Sleep issues in my non-OCD'er

[Guest guest]

Okay, all, what do you do about insomnia issues?

My OCD'er is 12 and hasn't had any sleep issues, even changing meds or

when her anxiety has been high. However, my 10 yr. old son has been

getting worse over the past 3-4 mos. and is definitely having

difficulty. I feel terrible for him. He can't get to sleep for hours

sometimes and even if he does, he will often wake in the night and be

awake for hours. I know that it's feeding on itself now because he

worries about sleep. I suddenly got insomnia 4 yrs. ago and have

battled it for that long, so I know what a vicious cycle it is. I am

doing well on Melatonin, but I hesitate to start that with him because

I worry about him being so young and needing to take something every

night. Do I want to start that? I keep thinking it will get better,

but last night he went to bed at 9 pm, was still up at 10:30 and I

gave him some relaxation advice. I went in about 11:15 and thought he

was asleep, but didn't hear deep breathing or anything. He came in

at 12:40 and said he still couldn't sleep. So, I kicked my husband

into the guest room and had him sleep with me. Sometimes that works,

sometimes it doesn't. He did fall asleep about 1:00 and I had to get

him up at 7 am. for school. I really debated letting him sleep in and

taking him late, but he really hates that.

So, what helps your children sleep if they are having issues? How

much melatonin do your kids take if they do?

Thanks,

Dina

[Guest guest]

My 8 YO son has been taking magnesium to help him sleep through the night and it

seems to work - he rarely wakes up unless he's sick (like last night he had

fever). Kid Calm - Natural Vitality orange flavor; it's a powder you mix with

hot water. We get it from vitacost.com.

dina_n_jones <dina.n.jones@...> wrote:

Okay, all, what do you do about insomnia issues?

My OCD'er is 12 and hasn't had any sleep issues, even changing meds or

when her anxiety has been high. However, my 10 yr. old son has been

getting worse over the past 3-4 mos. and is definitely having

difficulty. I feel terrible for him. He can't get to sleep for hours

sometimes and even if he does, he will often wake in the night and be

awake for hours. I know that it's feeding on itself now because he

worries about sleep. I suddenly got insomnia 4 yrs. ago and have

battled it for that long, so I know what a vicious cycle it is. I am

doing well on Melatonin, but I hesitate to start that with him because

I worry about him being so young and needing to take something every

night. Do I want to start that? I keep thinking it will get better,

but last night he went to bed at 9 pm, was still up at 10:30 and I

gave him some relaxation advice. I went in about 11:15 and thought he

was asleep, but didn't hear deep breathing or anything. He came in

at 12:40 and said he still couldn't sleep. So, I kicked my husband

into the guest room and had him sleep with me. Sometimes that works,

sometimes it doesn't. He did fall asleep about 1:00 and I had to get

him up at 7 am. for school. I really debated letting him sleep in and

taking him late, but he really hates that.

So, what helps your children sleep if they are having issues? How

much melatonin do your kids take if they do?

Thanks,

Dina

[Guest guest]

My 8 YO son has been taking magnesium to help him sleep through the night and it

seems to work - he rarely wakes up unless he's sick (like last night he had

fever). Kid Calm - Natural Vitality orange flavor; it's a powder you mix with

hot water. We get it from vitacost.com.

dina_n_jones <dina.n.jones@...> wrote:

Okay, all, what do you do about insomnia issues?

My OCD'er is 12 and hasn't had any sleep issues, even changing meds or

when her anxiety has been high. However, my 10 yr. old son has been

getting worse over the past 3-4 mos. and is definitely having

difficulty. I feel terrible for him. He can't get to sleep for hours

sometimes and even if he does, he will often wake in the night and be

awake for hours. I know that it's feeding on itself now because he

worries about sleep. I suddenly got insomnia 4 yrs. ago and have

battled it for that long, so I know what a vicious cycle it is. I am

doing well on Melatonin, but I hesitate to start that with him because

I worry about him being so young and needing to take something every

night. Do I want to start that? I keep thinking it will get better,

but last night he went to bed at 9 pm, was still up at 10:30 and I

gave him some relaxation advice. I went in about 11:15 and thought he

was asleep, but didn't hear deep breathing or anything. He came in

at 12:40 and said he still couldn't sleep. So, I kicked my husband

into the guest room and had him sleep with me. Sometimes that works,

sometimes it doesn't. He did fall asleep about 1:00 and I had to get

him up at 7 am. for school. I really debated letting him sleep in and

taking him late, but he really hates that.

So, what helps your children sleep if they are having issues? How

much melatonin do your kids take if they do?

Thanks,

Dina

[Guest guest]

Hi, Dina.

My 11 year old son has had sleep issues for several

months. We tried melatonin at first, but it didn't

help. I'm not sure we gave it enough time, though my

neighbor just started it on her four year old and it

worked within minutes.

My son was sleeping through part of his intensive

therapy because he was so tired every day. Our psych

prescribed Remeron. DS has been on it for a while, and

it definitely knocks him out. In fact, he puts himself

in bed and falls asleep before I think to ask him to

do therapy work or shower. Problem is, he now has

trouble getting up, because the medicine is still

working.

I do worry about taking him off of it. I read some

very negative stuff about discontinuing it, but I

guess if you look hard enough, you'll find these

reports about anything. I am hoping that if/when we

find the right SSRI for his OCD, we can stop the

Remeron.

If I were you, I'd defintely give the Melatonin a try.

I'd feel better having my son on something more

natural, and it sounds like this is affecting your

son's quality of life.

Best of luck,

--- dina_n_jones <dina.n.jones@...> wrote:

> Okay, all, what do you do about insomnia issues?

>

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[Guest guest]

Hi, Dina.

My 11 year old son has had sleep issues for several

months. We tried melatonin at first, but it didn't

help. I'm not sure we gave it enough time, though my

neighbor just started it on her four year old and it

worked within minutes.

My son was sleeping through part of his intensive

therapy because he was so tired every day. Our psych

prescribed Remeron. DS has been on it for a while, and

it definitely knocks him out. In fact, he puts himself

in bed and falls asleep before I think to ask him to

do therapy work or shower. Problem is, he now has

trouble getting up, because the medicine is still

working.

I do worry about taking him off of it. I read some

very negative stuff about discontinuing it, but I

guess if you look hard enough, you'll find these

reports about anything. I am hoping that if/when we

find the right SSRI for his OCD, we can stop the

Remeron.

If I were you, I'd defintely give the Melatonin a try.

I'd feel better having my son on something more

natural, and it sounds like this is affecting your

son's quality of life.

Best of luck,

--- dina_n_jones <dina.n.jones@...> wrote:

> Okay, all, what do you do about insomnia issues?

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

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[Guest guest]

,

Do you give him the magnesium right before bed?

Thanks,

Dina

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Kathy. I just ordered Kids Calm and liquid melatonin. I think

I'll try the Kids Calm magnesium first since he is a picky eater and it

may be diet related. If that doesn't work, I'll try the melatonin.

Sigh. It's always something around here.

Dina

[Guest guest]

Our doctor has our son taking (over the counter) Benadryl at night.

It sort of works. I know if he doesn't take it, he is worse. But,

not sleeping at night and not being able to get up in the morning has

been a HUGE problem for our son here. It's frustrating because if he

doesn't sleep, I don't. Yet, I know he can't help it. It seemed to

get worse once he started back on Celexa a year ago too. I wish I had

the answers, but it doesn't seem anyone does.

BJ

>

> Okay, all, what do you do about insomnia issues?

>

> My OCD'er is 12 and hasn't had any sleep issues, even changing meds or

> when her anxiety has been high. However, my 10 yr. old son has been

> getting worse over the past 3-4 mos. and is definitely having

> difficulty. I feel terrible for him. He can't get to sleep for hours

> sometimes and even if he does, he will often wake in the night and be

> awake for hours. I know that it's feeding on itself now because he

> worries about sleep. I suddenly got insomnia 4 yrs. ago and have

> battled it for that long, so I know what a vicious cycle it is. I am

> doing well on Melatonin, but I hesitate to start that with him because

> I worry about him being so young and needing to take something every

> night. Do I want to start that? I keep thinking it will get better,

> but last night he went to bed at 9 pm, was still up at 10:30 and I

> gave him some relaxation advice. I went in about 11:15 and thought he

> was asleep, but didn't hear deep breathing or anything. He came in

> at 12:40 and said he still couldn't sleep. So, I kicked my husband

> into the guest room and had him sleep with me. Sometimes that works,

> sometimes it doesn't. He did fall asleep about 1:00 and I had to get

> him up at 7 am. for school. I really debated letting him sleep in and

> taking him late, but he really hates that.

>

> So, what helps your children sleep if they are having issues? How

> much melatonin do your kids take if they do?

>

> Thanks,

> Dina

>

[Guest guest]

Just a little head's up. . . magnesium can cause diarrhea, and is even

used as a laxative. I take it for my heart problems, and have to

adjust it accordingly, at times. Never heard of it helping for sleep.

That's pretty cool. )

BJ

> Okay, all, what do you do about insomnia issues?

>

> My OCD'er is 12 and hasn't had any sleep issues, even changing meds or

> when her anxiety has been high. However, my 10 yr. old son has been

> getting worse over the past 3-4 mos. and is definitely having

> difficulty. I feel terrible for him. He can't get to sleep for hours

> sometimes and even if he does, he will often wake in the night and be

> awake for hours. I know that it's feeding on itself now because he

> worries about sleep. I suddenly got insomnia 4 yrs. ago and have

> battled it for that long, so I know what a vicious cycle it is. I am

> doing well on Melatonin, but I hesitate to start that with him because

> I worry about him being so young and needing to take something every

> night. Do I want to start that? I keep thinking it will get better,

> but last night he went to bed at 9 pm, was still up at 10:30 and I

> gave him some relaxation advice. I went in about 11:15 and thought he

> was asleep, but didn't hear deep breathing or anything. He came in

> at 12:40 and said he still couldn't sleep. So, I kicked my husband

> into the guest room and had him sleep with me. Sometimes that works,

> sometimes it doesn't. He did fall asleep about 1:00 and I had to get

> him up at 7 am. for school. I really debated letting him sleep in and

> taking him late, but he really hates that.

>

> So, what helps your children sleep if they are having issues? How

> much melatonin do your kids take if they do?

>

> Thanks,

> Dina

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Just a little head's up. . . magnesium can cause diarrhea, and is even

used as a laxative. I take it for my heart problems, and have to

adjust it accordingly, at times. Never heard of it helping for sleep.

That's pretty cool. )

BJ

> Okay, all, what do you do about insomnia issues?

>

> My OCD'er is 12 and hasn't had any sleep issues, even changing meds or

> when her anxiety has been high. However, my 10 yr. old son has been

> getting worse over the past 3-4 mos. and is definitely having

> difficulty. I feel terrible for him. He can't get to sleep for hours

> sometimes and even if he does, he will often wake in the night and be

> awake for hours. I know that it's feeding on itself now because he

> worries about sleep. I suddenly got insomnia 4 yrs. ago and have

> battled it for that long, so I know what a vicious cycle it is. I am

> doing well on Melatonin, but I hesitate to start that with him because

> I worry about him being so young and needing to take something every

> night. Do I want to start that? I keep thinking it will get better,

> but last night he went to bed at 9 pm, was still up at 10:30 and I

> gave him some relaxation advice. I went in about 11:15 and thought he

> was asleep, but didn't hear deep breathing or anything. He came in

> at 12:40 and said he still couldn't sleep. So, I kicked my husband

> into the guest room and had him sleep with me. Sometimes that works,

> sometimes it doesn't. He did fall asleep about 1:00 and I had to get

> him up at 7 am. for school. I really debated letting him sleep in and

> taking him late, but he really hates that.

>

> So, what helps your children sleep if they are having issues? How

> much melatonin do your kids take if they do?

>

> Thanks,

> Dina

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have used Kids Calm in the past and it seems to help my daughter. She

is a picky eater and does not like to drink it, so I finally starting

mixing it with a little orange juice after I disolved the powder as

directed. It still seems to help her even when mixed this way. Good

luck!

>

> Thanks, Kathy. I just ordered Kids Calm and liquid melatonin. I

think

> I'll try the Kids Calm magnesium first since he is a picky eater and

it

> may be diet related. If that doesn't work, I'll try the melatonin.

> Sigh. It's always something around here.

>

> Dina

>