Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Does It Mean to Have Insomnia?Why Might Someone with ADHD Have Insomnia?What Are My Options for Treatment?How Can I Cope With My Insomnia if I Have ADHD?

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Does It Mean to Have Insomnia?

Why Might Someone with ADHD Have Insomnia?

What Are My Options for Treatment?

How Can I Cope With My Insomnia if I Have ADHD?

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Although sleep disturbance is not an official diagnostic criterion for ADHD, many people with this diagnosis also struggle withinsomniaas a result of their neurodivergence. How are these conditions related? Why do people with ADHD often have difficulty sleeping? And, if you have ADHD, what can you do to improve the quality of your sleep?

Everyone has difficulty sleeping from time to time, but insomnia occurs when there is a pattern of being unable to fall asleep, stay asleep, and/or sleep as late as you would like. You might find yourself lying awake for hours after you go to bed or waking up much earlier than you need to with the inability to fall back asleep. This condition can lead to fatigue, issues concentrating, irritability, and other symptoms.

Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder and second most common mental health condition, with approximately 70 million Americans experiencing insomnia each year and up to 50% of Americans developing insomnia at some point in their lives.

Chronic insomnia can lead to difficulty concentrating, functional impairments,anxiety, depression,and medical conditions.Many individuals with ADHD already experience many of these issues, and insomnia can exacerbate these symptoms.

Although sleep disturbance is not an official diagnostic criterion for ADHD, many people with this diagnosis also struggle withinsomniaas a result of their neurodivergence.

People with ADHD often struggle with sleep and develop sleep disorders at a much higher rate than the rest of the population.

Several factors contribute to this:

Many people with ADHD describe themselves as “night owls” who do their best work late at night. Since we typically expect people to sleep at night and be awake during the day, this forces people with different cycles to go to sleep when their body’s natural rhythm wants them to be awake, causing sleep difficulties.

Fortunately, treatment options exist for insomnia, ADHD, and the overlap of the two conditions. Depending on your unique needs and preferences, you can pursue therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.

Therapy and Medication

Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to help individuals withADHDlearn skills to manage time, become more organized, and complete necessary tasks. In addition, a therapist specializing in CBT can help you develop and stick to a healthy sleep schedule. Additionally, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) can effectively treat sleep issues and has been proven to reduce reliance on medication interventions for sleep.

If appropriate, your physician may prescribe medication to help you fall or stay asleep. These medications are often taken on an as needed basis (for nights that you are struggling to fall asleep), but some might be prescribed for daily use.

Medications to Treat ADHD in Children and Adults

Sleep difficulties can be incredibly frustrating. Whether you are having trouble falling asleep, waking up frequently during the night, or getting up earlier than you would like, the exhaustion that comes with not getting enough sleep can have a huge impact on your functioning, work, and relationships.

If your sleep issues are related to ADHD, talk to your treatment team to determine what options will work best for you. They should have suggestions based on your specific symptoms and needs.

Revise Your Sleep Routine

If possible, adjust your schedule to accommodate your body’s natural sleep and wake cycle. Forcing your body into a pattern that goes against its natural cycle is an uphill battle. If you are naturally energized at night, it makes sense to change your sleep habits to be active around this time.

One benefit ofworking from homeis that you have more control and flexibility with your work hours, and you might be able to change your sleep schedule to match your body’s needs.

Track Your Sleep

You can also useapps to track the duration and quality of your sleep, helping you identify patterns and habits that help you feel rested and refreshed. These apps often give praise and reinforcement for healthy sleep habits, giving you an extra dose ofdopaminewhen you use them. This is particularly reinforcing to people with ADHD, who are particularly sensitive to the effects of dopamine on the brain.

ADHD can make sleep particularly challenging, but with proper supports, you can get the quality sleep you need to be at your best.

What Can a Sleep Study Tell You About Your Mental Health?

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Van Someren EJW.Brain mechanisms of insomnia: new perspectives on causes and consequences.Physiological Reviews. 2021;101(3):995-1046.Hertenstein E, Feige B, Gmeiner T, et al.Insomnia as a predictor of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2019;43:96-105.Wajszilber D., Santiseban J.A., Gruber R.Sleep Disorders in Patients with ADHD: Impact and Management Challenges.Nat. Sci. Sleep.2018;10:453–480.Bijlenga D, Vollebregt MA, Kooij JJS, Arns M.The role of the circadian system in the etiology and pathophysiology of ADHD: time to redefine ADHD?ADHD Atten Def Hyp Disord. 2019;11(1):5-19.Koffel E, Bramoweth AD, Ulmer CS.Increasing access to and utilization of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (Cbt-i): a narrative review.J GEN INTERN MED. 2018;33(6):955-962.Mehta TR, Monegro A, Nene Y, Fayyaz M, Bollu PC.Neurobiology of adhd: a review.Curr Dev Disord Rep. 2019;6(4):235-240.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Van Someren EJW.Brain mechanisms of insomnia: new perspectives on causes and consequences.Physiological Reviews. 2021;101(3):995-1046.Hertenstein E, Feige B, Gmeiner T, et al.Insomnia as a predictor of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2019;43:96-105.Wajszilber D., Santiseban J.A., Gruber R.Sleep Disorders in Patients with ADHD: Impact and Management Challenges.Nat. Sci. Sleep.2018;10:453–480.Bijlenga D, Vollebregt MA, Kooij JJS, Arns M.The role of the circadian system in the etiology and pathophysiology of ADHD: time to redefine ADHD?ADHD Atten Def Hyp Disord. 2019;11(1):5-19.Koffel E, Bramoweth AD, Ulmer CS.Increasing access to and utilization of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (Cbt-i): a narrative review.J GEN INTERN MED. 2018;33(6):955-962.Mehta TR, Monegro A, Nene Y, Fayyaz M, Bollu PC.Neurobiology of adhd: a review.Curr Dev Disord Rep. 2019;6(4):235-240.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Van Someren EJW.Brain mechanisms of insomnia: new perspectives on causes and consequences.Physiological Reviews. 2021;101(3):995-1046.Hertenstein E, Feige B, Gmeiner T, et al.Insomnia as a predictor of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2019;43:96-105.Wajszilber D., Santiseban J.A., Gruber R.Sleep Disorders in Patients with ADHD: Impact and Management Challenges.Nat. Sci. Sleep.2018;10:453–480.Bijlenga D, Vollebregt MA, Kooij JJS, Arns M.The role of the circadian system in the etiology and pathophysiology of ADHD: time to redefine ADHD?ADHD Atten Def Hyp Disord. 2019;11(1):5-19.Koffel E, Bramoweth AD, Ulmer CS.Increasing access to and utilization of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (Cbt-i): a narrative review.J GEN INTERN MED. 2018;33(6):955-962.Mehta TR, Monegro A, Nene Y, Fayyaz M, Bollu PC.Neurobiology of adhd: a review.Curr Dev Disord Rep. 2019;6(4):235-240.

Van Someren EJW.Brain mechanisms of insomnia: new perspectives on causes and consequences.Physiological Reviews. 2021;101(3):995-1046.

Hertenstein E, Feige B, Gmeiner T, et al.Insomnia as a predictor of mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2019;43:96-105.

Wajszilber D., Santiseban J.A., Gruber R.Sleep Disorders in Patients with ADHD: Impact and Management Challenges.Nat. Sci. Sleep.2018;10:453–480.

Bijlenga D, Vollebregt MA, Kooij JJS, Arns M.The role of the circadian system in the etiology and pathophysiology of ADHD: time to redefine ADHD?ADHD Atten Def Hyp Disord. 2019;11(1):5-19.

Koffel E, Bramoweth AD, Ulmer CS.Increasing access to and utilization of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (Cbt-i): a narrative review.J GEN INTERN MED. 2018;33(6):955-962.

Mehta TR, Monegro A, Nene Y, Fayyaz M, Bollu PC.Neurobiology of adhd: a review.Curr Dev Disord Rep. 2019;6(4):235-240.

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