I cannot speak for all of my fellow ADD compatriots, however I know from the many articles and research studies that I have read through, sleeplessness and ADD definitely can go together. I can personally attest to this since I am one of those that have experienced this. Case in point, tonight. As I write this, it is 12:43 am and I am here at my keyboard and wide awake.
I like many of you have tried different remedies such as taking melatonin before bedtime to try and get around the occasional battle with the brain that just won't shut off. In my worst cases, I have even resorted to Xanax if the racing thoughts were also accompanied by worry or anxiety. And, don't feel like I'll sit here in judgment of you for having resorted to the same.
My recommendation for you would be along the same lines as for myself. Use the time to your benefit and spend the time reading and self-improving. Start a journal and write whatever seems to be cathartic for you at the time. Start a blog. Catch up on corresponding with friends and loved ones who may not have heard from you in a while by sending an email or two. Whatever you do, don't let your awake time go to waste.
For those of you who are the lucky ones who may be reading this after you had a good uninterrupted nights sleep, and you find yourself worried about your ADD loved one or me for that matter. Please don't worry. Really. At 51 years old, I can tell you that this is pretty normal for us ADD folks. We may need the sleep and trust me it will come for us, but after all of these years I can truly tell you, it is not worth it for me or your loved one with ADD to stress over a few lost hours of sleep. It's just better that we roll with it.
Often, after clearing my head of the many left over random thoughts from my day by typing them out here on my keyboard, I sleep better and deeper anyway. It's a joy to share them with you too rather than keeping them all to myself.
Staying up this late, or rather this early that is, I get to sometimes experience that which I would miss while sleeping too. As an example, I am being serenaded by a mockingbird singing his heart out while most everyone else is sleeping. Or, maybe I'm not the only one awake in my neighborhood after all, due to my feathery neighbor's singing. The difference is, that I am smiling and enjoying hearing God's creation singing joyfully into the night rather than being angry that I'm being kept awake.
Enjoy your ADD loved one's take on life, try not to worry about their (our) sleeplessness and once in a while try to see life through their eyes and thoughts. You may find yourself having gained a new perspective and appreciation for the things they see and hear through their distractions and maybe you'll be better for it.
Keeping it random and real,
Mike Meehan
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