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EP 134: ADHD and sleep struggles

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Manage episode 501128168 series 3434428
Content provided by Dr. Olivia Kessel. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Dr. Olivia Kessel or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Click here for the ADHD Sleep Guide - 30 days to better sleep

Sleep deprivation became our unwelcome companion for eleven long years. My daughter Alexandra would lie awake for hours, plagued by anxious thoughts that seemed to intensify as darkness fell. When sleep finally came, it was fragmented – she'd wake repeatedly, finding her way to my bed most nights seeking reassurance. For families navigating ADHD, this scenario might sound painfully familiar.
In this deeply personal conversation, Alexandra courageously shares what those nights felt like from her perspective: "Sleep was like a nightmare." She describes overwhelming anxiety that made sleepovers impossible, prevented me from having evenings out, and left us both perpetually exhausted. We candidly discuss how sleep deprivation amplified our challenges, leading to what Alexandra perfectly describes as "explosion time" – when our emotional regulation skills would crumble under the weight of fatigue.
The turning point in our journey came unexpectedly. After trying countless strategies, from elaborate bedtime routines to consultations with sleep specialists, we finally found our answer in prescription melatonin. Alexandra describes the transformation as nothing short of miraculous – from hours of bedtime struggles to falling asleep within minutes. We explore the complementary approaches that support her sleep hygiene now, including technology boundaries, weighted blankets, meditation, and Emotional Freedom Technique for anxiety. Most touchingly, Alexandra shares how quality sleep has expanded her world, enabling her to manage overnight stays and wake feeling "recharged and ready for the day."
Whether you're a parent, educator, or healthcare provider supporting a child with ADHD, this conversation offers both practical strategies and genuine hope. Download our free sleep resource sheet at sendparenting.com/sleep to begin implementing these life-changing techniques today. Because when sleep improves, everything else follows.

Click here for the ADHD Sleep Guide - 30 days to better sleep

www.sendparenting.com

  continue reading

Chapters

1. Welcome to ADHD August Series (00:00:00)

2. Nighttime Struggles with ADHD (00:01:42)

3. Before Melatonin: Anxiety and Sleeplessness (00:03:30)

4. Life-Changing Results with Melatonin (00:06:10)

5. Additional Sleep Strategies That Help (00:10:54)

6. Closing and Next Episode Preview (00:13:12)

141 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 501128168 series 3434428
Content provided by Dr. Olivia Kessel. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Dr. Olivia Kessel or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Click here for the ADHD Sleep Guide - 30 days to better sleep

Sleep deprivation became our unwelcome companion for eleven long years. My daughter Alexandra would lie awake for hours, plagued by anxious thoughts that seemed to intensify as darkness fell. When sleep finally came, it was fragmented – she'd wake repeatedly, finding her way to my bed most nights seeking reassurance. For families navigating ADHD, this scenario might sound painfully familiar.
In this deeply personal conversation, Alexandra courageously shares what those nights felt like from her perspective: "Sleep was like a nightmare." She describes overwhelming anxiety that made sleepovers impossible, prevented me from having evenings out, and left us both perpetually exhausted. We candidly discuss how sleep deprivation amplified our challenges, leading to what Alexandra perfectly describes as "explosion time" – when our emotional regulation skills would crumble under the weight of fatigue.
The turning point in our journey came unexpectedly. After trying countless strategies, from elaborate bedtime routines to consultations with sleep specialists, we finally found our answer in prescription melatonin. Alexandra describes the transformation as nothing short of miraculous – from hours of bedtime struggles to falling asleep within minutes. We explore the complementary approaches that support her sleep hygiene now, including technology boundaries, weighted blankets, meditation, and Emotional Freedom Technique for anxiety. Most touchingly, Alexandra shares how quality sleep has expanded her world, enabling her to manage overnight stays and wake feeling "recharged and ready for the day."
Whether you're a parent, educator, or healthcare provider supporting a child with ADHD, this conversation offers both practical strategies and genuine hope. Download our free sleep resource sheet at sendparenting.com/sleep to begin implementing these life-changing techniques today. Because when sleep improves, everything else follows.

Click here for the ADHD Sleep Guide - 30 days to better sleep

www.sendparenting.com

  continue reading

Chapters

1. Welcome to ADHD August Series (00:00:00)

2. Nighttime Struggles with ADHD (00:01:42)

3. Before Melatonin: Anxiety and Sleeplessness (00:03:30)

4. Life-Changing Results with Melatonin (00:06:10)

5. Additional Sleep Strategies That Help (00:10:54)

6. Closing and Next Episode Preview (00:13:12)

141 episodes

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