep.

But why? And what’s the solution? While experts don’t know exactly how sleep woes and ADHD are linked, they do know about some of the possible causes and what might help.

On top of the normal things that can keep anyone from getting a good night’s rest, there can be extra challenges if you have ADHD. These include:

Trouble keeping a schedule. People with ADHD are often easily distracted and find it tough to stop projects, tune out interruptions, and go to bed. Even once you’re in bed, it can be hard to quiet your mind and relax enough to sleep.

Stimulants. The stimulant medications often used to treat ADHD can make you feel more awake and can make sleeping harder. That’s on top of any caffeine you get from sources like coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate.

Other conditions. Often people with ADHD also have anxiety, depression, mood disorders, or substance abuse problems that can make falling and staying asleep difficult.

Sleep disorders are more than a bad night’s sleep. And if you have one, it can steal your rest and make you more distractible and impulsive during the day. These conditions are so common among people who have ADHD that experts often check on sleep problems when they’re diagnosing ADHD.

Some of the more common sleep disorders to watch for include:

Circadian-rhythm sleep disorders. Your body makes changes throughout the day to adjust to the amount of light and darkness in a 24-hour period. Sometimes your body may not be in tune with the cycle and might not release hormones like melatonin at the right time. That, in turn, can make it hard to fall asleep. Bright lights, especially artificial blue lights from laptops and tablets, can throw off your body’s inner clock.

Sleep apnea
. People with sleep apnea stop and start breathing throughout the night. It messes with your rest and leaves you feeling tired. About 3% of all people and 25% of those with ADHD have sleep apnea or some other “sleep-disordered breathing” problem. If you snore loudly, you may want to mention this to your doctor because it can be a sign of sleep apnea.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS). Symptoms include limb discomfort and a strong urge to move your legs while you sleep. Some people describe the feeling as pulling, throbbing, aching, or itching inside your leg. About 2% of all people and 44% of those with ADHD have RLS.

If you have ADHD and trouble sleeping, you should tell your doctor. You might need a change in your medications to make sleeping easier, or you might do a sleep study to see if there is another underlying cause of your sleeplessness.

If you’ve ruled out other causes, then your ADHD symptoms may be to blame. You may be able to improve your rest by doing the following healthy habits and routines. You should:

SOURCES:

National Sleep Foundation: “How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?”

National Institute of Mental Health: “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): The Basics.”

Neuropsychiatry: “Identifying and Managing Sleep Disorders Associated with ADHD.”

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica: “Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Insomnia in Adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.”

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD): “ADHD, Sleep and Sleep Disorders.”

The Mayo Clinic: “Sleep Apnea,” “Restless Legs Syndrome.”

Pagination

Some say it’s the hardest part of life with ADHD.

See what adult ADHD looks like.

Which activities can help relieve symptoms?

What to know about withdrawal.

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Adult ADHD and Sleep Problems

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