i sleep only 4 hours a day

[Jamie0192]

I’m 13 years old and I’m currently on summer vacation. I spend the night at my friends’ house almost every night. we don’t go to sleep till about 5 or 6 In the morning but I only sleep 4 hours and when I wake up I try my hardest to go back to sleep but I can’t. My friends and I usually are active during the day. We walk almost everywhere we want to go. I’m tired during the day so I don’t understand why I have a hard time sleeping at night. I don’t know if I have a sleeping disorder or if it’s just a stage in life.

[harrald]

Jamie0192:

I too only get about 4 hours of sleep at the same times of morning that you describe. I know that the pineal gland in my brain does not produce enough of the sleep hormone, melatonin, to make me sleepy. I use specially coated glasses(amber color)to help the pineal gland secrete more melitonin, but sleep does not begin until early in the morning . Usually heavy physical activity during the day seems to help one fall asleep, but not me.

You are at the important years where teenagers need more sleep to function the next day. Your body is still growing and all your organs need to function at full capacity. You should report your sleep habits to a professional who can decide whether you need to engage in sleep therapy. A physician is the person to decide whether you need medication to help you fall asleep  at night.

Harrald

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, you may be probably having Circadian rhythm disorders. Due to long term sleep deprivation in night time or delay in sleep will lead to excessive day time sleep or sleepiness, tiredness, loss of concentration etc.

This usually has happened due to change in normal sleep-wake cycle. Disturbance of sleep cycle disorder can be due to stress, anxiety, depression. Even generalized disease or conditions can cause such symptoms; hence this needs to be ruled out.

Generalize conditions needed to be ruled out are anemia, thyroid disorder (hypothyroidism), blood disorder and dietary deficiencies.

Firstly you need to undergo routine blood tests like complete blood count, differential count, ESR, Hb% and thyroid profile etc.

Appropriate use of sedatives (benzodiazepines) will help you to get adequate sleep. I suggest you to consult a physician and get treated for recovery of normal sleep-awake cycle. Even melatonin agonist against prescription can help to regain sleep wake cycle.

I suggest you to consult sleep specialist. Take care and regards.