Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens 244: What If Anxiety Won't Let My Teen Sleep?
Nov 4, 2025
Discover the intricate link between anxiety and sleeplessness in teens. Learn why puberty shifts sleep cycles, and when nighttime worries become concerning. Explore practical strategies to calm racing minds before bed, like writing down worries and establishing soothing rituals. Understand the importance of normalizing anxiety for adolescents, reassuring them that feeling anxious is part of growing up. This insightful dialogue offers parents tools to help their kids create healthier sleep habits and tackle worries head-on.
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Puberty Shifts Teen Sleep Timing
- Puberty shifts the sleep phase so teens naturally stay up later and can resist falling asleep.
- This biological change makes sleep hygiene more critical for adolescents.
Leave Bed If Awake Too Long
- If a teen lies awake more than ~10–15 minutes, have them get out of bed to avoid pairing the bed with anxiety.
- Do a calm, dim, non-tech activity until drowsy before returning to bed.
Reena's Laptop Trick To Fall Back Asleep
- Reena gets out of bed when wide awake and does 10–15 minutes of work to offload worries and then sleeps better.
- Lisa confirms that offloading tasks can help even if the laptop light sometimes interferes.
