Is your teenager having difficulty sleeping or staying asleep? Are they afraid to sleep because of nightmares? If your adolescent is bothered by any of these sleep disturbances you may not wish to take these matters lightly. Sleep is extremely important to children, adolescents and teens. You may benefit from seeking professional help as changed sleep patterns or sleep troubles, such as insomnia and nightmares, may also indicate emotional or psychological distress.

What’s Causing Sleep Deprivation

A teenager is generally supposed to get between 9 and 9 ½ hours of sleep, yet many of them get less than that. A study done by the National Sleep Foundation found that 8 out of 10 teens don’t get enough sleep. You may find yourself wondering if this is a natural “teen thing” due to the biological and hormonal shifts that can occur during adolescence, perhaps even a result of their school and/or social obligations.

While all of these factors may be real possibilities for many teens, it may not be helpful to assume that these are the reasons why your child is not getting enough sleep. There is always that possibility that their sleep deprivation is caused by insomnia or nightmares. Aside from the risk to their physical health and development, inadequate sleep may also place their emotional health at risk. It is possible that the cause of their sleep disturbance is related to depression, stress, or anxiety.

Effects of Sleep Deprivation

When teens suffer from sleep deprivation, their physical health can suffer as well. This may weaken their immune system and cause them to be more prone to various health conditions. Their mood may also change, becoming more irritable, resentful, hard to please and/or unhappy. It is hard to feel good when you can’t get enough sleep. 

A sleep-deprived person is also more apt to have reduced abilities to listen, understand, focus and experience difficulty with memory. All of these reduced faculties can impact learning and cause solving problems to become more challenging. Their performance in school may take a dip, they may even encounter more problems academically and socially.

Improving Sleep with Counseling

The consequences of sleep deprivation can make life extra challenging. If the root cause of insomnia or nightmare is due to depression, stress or anxiety, there can be even more far-reaching effects. 

There are many factors that may be causing your adolescent’s sleep disturbance. Due to these various factors, it may be beneficial to have them assessed by a counselor who can identify their own unique symptoms and needs. These beneficial services can be found at Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay-Varina, NC. 

Skilled, licensed counselors and therapists contracted with CCS are available. Your teens counselor can work with you and your teen to find the most beneficial treatment interventions. They can start getting the sleep they need. Call CCS today to schedule your first appointment. Online counseling and in person sessions are available!

Related Articles:

• Helping Your Teen Sleep Better: What’s causing the bad dream?