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Autism and insomnia

Helen

I don’t know where to turn. My autistic 17-year-old girl struggles so much to sleep at night but then can sleep all day but is still exhausted. She suffers from extreme anxiety. Her psychiatrist has gradually prescribed more and more medication. Sertraline for the anxiety, then three different medications to help her sleep. I hate her taking so many pills and am desperate to find someone or some other way for her to get a good night’s sleep. Without it, I don’t see how she will ever be able to lead a ‘normal’ life. She wants to go to college but it seems impossible if she can’t sleep at night. Has anyone else had similar problems? What did you do? What help is available? Doctors don’t seem to have any answers, just pills.

  • Teenagers in general just tend to be more night owl ish. It’s a side effect of the hormones. Depression also causes sleep disruption. Also I think there is some evidence to suggest that autism is associated with more extreme nigh owlish sleep patterns which are more likely to last into adulthood.

    at the end of the day what really helped me sleep when I was battling depression was feeling like I had had a day. It was very important to get out of the house and do things, not just repetitive obligations like school or work. Real leisure activities. A meal in a restaurant or a social meet up of some sort. Something to make you feel the day hadn’t all been going through the motions.

  • Many many of us suffer from insomnia. 

    There could be other causes.  In my case I was eventually diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, this caused me to instantly wake up in the middle of the night and I couldn't fall back asleep.

    I worry about her being prescribed too many sleeping pills.  Too many pills make it too easy to overdose.

  • That is really tough, im sorry to hear that. I think its quite common for autistic people not to be able to sleep. Anxiety is always far worse at night. I can share some of the things ive tried but I cant promise they will work for her

    Staying away from phone and social media before bed

    Not going to bed until you are actually sleepy

    Putting a familiar programme on tv that you know all the words to and falling asleep watching it

    Visualising somewhere that makes you happy and that you feel comfortable while you are lying in bed trying to sleep