Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that can result in symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or both. Insomnia can occur in addition to ADHD, and if this happens, the insomnia symptoms should be brought to the attention of the mental health professional treating the person with ADHD or her doctor so the negative consequences of ADHD and insomnia are reduced.
Basics
There are some people with ADHD who also experience insomnia. There are a variety of different reasons these problems occur together, but whatever the reason, they generally do not benefit one another. According to HelpGuide.org, an inability to get quality sleep every night can increase ADHD symptoms because lack of sleep increases stress and an inability to cope or maintain focus.
Signs and Symptoms
Signs a person with ADHD is experiencing insomnia include increased irritability, expression of fatigue, increased inability to focus, lack of desire to go to bed at night, napping during the day time, complaining about waking up in the middle of the night, waking up and being unable to fall asleep and lying awake for hours when they are supposed to be sleeping.
Consequences
Medications are often used to treat ADHD, and the medications can actually trigger problems with sleep. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports when a child cannot fall asleep due to stimulant medications, doctors will often prescribe a lower dose or a shorter-acting form of treatment medication. Also, the doctor may change the time at which the dose is given, such as stopping it in the afternoon or evening, or an additional medication such as a low dose of an antidepressant or blood pressure medication to help induce sleep, notes the NIMH.
Considerations
If insomnia is a problem for a person with ADHD, it is important to treat the insomnia as a way to reduce the ADHD, and the treatment should not focus only on the primary ADHD symptoms. Science Daily website reports the findings of Dr. Susan Shur-Fen Gau, which state treating the sleep disorders of a person with ADHD can actually reduce ADHD symptoms overall.
Tips
To reduce the chances of experiencing insomnia as a result of ADHD, there are some adjustments a person can make. Getting regular exercise will help burn off excess energy levels that are often associated with ADHD, making it easier for a person with ADHD to get to sleep at night and sleep through the night.
Also, limiting caffeine intake, especially in the late afternoon and evening, will help reduce the chances of a person experiencing insomnia.
In addition, maintaining a regular sleep-wake schedule will help a person with ADHD overcome insomnia. Going to bed at the same time every night and waking up at the same time every morning can help train the body to fall asleep.
