Expert tips: Getting sleep problems with ADHD under control

Many people with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience sleep problems. The mental and physical restlessness associated with ADHD disrupts sleep patterns, writes US psychiatrist Dr. William Dodson in the specialist portal "Additude." The resulting exhaustion can, in turn, negatively impact other symptoms. Concentration, patience, and impulse control also suffer when sleep is disturbed. But where do these difficulties come from, and what can help?

The brains of people with ADHD are often particularly active – even when they actually need to rest. About three-quarters of all adults with ADHD say they are unable to "turn off their minds to fall asleep at night," reports Dobson, who has specialized in adult ADHD for 25 years. And when they finally do fall asleep, their sleep is often restless. Instead of feeling rested and refreshed, they wake up tired and worn out.

Many sufferers experience unusually deep sleep in the morning hours, with extreme resistance to waking. Dodson proposes two theories for this: "The simplest explanation is that sleep disturbances are direct manifestations of ADHD itself." Another hypothesis: People with ADHD have a different sense of time, in which there is only "now" and "not now." Their internal clock is essentially out of sync. Furthermore, ADHD doesn't necessarily trigger the condition. Other causes of sleep problems should be investigated.

According to Dodson, the most important strategy is to improve sleep hygiene—all conditions that promote healthy sleep. He advises following the general rules: