Parents really struggle with teenagers who won’t go to sleep before midnight and find it impossible to get them out of bed in the morning to get to school on time. It undoubtedly affects their behaviour at home and sometimes at school. They feel less motivated to do anything and often struggle with anxiety and anger issues. Parents often describe that the great relationship they had before with their child has broken and they barely even speak at all.

Sleep anxiety is common when you experience poor quality and quantity of sleep with children and adults experiencing worsening and often chronic insomnia. In teens, insomnia can easily co-exist with what is likely to be the main issue…Delayed Sleep Wake Phase Disorder. Some teens are great at recognising that they have a sleep problem and are motivated to help themselves and open to advice. Others simply refuse to see and accept that they have sleep issues, are not motivated to change or feel they cannot be helped so why bother trying?

Data clearly shows that teen anxiety increases risk behaviour which can include making poor choices like drug taking and suicidal thoughts and actions. Once better sleep is attained anxiety abates quickly. Good sleep is vital for mental and physical health!

How do you help when everyone sees they have a sleep problem?

I’ve put together a teen sleep infographic for those parents who are losing their minds over their kid’s bad sleep. Share it with your sleep-deprived teenager!