Sleep issues and Asperger's

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Our little guy has ALWAYS been an early riser, and wouldn't nap unless we were at home. He started Kindergarten this year, and sleep has become an issue. We've recently have had days when he's up at 3:30am, and he's wide awake. He never goes back to sleep once he's up. School is suffering and so is he. We met with a sleep doctor and he put our son on Doxepin. It's been about 3 weeks (so I know it's early in the game still), but I really don't like having him on anything. He has become more verbally and physically aggressive, and has started saying he hates himself a few times. I do have a call in to the doctor, but I'm just wondering if anyone has had an experience of the like, and what worked for you.

does he fall asleep on his own at night?? My oldest son (AS) has trouble falling asleep, but can usually stay that way, so we have been giving him Melatonin which has been working WONDERFUL, my other son we think is AS also, but is still too young to tell (is showing some "autistic like behaviors" and does have sensory processing issues and a whole list of other concerns too numerous to number at this time) he goes to sleep on his own, but like your son is and has always been an EARLY riser----I am not (sigh). We have tried the Melatonin on him but doesn't help in his case, nor does Benedryl (drs. idea).

Hi! He does fall asleep on his own, and thankfully we really haven't had problems with that....it's just the waking so early. We did talk to the doctor about Melatonin as well, but we were told it helps more to induce sleep, and really wouldn't do much for our son, but we could try it if we wanted to. This doctor has been working with kids for 20 yrs, so I'm comfortable with his recommendations, but I'm just not comfortable medicating our son (which is where we are now). I'm just not sure we are doing the right thing.

Hi! He does fall asleep on his own, and thankfully he always has. It's the early rising that is such an issue. If we felt he could make it through the day on the sleep he gets, that would be one thing, but he can't. We did talk to the doctor about Melatonin, but we were told it works more to help for falling asleep and that it really wouldn't help our son. The doctor has been working with kids for 20 yrs, so I do feel comfortable with his recommendations, but I just am not feeling good about medicating him. Just don't know if we are doing the right thing. Of course the increased aggression and the negative self talk are not reassuring me in the least.

jacksmom,
that's tough.

(edit: maybe a sleep process, melatonin or ? could help him sleep longer)
"The thought" of school could be causing him anxiety-first year and all..

I've had insomnia all week-in contrast to my sleeping alot more than most people. The only change-an upcoming event-lots of people, small room, on stage. People I know and love even. I can see no reason why I should have insomnia.

I usually don't medicate. On rough nights, say the week before finals, this happenes, and I'm finally seeing the pattern. A Melatonin tab a couple hours before bed does the trick.

Whe I was 5 and 6, My mom made me drink warmed concentrated milk each night before bed, about half a can. I hated it. I didn't know then that I had a sleep problem, though, I was often up til 12 wondering why she was trying to get me to sleep. I still have them many years later. More common though is my need to oversleep.


Think about holding off on deep worry for a couple of months, allowing him time for his subconsious to recognize that his new environment: school, people, learning-is staying. Let time and some talking explain the new status quo to his brain.

What works for me is food-and lots of it. Poultry. Soda. Steamed veggies in white sauce.
Caffiene tends to slow me in small doses. ie: soda with dinner.

My natural clock also has a 3:30 up/start-when things are going GOOD. Whereas if I force sleeping past this point, my internal clock resets, I will be groggy at 6/7 wake/start, and I will have a unrecoverable BAD DAY.

Maybe if it's ok, just let him drag a blanket out and silently and quietly watch tv in the dark-chances are that he will be back to sleep in 15 min.

I went through that too. I still actually go through that-but there is no one around to 'upset'.

I hope this view was helpful.

i had this issue with my daughter for as long as I could remember, until we began Cognitive behavioural therapy for her anxiety. We had been using melatonin for about 8 months at that time and told the psychiatrist treating her that we were, which she was ok with. I am not sure if it was directly related, but over a 2 month period, I slowly weaned her and she has been sleeping fine ever since.

I do know, however, that my daughter would scream, cry, vomit, gag, worry that something bad would happen etc at bedtime, every night, for years and if she gained nothing else from the CBT, I am pleased to have a peaceful nights rest and forever grateful that she is relieved of that nightmare.

We have toyed with the idea of a weighted blanket to reorganize her in the evenings, but we have been making headway by putting deep pressure on her shoulders (it truly is an amazing thing, to watch her relax immediately beneath your hands ).

Best Wishes,

Melissa

I don't have a solution but just wanted to say my son has the same issues which we are going to address at his next pediatrician appointment. He gets to sleep just fine, but is up very early ever morning. He also sleeps with the TV on and sometimes I find in the middle of the night he has the big light on in the night. I don't understand how anyhone can sleep in these conditions. I wonder if this lack of sleep has something to do with his behaviors. I always noticed when he was underslept he would throw more tantrums. He also went through night tremmors which was a very freightening thing to watch.

Good luck and let us know how you make out with the doctor.

Hi there! Thanks so much for all of the feedback.....I'll keep you posted.