I can sleep! I'm 11 years old and I can't get to sleep, I'm staying up till 4 A.M. and sleeping till about 2 P.M. I tried not eating or drinking before bed, I tried opening a window for fresh air, I tried bringing my cats in while they were purring to try and relax me and lull me to sleep. I tried warm drinks, warm food, tried waking myself up early, only made me tired and didn't help with sleeping issue. The only thing I haven't tried is sleeping pills, which I'm not allowed to take because of the risks. I also tried with and without lights, TV, tried playing on the computer a bit to work my mind so it would be tired along with my body so I could sleep, I even tried reading like I used to whenever I couldn't sleep, but to no avail did it help. I don't know what to do, I even tried exercising and going outside and playing, that just made me twice as sleepy, but didn't make me go to bed earlier. My parents don't believe I can't sleep, neither does my brother, and their getting upset that I'm staying up so late. I used to be able to go to sleep as soon as I was in my bed and it was warm as usual. It still is warm as always Any advice?
P.S. I forgot to say I meditate daily and nightly, its a habit of mine.
thank you everyone for your help, I took most of your advice, and one of my friends gave me the idea to drink tea an hour before bedtime. Now, with meditation, tea, and a few other things, I sleep like a baby.
Did you used to be able to sleep at a normal time? When did this change? Are you sleeping later to make up for the lost time?
Just to start out with, you aren't alone, weird, or abnormal. In fact, this is actually a really common thing to have happen at this age. You said you are 11, and I bet you aren't that far from 12, and eventhough I don't know you things are probably starting to change with your body. My own kid is the same age, and we have been having the exact same problem. There was a really good article in National Geographic about two or three months ago all about how teenagers circadian rhythms actually shift to being awake at night and sleeping well into the day. This has a lot to do with crazy hormones. It would be great if everyone in our society would be cool with this pattern, but it doesn't work that way. For my kid we started slowly inching back lights out time and wake up time until it was closer to what worked for the rest of the family. I want him to wake up by 10am, so for him to get enough sleep he needs to be asleep by 12. We also found that stopping computer time before dinner helped slow down his mind. He reads by flashlight because that tires him out faster as well. It will get better, but if you take a look at that article in National Geographic, your parents might be able to understand what you are going through.
-N.
That is hard! I hope you're able to get back to a normal rhythm. The ideas below seem great, and I can't emphasize the "no screen time" issue enough before bed. It has been proven to make a huge difference, and this means computer and TV and all other electronic devices.
I understand about the sleeping pills, but you might check with your parents and / or doctor about a natural melatonin supplement. You can find these at any drugstore these days, and it is a supplement of what your body already should be producing on its own. My 10 year old son sometimes has trouble getting to sleep, and when he takes a low dose melatonin supplement on these nights, he's usually out within 1/2 hour.
Good luck!
The only thing I have to add to what has already been said is that you may be able to take Benedryl to help you fall asleep. The doctor always recommends this to get kids to sleep through car rides or airplane rides, or even just to get them back on a normal sleeping schedule.
Also, with the sun staying up until 10 pm, it is hard for your body to get used to bedtime being so close to sunset. Be sure you are exposed to plenty of sunshine, especially in the morning. Eat breakfast outside. In the evening, use blinds or room darkening shades (or even just a thick blanket tacked over the window) starting at about 8 pm. This will help get your body into rest mode.
When I was about 10 or 11, I had the same problem. I remember being up and watching the sun rise and the change in the sky and then going to bed finally around 5 am. I have 11 yr old triplets and my girls have the same problem lately. They do not drink soda or tons of junk food. Dad gets home at 2 am and they are still up, finally going to sleep around 4 or even later. I know my husband's niece also had a problem when she was 11 or 12. I personally think it may be a girl and puberty thing. One thing you can try though is get out in the daylight early as suggested. You may have to work at it but don't let yourself sleep until 2 pm. You do need your sleep but the hours you sleep can really effect you. Take a short nap later in the afternoon.
I don't see anything about meditating here. Did you try that? It won't help you fall asleep (or you never know) but it will help you relax and get the needed rest for your body. Than you might try shifting your bed time and get up time. Good luck!
P.S. And I'm sorry that your parents don't believe you. That must be hard for you. Try to find a way to educate them, point articles, pull out info on the problem and etc. Using any medications might be tricky as it looks like you are dealing with long term problem.
Like one other person stated, you seem to have your internal time clock off. It can be difficult to get back to normal but you can do it. You definately need to stop sleeping until 2 p.m. That will continue to keep you on the same path as you are on. You need to pick a time and set your alarm and get up no matter how much sleep you have had. If you do this for several days then you should start doing better. It usually takes a few weeks to get your sleep patterns changed. I know this from experience of working different shifts and my sleep habits having to change. You can do it.
Make sure you don't drink any caffeine - or eat chocolate. You also have to shut your brain off - so no TV, no computer, no reading, no texting. Go to bed at the same time - an earlier hour.
Ditto wake up earlier - because if you sleep until 2PM you'll never get back on track.
I would follow up with your doc - just to make sure something else isn't amiss. There is a naturaphathic thing Calma Forte - which is good to settle - check and see if this might be OK with your parents.
Hello -
Check out this site: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/circadian-rhyt...
Also, talk to your pediatrician. He/she may recommend scheduling an appointment with various specialists to see what may be going on.
Personally, when I was your age my biggest problem was not getting out into the sun early enough. Spend a week waking up an hour after the sun comes up. Go outside and sit in the sun for 15-30 minutes. Do NOT wear sunglasses. This will help regulate seratonin and melatonin production in your brain which is what helps regulate your circadian rhythm (sleep cycle).
At night- try a hot shower/bath, keep your room cool (65" is ideal for sleep). The idea behind hot drinks for bed is raising changing your temperature by a few degrees. Ultimately that fails because you can't do much to alter your core temperature. You can manipulate your environmental temperature, though. I use a hot blanket on my feet when I lay down in bed. As the blanket cools my body is telling my brain it's night time- and to go to bed. I would suggest trying this method- or another method is putting your pillow in the dryer to heat it up. Keep the room dark, too. You need to basically "reset" your internal rhythms. You need to do this consistently to maintain your routine.
Beyond anything else I've said- make sure you talk to your doctor to make sure nothing else more serious is going on with you.
Good luck, hun!
My son is almost 11 and he had the same problem. I took him to a sleep specialist and he said that his circadian rhythm or "internal body clock" was off. My son was told to have no screen time past 10:00 p.m., then to do quiet activities (reading, drawing, etc.) until midnight. In another room, if possible. He had him use his bedroom only for sleeping at night. So, then he would go to his bed to sleep at midnight. The most important part in getting your "body clock" back on track is to WAKE UP AT THE SAME TIME EVERYDAY! My son had to set an alarm and wake up at 8:00 a.m., no matter whether he had four 4 hours or 8 hours of sleep. It will be hard at first, but it will start working and get better. The sleep specialist said that most people that can't sleep make the mistake of spending too much time in bed. For example, if you go to bed at 10:00, then don't fall asleep until 2:00, and sleep until 10:00, that is 12 hours in bed. Anyhow, I know how frustrating it is to not fall asleep. Please give this a try and good luck!
I am sorry that your parents don't believe you. That must be so hard not having anyone to turn to. I would see if you can talk to your mom and set up an appointment to see your dr and make sure she is there and talk very openly about what you are expirencing. The dr. might be able to refer you to a sleep specialist!! Kids can have lots of sleeping problems too so you are NOT alone.. Hopefully you will be able to get some validation and support in the family.. Take care and hope you get some sleep! It is so important!
