Ash_Administrator_Ville June 16, 2015
As an adult, you look forward to the time at night when you can crawl into your comfy bed and enjoy the peacefulness before falling into a deep sleep. You cherish those hours where you can just relax and rest. Your adolescent, however, has yet to appreciate her bedtime. While it might not seem like a big deal, a lack of sleep could be the cause of her behavioral and emotional problems.
While it is recommended that adolescents average nine hours of sleep per night, most teens receive well bellow the recommendation. A teen’s inconsistent sleep schedule, staying up late during weekdays and sleeping in on weekends, also does not benefit their overall health. A lack of adequate sleep can result in:
- Moodiness
- Inability to cope with stress
- Impaired relationships
- Attention deficits
- High blood pressure
Sleep and teen mental health
Research, by professors at Columbia University Medical Center, shows just how damaging a lack of sleep can be on teen mental health.
The study, of 15,659 adolescents, found that teens with earlier bedtimes and consistent sleep patterns were less likely to suffer from depression and suicidal ideation. Teens with “set bedtimes of midnight or later were 24 percent more likely to suffer from depression and 20 percent more likely to have suicidal ideation than adolescents with parental set bedtimes of 10 p.m. or earlier.” Teens who received less than five hours of sleep per night were 71 percent more likely to be depressed than those teens who received eight hours of sleep per night.
Programs for troubled teen girls provide holistic treatment
Residential programs for troubled teen girls offer a chance for your daughter to see positive changes academically, socially and personally. The focus on daily exercise and healthy eating habits will increase her health and allow her to establish a consistent sleep pattern. She will also learn how to effectively manage her time, so she is not taking away from her sleep schedule to complete academic homework. After receiving adequate amounts of sleep, your daughter will be able to perform better academically, rationalize before making decisions and feel better overall.
To learn more about programs for troubled teen girls, call AAG today at 800-264-8709.
