Sleep Problems in Teens



What Happens During Sleep?

As we sleep, our brains pass through four stages of sleep. Together, stages N1, N2, N3, and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep make up a sleep cycle. One complete sleep cycle lasts about 90 to 100 minutes. So during an average night’s sleep, a person will experience about four or five cycles of sleep.

Stages N1 and N2 are periods of light sleep from which a person can wake up easily:


Stage N3 are deep sleep stages:

  • Stages N3 are the most refreshing of the sleep stages — this is the type of sleep we crave when we’re very tired. They’re also the sleep stages during which the body releases hormones that contribute to growth and development.



What Prevents an Early Bedtime?

Research shows that teens need about 8-10 hours of sleep a night. So, a teen who needs to wake up for school at 6 a.m. would have to be asleep by 10 to reach the 8-hour mark. Studies have found that many teens have trouble falling asleep that early, though. It’s not because they don’t want to sleep. It’s because their brains naturally work on later schedules and aren’t ready for bed.


Sometimes this delay in the sleep-wake cycle is so severe that it affects a teen’s daily activities. In those cases it’s called delayed sleep phase syndrome, also known as “night owl” syndrome. And if your sleep-deprived teen brings mobile devices into bed, surfing or texting late into the night, the light exposure could also disrupt circadian rhythm and make it harder to sleep.

Changes in the body clock aren’t the only reason teens lose sleep, though. Read on to learn about some of the biggest causes of sleep deprivation.



It’s common for teenagers to have insomnia from time to time. But if insomnia lasts for a month or longer with no relief, doctors call it chronic. Chronic insomnia can be caused by a number of different problems, including poor sleep hygiene, medical conditions, mental-health problems, medication side effects, or substance abuse. Many teens with chronic insomnia can be helped by a doctor, therapist, or other counselor.




In the case of PLMD, these movements are involuntary twitches or jerks: They’re called involuntary because the person isn’t consciously controlling them and is often unaware of the movement.



Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This sleep disorder causes a person to obstruct their breathing or close their airway during sleep. One common cause of obstructive sleep apnea is enlarged tonsils or adenoids (tissues located in the passage that connects the nose and throat). Being overweight or obese also can put someone at risk for it.

Sleep Problems in Teens





GERD symptoms can be worse when a person is lying down. Even if someone doesn’t notice the feelings of heartburn during sleep, the discomfort it causes can still interfere with the sleep cycle. Some people find they are better able to sleep by elevating their head on a few pillows or by taking medications.





If nightmares are interfering with your teen’s sleep, consider having him or her talk to a doctor, therapist, or other counselor.


Teens with narcolepsy are often very sleepy during the day and have sleep “attacks” that may make them suddenly fall asleep, lose muscle control, or see vivid dreamlike images while dozing off or waking up. Nighttime sleep may be disrupted, with frequent awakenings throughout the night.

Narcolepsy can be disturbing because teens fall asleep without warning, making it hazardous to do things like ride a bike or drive. A teens’s school, work, or social life can be affected by the unusual sleep patterns.




Because most sleepwalkers don’t sleepwalk often, it’s usually not a serious problem. Sleepwalkers tend to go back to bed on their own and don’t usually remember sleepwalking. (Sleepwalking often happens during the deeper sleep that takes place during stage N3 of the sleep cycle.)

Sometimes, though, a sleepwalker will need help moving around obstacles and getting back to bed. It’s also true that waking sleepwalkers can startle them (but it isn’t harmful), so try to guide a sleepwalker back to bed gently.

How to Help

If your teen seems to be getting enough rest at night but is still feeling tired during the day, it’s a good idea to visit the doctor. Excessive tiredness can be caused by all sorts of health problems, not just difficulties with sleep.

If a sleep problem is suspected, the doctor will evaluate your teen’s overall health and sleep habits. In addition to doing a physical examination, the doctor will take a medical history by asking about any concerns and symptoms your teen has, and about his or her past health, your family’s health, and any medications your teen is taking. The doctor may also do tests to find out whether any conditions — such as obstructive sleep apnea — might be interfering with sleep.





Reviewed and updated by: Rakesh Bhattacharjee, MD

Date reviewed and updated: October 2015