This is the link between sleep problems and ADHD

Do you have ADHD and do you regularly lie awake in bed for hours? you’re not the only one. About eighty percent of adults with ADHD have this. This insomnia, in turn, can have a negative effect on ADHD. We explain what you need to know about the relationship between sleep problems and ADHD.

And can you also do something to improve your sleep rhythm?

The link between sleep problems and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Most adults with ADHD primarily have trouble sleeping. Psychiatrist Sandra Koig specializes in ADHD in adults, the elderly, and simple She soon discovered that the majority of her patients slept late. Most of them only sleep between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m., because they weren’t tired before that time. According to Kooij, they often suffer from sleep problems throughout their lives. This is also referred to as a temporal pattern, which indicates a genetic predisposition to a chronic pattern of sleeping late. So there is clearly a link between ADHD and sleep problems. On the one hand, you become anxious due to ADHD, so that you cannot sleep, and on the other hand, you become restless due to lack of sleep.

Additionally, research shows that this combination of insomnia and ADHD reduces productivity and mental health declines.

sleep hormone production

The fact that people with ADHD have trouble sleeping also has to do with the sleep hormone melatonin. This usually happens in your brain around 9:30 p.m., but research shows that in people with ADHD this happens only an hour and a half later. As a result, people with ADHD often stay awake for longer before they eventually get tired.

Read also:
Why is ADHD often diagnosed so late, especially in women

Treat sleep problems

According to Kooij, treating ADHD sleep problems is both possible and important. If you sleep poorly for a long time, this can have consequences for your health. In the long run, you can suffer from depression, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and can increase your risk of cancer. According to the psychiatrist, there are two main factors: light therapy in the morning to wake up and stopping melatonin production and increased melatonin production in the evening. The latter can be done, for example, with a dose of melatonin before bedtime. You can buy melatonin tablets at a pharmacy, but the correct dosage is very important. The wrong amount can also worsen your sleep problems. This is why it is wise to always use this in consultation with your healthcare provider.

source | simpleAnd GZ- Psychology
picture | Getty Images

Read more