By Fatima Malik
The straight answer is yes. Melatonin is a hormone made naturally by the body to help us go to sleep.
It is usually released in the body with it gets dark outside (that’s why gloomy days are so lazy). The hormone tells the brain to start getting ready to sleep.
So Lazy on gloomy days
The reason for feeling lazy on rainy, cloudy days is that our primitive brain decides that no predators are out hunting in the rain, so it’s safe to rest – enter melatonin, and before we know it, we’re on our sixth cup of coffee, and it’s only 10 am.
Melatonin and ADHD
Taking a melatonin supplement has no known side effects, and it is safe to administer to kids with ADHD as they usually have trouble sleeping.
Neurotypical brains usually go to sleep within the hour of laying in bed as their melatonin would have kicked in a couple of hours earlier.
For a neurodivergent ADHD brain that lacks regulation of hormones like dopamine, the onset of melatonin is also delayed.
An ADHD brain usually takes an hour longer to get to sleep than a neurotypical brain. Research shows that 25 to 50 percent of people with ADHD have a sleep disorder.
So if the child’s doctor recommends melatonin, it is okay to try it.
Melatonin usually takes 90 to 120 minutes to be metabolized by the body and start taking effect. Therefore it is ideal for your child with ADHD to take it three hours before bedtime so that when it’s time, they can fall asleep quickly and stay asleep longer.
Other than Melatonin?
Other tips for helping your child fall asleep include sleep sounds (ocean waves), meditation before bed, yoga, journaling etc. These tips can help your child with ADHD set a bedtime routine and help regulate their sleep.
For additional sleep therapy options, please consult the child’s doctor or psychotherapist. At Positive Kids, we provide professional help to kids with ADHD and their families. Please contact us at 1-866-503-7454
We have professionals all over Canada.
Montreal, Quebec
Toronto, Ontario
Vancouver, British Colombia
Edmonton, Alberta
Winnipeg, Manitoba
