Attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) features symptoms that make it hard to focus and concentrate at school, work, and in social situations. ADHD persists into adulthood for most people affected by it\u2014and it seems to be increasing. Fortunately, symptom management can greatly improve the quality of life for people affected by ADHD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ADHD, and the anxiety<\/a> and depression<\/a> that frequently accompany it, can seriously affect your ability to get a good night\u2019s sleep. This article will explore the connection between ADHD and sleep and offer tips for managing ADHD so it doesn\u2019t ruin your sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ADHD<\/a> is a chronic condition that begins in childhood and is most commonly diagnosed in boys. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) says<\/a> ADHD is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children. Its symptoms\u2014inattention (not being able to keep focus), hyperactivity (excess movement that does not fit the setting), and impulsivity (hasty acts that occur in the moment without thought)\u2014make ADHD a chronic and debilitating disorder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ADHD impacts the individual and many aspects of their life, including academic and professional achievements, interpersonal relationships, and daily functioning. The APA estimates 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults have ADHD. It\u2019s often first identified in school-aged children by their disruptiveness in the classroom or problems with schoolwork. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If it sometimes seems \u201ceveryone\u201d is being diagnosed with ADHD, it\u2019s likely because more attention is being given to symptoms associated with inattention\u2014rather than only focusing on the hyperactivity commonly seen in children with ADHD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is possible for adults to develop symptoms that present as ADHD,” writes Samoon Ahmad, MD, clinical professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine, in an article for Psychology Today<\/em><\/a>, \u201cbut it is uncommon for these symptoms to appear without a history of ADHD.\u201d He also notes, in adults, it\u2019s important to distinguish between ADHD-like symptoms that are caused by stress and ADHD itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People with ADHD, beginning around puberty, are more likely to experience shorter sleep time, problems falling and staying asleep, and an increased risk of developing a sleep disorder<\/a>. Children with ADHD commonly have nightmares<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust as ADHD does not go away at adolescence, it does not go away at night either,\u201d says William Dodson, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in treating people with ADHD and a medical advisor for the ADHD-focused magazine,\u00a0ADDitude<\/em><\/a>. \u201cIt continues to impair life functioning 24 hours a day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleep problems related to ADHD tend to increase with age, typically first appearing around age 12. \u201cSleeping problems,\u201d says Dodson, \u201ctend either to be overlooked or to be viewed as coexisting problems with an unclear relationship to ADHD itself and to the mental fatigue so commonly reported by individuals with ADHD.\u201d He adds, \u201cSleep disturbances have been incorrectly attributed to the stimulant-class medications that are often the first to be used to treat ADHD.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Studies find<\/a> ADHD is commonly associated with disordered or disturbed sleep\u2014in particular, such disorders as obstructive sleep apnea<\/a> (OSA), peripheral limb movements during sleep, increased sleep onset latency (takes a long time to fall asleep), bedtime resistance and difficulty with morning awakenings, sleep-disordered breathing, night awakenings, and daytime sleepiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below are several of the most common sleep problems seen with ADHD:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even those with ADHD who are rarely hyperactive during the day may still find their thoughts racing and spurts of energy that make it difficult to sleep. A study<\/a> of 252 adult patients with ADHD found 44.4% of them were affected by insomnia disorder<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some 64.3% of those whose ADHD was more severe had insomnia. They were more likely to have insomnia if they also experienced other medical and psychiatric issues, such as mood disorders (42%), anxiety disorder (26.8%), personality disorder (39.3%), and any substance use disorder (26.8%). Those treated for ADHD with stimulants had less insomnia compared to patients without medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CHADD\u00a0(Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit\/Hyperactivity Disorder), an education and advocacy organization for people with ADHD,\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0the sleep disorders commonly found in people with ADHD have led researchers to suggest that an important cause may be the disruption of a standard sleep-wake cycle, or\u00a0circadian rhythm<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the circadian rhythm is off, it may be hard to fall asleep at a standard bedtime. Sleep may be regularly disrupted by wakeups throughout the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doctors don\u2019t understand why, but OSA, snoring<\/a>, and other sleep-related breathing disorders are common in children and adults who’ve been diagnosed with ADHD. What\u2019s more, OSA can have symptoms similar to those of ADHD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, attentional deficits have been reported<\/a> in up to 95% of OSA patients. In people with ADHD, a high incidence (20%-30%) of OSA has been found. While OSA may contribute to ADHD symptoms, treatment of OSA appears to favorably benefit ADHD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to CHADD, studies find up to 44% of people with ADHD also have\u00a0restless legs syndrome<\/a>\u00a0(RLS) or symptoms, and up to 26% of those with RLS have ADHD. It’s been hypothesized that sleep disruption associated with RLS may lead to inattentiveness, moodiness, and overactivity.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Likewise, manifestations of RLS\u2014such as restlessness and inattention\u2014may mimic ADHD symptoms. Another possibility is that RLS may simply occur with ADHD. Although RLS is uncommon among children in general, many children with ADHD also have RLS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Haley Neidich<\/a>, licensed clinical social worker, says people with ADHD \u201cwill benefit from clear rituals and routines that are simple and easy to stick to.\u201d She says this is especially the case for those with insomnia, which is common in people with ADHD. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Neidich recommends creating, and sticking to, routines that signal your body and mind that it\u2019s time to relax and prepare to sleep. This can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n ADHD affects every area of life, including sleep. People with ADHD are more likely to experience shorter sleep times, problems falling and staying asleep, and an increased risk of developing a sleep disorder. Sleep problems in ADHD tend to increase with age. \u201cAdults with ADHD rarely fall asleep easily, sleep soundly through the night, and then wake up feeling refreshed,\u201d says Dodson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeople with ADHD often struggle with procrastination and impulse control,\u201d says Neidich, \u201cboth of which can lead to delaying the onset of sleep.\u201d It can become a habit to delay a bedtime routine\u2014which, in turn, \u201ccan negatively impact one\u2019s mental health long term and even worsen other ADHD symptoms during the day,\u201d she says. The association of ADHD with other\u00a0mental health disorders<\/a>, such as anxiety and depression, is also associated with sleep disturbances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Neidich says researchers believe people with ADHD may require more sleep than the average \u201cneuro-typical\u201d adult. \u201cIn my practice,\u201d she says, \u201cwhere I regularly treat clients with adult ADHD, I find that the ability to regulate one\u2019s sleep within the seven- to eight-hour range will not only decrease fatigue but can also improve the daytime symptoms of ADHD that impair so many other areas of functioning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is ADHD?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s the connection between ADHD and sleep?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
ADHD and sleep problems<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Insomnia<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Circadian rhythm sleep disorders<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sleep apnea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Restless legs syndrome<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to sleep better with ADHD<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Does having ADHD affect sleep?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why does ADHD make it hard to sleep?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Does someone with ADHD need more sleep?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n