any ideas on helping my son who is 13 diagnosed Asperger, sleep? Sometimes it is because he is too 'wired' sometimes he is extremely depressed, we talk, I cuddle him, I ve tried herbal stuff, he doesnt want to get anything from the doctor, he is adamant about that. He doesnt like baths and cant stand smells. We're both tired and its every night, I know he would like to have a good nights sleep. Thanks.
I am Autistic and a life-long sufferrer of insomnia.
To help stop my mind racing and help me get to sleep, I spend about an hour quietly reading in bed.
My daughter (also Autistic) also has sleep difficulties, and we have found that a bubble lamp (lit tube full of water with aquarium like bubbles in it)... probably partly due to the buzzing of the air pump... has helped her sleep - along with gentle music on her CD player (first piano music by Erik Satie, and now the soundtrack to 'Finding Nemo' - not every track is gentle, but the effect is the same). Bear in mind my daughter is only 5 years old.
Hope this helps.
After a long programming session or reading non-fiction (like reading about autism, which I've done a bit lately) I also like reading fiction or something relaxing. If I can't relax, I usualy take a bath. But fresh air helps a lot too (I live in a suburb area with low to non-existent noise, and no smells). I think everyone will have a different method.
I have a bubble lamp, that maybe a good idea as my son did 'enjoy' having a fan in his room during the summer when it was hot and I think that was down to the gentle whiring of the fan. He doesnt enjoy reading at all, so thats difficult. Not only is his mind active but he shakes his legs and fiddles, he says sleeping is a waste of time although I have tried to explain he has too sleep to recharge his batteries for the next day. Thanks for your suggestions, it is much appreciated.
There have always been times in my life when I had problems with sleeping. As a child I was reading until my head fell on the book :grin: But that was very late then (even my 5 yr older brother was asleep then) and I probably did not get enough sleep.
Later I learned autogenic training to calm down. Usually it is taught to refresh someone, but if you stop before the "wake up" sequence, you can use it as a help for sleeping as well. It is about telling your body to relax and then your mind to calm down and go asleep.
My son (9 yr) can sleep much better since he listens to music at night and I can remember at that age I was always sleeping with the radio on.
A routine for going to bed helps a lot. With us it's eating, changing clothes and brushing teeth, listening to mom/someone reading a book to the kids and go to bed. When it's finally time to turn off the lights I go to their rooms and say goodnight. Sometimes now my aspieson is already asleep then, if he has turned on his music (piano classics).
Sibylle
that sounds a bit like yoga or hypnotherapy type stuff? I was thinking about that today. I do encourage him to take four in and out slow deep breaths and then with conversation and gently stroking try to relax his body. His breathing rythmn has never been particularly good and I can tell this is due to stress or anxiety which is why Ive tried the relaxation stuff. I really like the idea of music, so I know I have a spare mp3 somewhere which I could download some relaxing music onto. I know he wouldnt allow me to put in on in his bedroom as he hates having attention drawn to him of any kind. Ive put the bubblelamp nearby so hopefully the rythmn of that will relax him. Thanks once again for the support.
When I have trouble sleeping, I turn off all the lights in the house (my bedroom door doesn't close properly, so lights from other rooms can come through). I also second the music idea. I just listen to any music for a period of time. When I turn it off, the music just replays in my mind, so I don't think about whatever I have been thinking about previously.
well the lava lamp definately distracted and calmed him down, but when I went in to his room to turn if off at 1am he was still wide awake (although calm and not fidgeting) but just watching the bubbles! So perhaps with the music tonight it will work!
well the lava lamp definately distracted and calmed him down, but when I went in to his room to turn if off at 1am he was still wide awake (although calm and not fidgeting) but just watching the bubbles! So perhaps with the music tonight it will work!
By 'bubble lamp' I did not mean a 'Lava Lamp' but if it calms him down then that is a good thing. I think you should add the music and persevere a little longer with the lamp. Once the novelty has worn off, the comfort might indeed help him lull to sleep.
Hi Noctivagus, I didnt realise you could get a bubble lamp? Im definately not taking the lava lamp out, I think Illjust have to turn it off a little earlier
My son is very good really, he will try this stuff, except anything from the dr, he doesnt want to take sleeping tablets or anything like that and I think it would stress him more to try. My friend at work suggested night nurse. What do you think, I see your from the UK so probably familiar with it?
Yes, I'm familiar with Night Nurse, I think. Might he not perceive that as medicine also? If not, it might help... but I'd try a few things at first (the Lava and the music) and leave other things in reserve if they don't work.
Yes, the lava lamp seems to work at least as far as calming him is concerned - which is great news :grin:
For your interest... here's a site with bubble lamps...
http://www.coolstuffcheap.com/bubblestuff.html Unfortunately the pictures aren't too good... and the products seem a little on the fussy side on this site... I prefer more basic bubble lamps.
any ideas on helping my son who is 13 diagnosed Asperger, sleep? Sometimes it is because he is too 'wired' sometimes he is extremely depressed, we talk, I cuddle him, I ve tried herbal stuff, he doesnt want to get anything from the doctor, he is adamant about that. He doesnt like baths and cant stand smells. We're both tired and its every night, I know he would like to have a good nights sleep. Thanks.
Was the herbal remedy you've tried a medicine taken by mouth?
My suggestion is trying aromatherapy. I put a few drops of Lavender oil in my son's bath water at night. He now sleeps soundly through the night, but sometimes wakes up around 3am and gets in my bed, but thats only occasionally. Try it, if you like and let us know how it works out for him :smile: If he doesn't like the smell of lavender, try warm tea (I would try chamomile instead of catnip , Im not very fond of catnip tea because it has a bitter taste.)
my son has acute senses so bad that he will actually gag at strong smells, so havent even tried the lavender although I use it myself and find it really helpful. We also tried the herbal tea (camomile) and bless his heart he did try it, but couldnt drink it. Im thinking of trying the night nurse occasionally just to ensure he has at least a couple of nights sleep a week as he gets really crabby (as we all do!) if he is tired. He maybe ok with the nightnurse as it is 'just' a cold remedy, i havent asked him yet. Most of the herbal sleep treatments seem to be for 16 years and up.