I sleep for 13-15 hours a night. Is this normal for a teenager?
Posted , 5 users are following.
I am 16 years old and male. Ever since I was a high school freshman I started sleeping more (and actually growing too). I would sleep for 15 hours straight almost every night. Trying to find info on it, I've read that apparently it can be normal because of growth hormones and all that. I did have a sleep study done but apparently everything looked normal. I then found out my older brother went from my height (5'4) to 6'1 around 17, and had slept the same way I do. It's insanely annoying having people tell me that I should cheer up and "find something to do instead of sleep". This isn't some "i'm bored/sad" sleep, this is I'm really tired and worn out physically. I'm not depressed and have a lot I'm looking forward to. I just need that much sleep to function and I don't know if this is normal especially if I'm going to grow like my brother or what. Has anyone dealt with this? I slept for 20 hours a bit ago and 5 hours later, I'm getting pretty sleepy and worn out again. And I know that I get enough vitamins/nutrients and especially food if anyone asks. It's getting pretty annoying because I have things to work on and I'm constantly feeling like I need sleep.
0 likes, 9 replies
lily65668 mario51046
Posted
Sorry not to have anything else for you Mario, but it really is down to your age and a probable growth spurt. It affects some teenagers more than others, and there's clearly a genetic factor in your case. You've done the right thing in getting a sleep study. If there'd been anything wrong, it would have shown up.
Maybe you could ask your brother how he coped with this phase - and it is a phase, and one that you'll come through. You might also ask him how long it lasted.
Whatever you do, don't be tempted to look on-line or on the street for medications to keep you awake. They're all highly addictive - even assuming you get what you paid for - and will lead to terrible problems. This isn't for ever, though I realise it might seem that way. Time goes more slowly when you're 16.
Just make the most of it while it lasts. A lot of people your age on these boards complain of not being able to sleep enough, and I suspect they'd envy you.
mario51046 lily65668
Posted
Thank you. Honestly it's better than nothing. My doctor doesn't say anything about it and doesn't really care. Even just knowing it's more than likely a growth spurt phase is better than nothing. Thanks for your advice 😃
lily65668 mario51046
Posted
Mario, I'm happy if I helped a bit.
I don't think it's really that your doctor "doesn't care", as you say. I think it's more likely that having found nothing wrong with you, he doesn't see what the problem is. He probably knows it's just a normal phenomenon for some people your age so doesn't think there's any more to be said about it.
You'll come through this soon enough, just be patient.
mario51046 lily65668
Posted
Well in my area some doctors tend to shrug things off and not really try to do anything, with different things you know? I had a lot of problems a long time ago (physically) and it took me 4 tries to find a doctor that didn't just try to throw antidepressants at me and act like my pain was all anxiety. It was very frustrating so I'm not as trusting of doctors these days. There's not very much communication and they don't talk anything through with you, they either tell you to try a medication or ignore what you're trying to talk about. It was probably just the area there because honestly I've found much better doctors where I've moved. Thanks again though
mario51046
Posted
Just to clarify though, if my doctor had said it was a normal thing I would've just let it go. But I genuinely never got anything but the sleep study results, a "they found nothing" and then no more into why we're concerned. So yeah 😕
christine66659 mario51046
Posted
completely normal..my son was the same and our dr said nothing to worry about..enjoy it..and relax..once he hit his twenties he complains he doesnt get enough..6/7hrs..swings in roundabouts.take care ..funny enough my son is six foot
emodafinil38193 mario51046
Posted
You might need some modafinil
lily65668 emodafinil38193
Posted
Absolutely not. There's no need for medication to solve a perfectly normal side-effect of growing up. And in any case, modafinil can be addictive, as well as having various side-effects.
It's OK for treating certain real sleep disorders, but will only add complications to a case like Mario's.
leo47950 mario51046
Posted
My nephew went through the same thing over the course of several weeks and grew 5 inches. It's not "normal," but it's not uncommon, and nothing to worry about (unless your head starts scraping the ceiling).