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Sleep and waking up.

FRINGE

Hi.

My 17 year old is really struggling with sleep and more so waking up.

He's not lazy, he literally cannot wake up. He's not really present and doesn't respond, it's like he's not there and is totally zoned out.

I struggle to get him to college and he only goes in the afternoons and it's having an affect on college now.

He goes to bed at a reasonable hour, we've tried relaxation, herbal remedies, no tv all sorts but his brain just seems more alive at night.

Has anyone's teen had prescription meds for sleep? I'm at a loss and I don't want him to carry on this way as he will never hold down a job at this rate.

Thank you x

  • You say he goes to bed at a reasonable hour, but is he going straight to sleep or laying awake thinking about stuff? When I was working I often found it hard to switch off and get to sleep, but it doesn't happen so much now since I retired. It was because at work there was a lot of unpredictability and sensory input to deal with, which I expect is the same for your son at college.

    I have always needed a lot of sleep and I still do - I often sleep 10 or 11 hours a night although it's sometimes less, but the least I can manage well on is about 8.5. I also had problems waking up early for work, particularly on dark winter mornings.

    If I can't get to sleep I find reading can help, and as I have a Kindle I set my screen to blue shade setting which is supposed to aid getting to sleep. I also have a Lumie alarm clock which has a sunrise type light that gradually gets brighter during the 30 minutes before the alarm sound starts, which is supposed to help the brain wake up. There are various sounds such as waves or birdsong to choose from, which are less jarring than the usual beeping. I still use this now I'm retired - I have just set it to start at a later time.

  • Doctors frequently treat ASD-related sleep difficulties with melatonin which helps to regulate sleep patterns.  There is some evidence to show it is also beneficial for anxiety and depression.   Melatonin is a hormone that naturally occurs in the body, and supplements augment this.   It is quite likely that your Doctor would prescribe this in the first instance, as it is a go-to therapy for the NHS and NICE approved, and I've known several people that have taken it, normally quite successfully. 

  • in reply to FRINGE
    FRINGE said:
    I think the move to college is harder for him that he will admit.

    There’s also some good advice here about strategies and support for helping with education transitions, and help in further and higher education:

    NAS - Education

  • in reply to Bunny

    Thank you for your reply.

    Yes I definitely plan to contact the GP.

    I think the move to college is harder for him that he will admit. He really loves it but it's very different as he came from a non-mainstream school. 

  • Hi and welcome to the community.

    I'm sorry to hear of your son's struggles. 

    I suggest discussing this with his GP, who should be able to help.

    You might also find the advice here helpful (perhaps both the Autistic adults and Parents and families versions):

    NAS - Sleep and autism

    It explains, just for example, how one of the reasons why autistic people can have disturbed sleep patterns can be:

    "hypersomnia - sleeping too much. Increased exhaustion could be caused by the additional stress autistic people experience in social situations."

    I must stress: this is not medical advice or even my opinion about what the cause might be. It's just one example of the many potential reasons / explanations for disrupted sleep in autistic people. To reiterate, I suggest discussing this issue with his GP.