|
|
|
Falling Asleep - An ADD Nightmare |
|
|
Falling Asleep - An ADD Nightmare By ADD Coach Jennifer Koretsky © Copyright 2003
Like many “night people,” I have a hard time waking up in the morning, but I have an even harder time falling asleep at night. When I spoke to my doctor about this problem, she offered me a very simple solution: take three hours to "wind down" before bed. Don’t do anything stimulating in the evening that will engage your brain. Relax, unwind, and you’ll find yourself falling asleep much easier at night. Sounds simple, right? Not when you have ADD!
People with ADD (also known as Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD) often find themselves chronically tired during the day, but unable to sleep at night. This can be true for adults and kids alike. Some of us seem to have our own internal schedule – a body and mind that want to sleep all day and be productive at night. Unfortunately, most of the world doesn’t work this way. Many people with ADD have a schedule to conform to, and find themselves suffering with sleepless nights and sluggish days.
But if we have a possible solution – don’t do anything stimulating three hours before bed – then why do we still have a problem? I know that if I can manage to spend a relaxing evening free from |
 |
End your insomnia and sleep problems tonight with effective sleep solutions!
Don’t spend another night struggling to fall asleep!
Click here for more info!
|
|
|
|
stimulation, I have a much easier time both falling asleep and sleeping soundly. Unfortunately, relaxing and winding down in the evening is not as easy as it seems. Two main symptoms of ADD are hyperactivity (which can be physical and/or mental) and impulsiveness. These are two things that constantly tempt the brain to get active. Additionally, once a task or project is picked up, people with ADD have the potential to “hyperfocus” on it and lose track of time. In order to avoid this and wind down, I find it best to adhere to a routine. I have to schedule my activities for the evening, and not allow myself to get caught up in anything that I find engaging, like emailing, talking on the phone, or even picking up an interesting book.
When scheduling your evenings and developing a routine, whether it is for yourself or your child, identify the one or two things that usually provide the most stimulation and eliminate them from the pre-bedtime hours. In my own routine, I begin my wind down by shutting off my computer right after dinner. This prevents me from getting caught up in email, research, or any other number of interesting things that the Internet has to offer.
The next thing to consider when planning your routine is to schedule in
|
|
|
|
TODAY'S NEWS:
Shares of Somaxon Pharmaceuticals Inc. rose Tuesday after the company said it launched its new insomnia drug. Silenor was approved in March by the Food and Drug Administration to treat short-term and long-term insomnia.
Insomnia Revealed, an informational website on the sleep disorder of insomnia, has expanded its information base, and added new information about insomnia causes .There are over five hundred different causes of insomnia which makes this sleep disorder so common. Insomnia Revealed has articles on the most common, uncommon causes of insomnia...
A new study says men who reported having insomnia and who slept less than 6 hours a night were four times more likely to die over a 14-year period when compared to men who reported sleeping well. Sleep researcher and psychiatrist Alexandros Vgontzas explains the finding.
|
|
|
“down time” for some serious relaxing. For me, this can mean taking 15 minutes to meditate, going for a walk with my dog, or even just sitting in my favorite chair and breathing deeply. Whatever it is, I do it alone.
And finally, set up a “signal” that will let your body know it’s time to start shutting down. The very last thing I do at night is brush my teeth. This is my signal to my body and mind that the day is now over and it is time to rest. You may choose to do some light reading, tuck in the kids, or make your lunch for tomorrow – what it is doesn’t matter, as long as it’s the same small task repeated every night.
Once you have developed your schedule, make it a routine. People with ADD often work well with this kind of structure. You can change the activities you plan for each night, as long as you stick to the basics. Get your body and mind used to winding down in the evenings, and you may just find yourself falling asleep easier at night!
About the Author
Jennifer Koretsky is an ADD Coach who helps clients find peace through ADD management. She offers private and group coaching, skills groups, workshops, and a free e-Newsletter. For more information, visit www.ADDmanagement.com.
|
|
Less Sleep Can Equal More Weight Gain
Lack of sleep has become a global problem in the past decade. Everywhere around the world people are sleeping less. This trend has increased in...
Top 10 Drug-free Ways To Say Good Night To Insomnia
“Treating Insomnia: Is having sweet dreams just a dream?”
A person who is suffering from sleepless nights, someone who frequently wakes up at...
Insomnia - 5 Powerful Secrets Steps to Finally End the Frustration
Insomnia is a common sleep sickness that has bothered many people around the world. But the consequences brought about by this disorder may not be as...
10 Tips To Put Your Insomnia To A Rest
Do you feel tired and un-refreshed on waking in the morning?
Do you stay that way throughout the day?
Do you have difficulty concentrating...
|
|
|