Is this chronic insomnia?

Ever since I was very little I have had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. I've never slept a whole night, and I still wake up several times during the night. My doctor gave me some mild pills that should help me fall asleep, but it didn't work. My parents keep saying that it's normal to not sleep much but I don't think so. It is like that every night, even on holidays and weekends. I'm born with a heart defect so I think that may cause it. I also often wake up very early in the morning which is annoying. I'm getting tired of it because my parents don't understand my sleep issues. They think that I'm very childish, especially if we have to wake up early. I really need some advice because it destroys my life and I can't concentrate during the day. I can't go to the doctor by myself. What should I do!?

Sorry for grammar mistakes.

Hi Gaga. The sleep pattern that you describe doesn't sound normal at all. Do your parents also have insomnia? I'm just wondering, because sometimes it runs in families. It could also be related to your congenital heart problem or it could be something else.

Do you have a smartphone or other device that can run apps? There's an app called SleepBit that monitors you while you're sleeping. It shows how much you move around and if you make noise. You can also tell how often you wake up. You have to plug in your phone if you want to use the recording function.

If you are able to use it, you will be able to keep a record of what time you go to sleep and what time you wake up and it will show how often you wake up during the night and if you are moving a lot or making unusual sounds (like something that would indicate sleep apnea.)

It also has a "smart alarm" that will look at whether you're in a deep sleep or a light one and wake you during a light sleep within 30 minutes of the time you want to wake up. That can help to make it easier to wake up.

I hope that you will get some other advice on here. I would keep a record of things like if you're waking up with headaches.

You may have to collect some data and also collect some examples of how not sleeping well if affecting you in order to get your parents to let you see a doctor about it. I'm sorry that you're having to go through not being allowed to see a doctor for a health care worry. Since I have been reading these forums, I see that happening so often with teenagers and their parents.

Hugs!

That sounds like a cool app! Maybe I should get it on my iPad. Is it free?

I can't go to the doctor by myself because I also am born with autism. That means I always have to have to get my parents or someone I know well with me when I need to go to the doctor.

Thanks for replying

Yes, it's free. It's called "SleepBot", though, not "SleepBit". Oops. The search I did says that it's available for iPad too.

It gives a lot of good information.

I will definitely try it! Thank you