Below are four research based articles on how sleep impacts: mood, anxiety, depression, as well as behavior and academic performance. In a recent study poor sleep was linked to: ADHD, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, autism, epilepsy and more.

It is important to address sleep issues early on to change tis behavior for children and teens.

When I see children that are having: anxiety, depression, and social skill and academic issues many times sleep is an issue in that the children are not getting enough sleep. Poor sleep is linked to many behavioral problems as well.

While a stressful event can lead to a bad night of sleep, it’s what you do in response to stress that can be the difference between a few bad nights and chronic insomnia..

Research studies state that positive reframing, acceptance and humor are the most effective coping strategies for people dealing with failures.

Positive reframing was helpful for students high in perfectionistic concerns is particularly important because it suggests that even people high in perfectionistic concerns, who have a tendency to be dissatisfied no matter what they achieve, are able to experience high levels of satisfaction if they use positive reframing coping when dealing with perceived failures.

Reframing is a resiliency skill that helps people to overcome adversity and reach life goals.  Remember the old metaphor “Is the glass is half-full or half-empty?”  This is a perfect example of how the same event can be looked at in a positive or negative light. Positive reframing means trying to reconsider things in a positive light, and it is a powerful way to transform your thinking. Positive reframing does not change the situation, but it can certainly reduce damage and put things into a healthier perspective.

When you are experiencing positive emotions like joy, contentment, and love, you will see more possibilities in your life. These findings were among the first that suggested positive emotions broaden your sense of possibility and open your mind up to more options.

Finding ways to build happiness and positive emotions into your life — whether it is through meditation, writing, playing a pickup basketball game, or anything else — provides more than just a momentary decrease in stress and a few smiles.

Periods of positive emotion and unhindered exploration are when you see the possibilities for how your past experiences fit into your future life, when you begin to develop skills that blossom into useful talents later on, and when you spark the urge for further exploration and adventure.

To put it simply: Seek joy, play often, and pursue adventure. Your brain will do the rest.

Exercise daily is very important for teenagers and adults in order to help with sleep. Eating healthy is also very important. Children should have little sugar and caffeine this will disrupt healthy sleep. Children and teenagers should not be playing video games after 6 pm and they should not be watching TV or playing electronics three hours  before bed time. The child or teens brain thinks it is day time due to the screen lights and it manipulates the brain got stay yup late.

Research shows that youth that do not get 9-11 hours sleep per night will have behavioral issues including: anger, depression, anxiety, and more with limited sleep each night.

A study published in the Jan 1 issue of Sleep found that children with sleep disturbances are more severely depressed, have more depressive symptoms and have more anxiety diorders, compared with children without sleep disturbances.”

There are a wide array of reasons why people have difficulty sleeping.

Eliminating caffeine, alcohol, and marijuana, as well as other drugs must be looked at .

Watching TV, playing video games, using cell phones close to bed time can impact sleep. Lack of exercise impacts sleep.

In a recent medical report a physician reported that sedative hypnotics are over prescribed . Over 60 million prescriptions were filled in the US last year.

Lunesta and Ambien have side effects and some have been: driving in their sleep, sleep walking, cooking in their sleep, confusion etc.

Experts state these medications are for short term use.

There are a lot of elements involved in the body and mind and if this is addressed sleep will

follow.

Sixty six percent of children up to middle school are not getting sufficient sleep according to sleep experts.

Children are falling asleep in school and schools are pushing back start times however this may not be the solution.

Research has shown children that are deprived of sleep are prone to unhealthy and behaviors that are not productive: acting out behaviors, depression, anxiety, mood swings, inability to focus ( ADD, ADHD) symptoms, weight gain,

The child’s sleep deprived body releases adrenaline and cortisol that not only make them hyper and unable to focus and impact brain development.

Electronics in the bedroom is one of the biggest obstacles to sleep: texting, tv, Internet, face-book, social media etc.

Diet and exercise are vital for sound sleep.

Setting limits and boundaries is possible. Parents can learn to set boundaries that will help your child: behaviorally , emotionally, socially, mentally, and physically.