3: ADHD and Sleep – Episode 3 ‘ADHD, A Young Person’s Guide’

Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH)

DOI: 10.13056/acamh.21099
Hosted by Dr. Blandine French, this podcast series focuses on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) and is designed to help young people and their families. We are delighted to produce this podcast series in partnership with Clinical Partners, the UK’s largest private mental health partnership.
This episode focuses on ADHD and sleep, and Blandine is joined by Emily El-Bahrawy, a young person with lived experience of ADHD, and Helen Tracey, a sleep practitioner with Parenting Special Children.
Helen begins by providing insight into the connection between ADHD and sleep, including why sleep is such a problem, and whether it is just bad sleep onset or if there is also an element of unsettled/poor quality sleep as well. Emily then shares her own experience of how her sleep is affected by ADHD.
Helen also expands a little bit about how poor sleep can exacerbate ADHD symptoms, and Emily shares how sleep difficulties and poor sleep has affected herself the day after a poor night’s sleep, including difficulties concentrating.
Helen and Blandine then discusses what the difference is between the sleep schedule of someone with ADHD, comments on how we can work with ADHD to both sleep better and wake up better, as well as shares tips on how to cope and adjust for times when we know we’re not going to get a good night’s sleep.
Furthermore, Emily and Helen each share three key takeaways to improving sleep with ADHD.
This podcast series for young people is supported by Clinical Partners. With the UK’s largest network of senior mental health professionals, Clinical Partners can help ensure your child has fast-tracked the right diagnosis and optimized treatment plan. For further information and advice for families and carers, search for Clinical Partners ADHD or visit their website.