Sleep disorders common in people with ASD?

I love the idea of building model boats or planes, though in practise I do not have the patience with it. I used to glue and paint little figures when I was younger, but I have always hit a wall after doing a few, and I end up with more in peces and unpainted than finished.

Writing is something i do enjoy, though I have found that writing books is not for me, as I go into hyper detail and waffle on. It has given me a better appreciation for the skill of the writers I enjoy reading though.

My go to is the documentary. I love learning things, and have often filled up the family TV hard drive with obscure learning programs from around the world. My kids homework is often far more detailed than others in their class, but I love helping pass on things I have learned to them (Also they usually seem far more interested than most adults I know!)

I don't have any games consoles, but I have always thought I would like computer games. Something that changes to prevent boredom, challenging enough to engage the brain, but not too much suspense (Like fighting multi player type things)

Do you have any suggestions?

I have this same problem too. My brain just does not switch off, even if there isn't an event or appointment, my head will still whizz around. Especially when the kids are off school & my routine is completely disrupted, so I know what's going to happen with the upcoming summer holidays. 

& yeah I've never been comfortable with the idea of taking anything that will sedate me in any way (even slightly) when I have kids. 

This question was mainly just to check if sleeping problems were; in fact, truly common amongst people with ASD. Apparently it would seem so.

So; the next time I struggle to sleep, I'll just get out of bed & catch up on some artwork or writing. 
Have you thought about taking up a crafting hobby? Like building model planes or one of those giant boats? Reading or writing, drawing or painting, or knitting or crochet? I'm looking into teaching myself how to crochet (there's plenty of how-to vids on YouTube), I want to make blankets & other bits & bobs; it looks like it would be relaxing to just sit & make something like that.

(plus playing computer games is always great too)

I have a real problem with suspense, and when I have meetings at work the following day, or some sort of presentation to do I can almost always bet on a night of very little sleep. As a lot of my job is email based with colleagues in different time zones I also do a lot of waiting for issues to be resolved, or I have suggested a solution that I then have to wait for a response for.

I have not been able to find an effective way of avoiding the anxiety and suspense. When I have had jobs that I can 'leave work at work' I have found I find other things that my brain wants to deal with instead, so I think its something hardwired into the brain that it needs something to mull over.

I also have 3 children, so sedatives are not an option I would be happy with as they would render me useless in any kind of situation where I am needed in the night.

Some sort of hobby that would be a good nocturnal distraction, whilst not waking children or making a mess would be a winner for me and my partner!  Suggestions most welcome!

That's the thing, I have three kids & the idea of taking any sort of supplement to knock me out really unsettles me. To be frank, I know that I will need something really strong in order to get me to sleep, & sleep all the way through, that's why I'm not comfortable with the idea of taking any pills (feeling 'relaxed' or 'sleepy' isn't enough some nights).
I have a fan in the room, black out curtains, I've changed my diet, gotten more exercise, gone out of the house more, taken measures to relax before bed, I've done so much for so many years but nothing really seems to work. Some nights I get tired & will go to bed, only to be awake for another hour or two & then wake up repeatedly through the night, other nights I really struggle to sleep at all.
It's not so much me looking for a 'solution', because I know the solution is to basically be knocked out every night to get a decent nights sleep, & there's no way I'm doing that. This was more me asking if sleep problems really is a common problem for ASD people or not. I guess it is :)

Apparently as a baby the slightest movement I would awaken when my mum tried to get me to sleep. I find zopiclone or valerian root helps.  I usually have a fan near my bed as I tend to get hot!!!

People with that many letters have an alphabet soup diagnosis :-)

Seriously though I don't know if your GP can prescribe melatonin for you but it's worth asking the question.

I've just been reading the research on using methylphenidate (ritalin) close to sleep times and it might help some people slow down enough to sleep.

Me, I listen to a lot of BBC radio - thank goodness for internet streamed radio!

Well I do have undiagosed ADHD & OCD, so that's obviously part of it. When I went for my ASD assessment the psychiatrist did mention ADHD & try to push me to get checked, but I just scoffed at the idea & didn't think I had it, & I was concentrating so much on the ASD.
Later I did further reading on the different 'types' of ADHD, & it left me thinking 'oooooh.... crap. Yeah maybe I should have been checked for that too'. Sod's law eh? I'm just a mess of walking acronyms Haha.

ADHD has a huge issue of sleep disorders. My SD20 will be asking the psychiatrist for help. My SO is stubbornly resisting a trial of melatonin.

SD16 has ASD and sleeps the best of us all when she's here and got her own spaces. She comes to us tired because she co-sleeps with her mother (grrrr!)