Sleep Deprivation Epidemic in Teens

Among teens, sleep deprivation an epidemic. Sleep deprivation increases the likelihood teens will suffer myriad negative consequences, including an inability to concentrate, poor grades, drowsy-driving incidents, anxiety, depression, thoughts of suicide and even suicide attempts.

Over 90 percent of American high school students are chronically sleep-deprived, according to a 2014 survey.

The graphic on the right shows the amount of sleep suggested by age. Take a moment to examine your sleep patterns and those of your children. If mornings are problematic due to irritability, fatigue or problems awakening, you may have to set new rules about bedtime. This may be a struggle in the beginning, but if sleep problems, irritability and conflict arise at bedtime or in the morning, this means sleep hygiene needs work. 

How do you improve your rest, sleep to perform better? We want you to engage positive thoughts, images, and feelings to put you at ease. Try some of the ideas below and add your own.

  1. Get a regular sleep schedule. Your brain will learn to shut down if you provide it with consistency.
  2. Avoid all screens prior to sleep. Blue screen such as iPhone, iPads, gaming, watching movies, Facebook are all brain activators. They all make winding down even more difficult. 
  3. Meditate, relax, quiet your mind with soft music or “quiet.”
  4. Dim the lights.
  5. Review in your mind things you feel gratitude about that day.
  6. Pray
  7. Visualize having a good nights sleep.  Click here for the article: Sleep Deprivation: Huffington Post Article

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Dr. Mike Klaybor

Dr. Mike Klaybor

Dr. Mike Klaybor brings thirty years of experience in practicing counseling psychology with individuals and couples. His approach is cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT. Specific specialties include; anxiety and stress management, chronic pain & chronic illness management, depression, substance abuse evaluations, employee assistance and executive coaching for workplace performance and leadership.