Late-night scrolling, restless tossing and groggy mornings aren’t always the result of too much caffeine or poor sleep hygiene, but could also be signs of something deeper.
As ADHD diagnoses rise among adults, experts shed light on how the condition can impact sleep behaviors in ways that often go unrecognized. And if you’re experiencing any of these challenges, here are expert-backed strategies to help improve your sleep.
1. Sleeping And Waking At Atypical Times
Though often seen as simply being a night owl, there’s actually a strong neurological overlap between ADHD and circadian rhythm disruptions like delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS).
“People with ADHD often experience a delayed release of melatonin, making it harder to feel sleepy at conventional times,” said Dr. Chelsea Sarai, clinical psychologist and founder of the Brentwood Therapy Collective. “Combined with difficulty transitioning between tasks and regulating internal cues, their sleep-wake cycles naturally shift later and later, often without them realizing it.”
