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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.

Parents

  • 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.

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  • 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.

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