Sleep Struggles: A Therapist for Teens in Roswell, GA Explains Why Teens Are So Tired (And What Helps)
According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens need around 8 to 10 hours of sleep at night, sometimes 11. However, their 2024 poll revealed that more than half of teens are failing to get the sleep they need.
Why Sleep Matters: Perspectives from a Teen Therapist
The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine joined together to recognize the teen battle with sleep deprivation as a “serious health risk” in 2010 (AMA, 2010). Lack of sleep affects decision-making, memory, brain development, mental health, and performance in school, sports, and extracurricular activities. It impacts teens’ ability to effectively cope with stress and relational challenges that often come with teenagehood, since it can lead to irritability and impulsivity and inhibit brain function. It can also cause health issues, as sleep deprivation inhibits the body’s immune system.
Why are teens so tired?
Circadian rhythms
Although it may seem that your teen sleeps in on their days off because they’re “lazy”, their natural body rhythms have actually shifted toward a preference for later sleeping and waking times. These rhythms tell the body to release the hormones that make us sleepy and ready to wake up. This natural preference conflicts with early start times at school. It can be hard to work against your body’s natural rhythms, so this is often a major contributor to sleepiness and fatigue in teens.
Poor sleep hygiene
Many teenagers have unhealthy sleep habits, also known as “sleep hygiene”, including sleeping at irregular times, screen time before bed, or overuse of caffeine, which have been linked to increased difficulty with falling asleep at night.
Technology
Technology in the bedroom and screentime before bed has long been linked to sleep difficulties, though a 2014 study found that social media use had the worst impact, costing teens an average of one hour of sleep.
Environment
Major culprits contributing to sleepiness and fatigue in a teen’s environment include heavy workloads and busy schedules, which can lead to a teen having more on their to-do list than they can possibly have the time to complete.
Psychological factors
A 2001 study found that when parents ignored the influence of psychological factors on sleep, the outcome was often poor. Psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, or ADHD can greatly impact a teen’s struggle to get good sleep. A small percentage of teens’ sleep struggles are explained by sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, sleepwalking, or insomnia. This is where teen counseling in Roswell, GA, at Renovating Hope Counseling can be helpful.
Dr. Nanci Yuan, the medical director of the Sleep Center at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in 2014, implored that we “make sleep a priority as important as good nutrition and exercise” (Reuters, 2014).
How to Support a Teen with Sleep Struggles
Talk to a pediatrician.
If your teen is struggling with persistent sleepiness or fatigue, the best place to start is by speaking to their pediatrician. Start by ruling out any medical conditions, physical or mental, that are contributing to the struggle with sleep. In addition to seeing a pediatrician, working with a therapist for teens in Roswell can help teens navigate psychological factors.
Build healthy sleep habits.
Help your teen set up a regular sleep schedule. Sleeping in on weekends can be tempting, especially if your teen had to stay up to finish an important project or stayed out extra late for a performance or away game.
An ideal environment for sleep is “cool, quiet, and dark,” if possible, and with limited screen time at least one hour before bed. Dr. Yuan emphasized that electronics should preferably be removed from the bedroom for the best results (Reuters, 2014).
Building healthy sleep habits includes having a careful relationship with naps, as brief naps can be helpful after a night of insufficient sleep, but napping too long or every day can contribute to difficulty sleeping at night.
Don’t lose hope.
Sleep struggles can be overwhelming, especially at the beginning, as you try to identify the cause and the best solutions for your teen. However, research shows that most teens are able to find relief from their battles with sleep, and that much can be helped by starting with a regular bedtime and good sleep hygiene.
Find Rest and Healing with Therapy for Teens in Roswell, GA
If your teen is running on empty, you're not alone. From packed schedules to emotional overload, it’s no wonder many teens feel exhausted before the day even begins. At Renovating Hope Counseling, we understand the deeper roots of teen fatigue and how therapy can help. Working with a compassionate therapist for teens in Roswell, GA, can create space for rest, regulation, and real change.
Here’s how to begin working with a therapist for teens in Roswell, GA:
Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to share your concerns and learn how therapy can support your teen’s well-being.
Book your teen’s first therapy session and begin exploring the emotional, mental, and physical patterns behind their sleep struggles.
Watch your teen build healthier habits while gaining tools to manage stress, improve sleep, and feel more like themselves again.
Let’s help your teen reclaim the rest and balance they need to thrive.
Expanded Therapy Services in Roswell, GA
Along with teen counseling, our practice offers a range of integrative services to support individuals and families through life’s ups and downs. We provide individual therapy, child counseling, and family-based support to nurture emotional growth, improve communication, and strengthen relationships at home.
Couples can access relationship and marriage counseling to rebuild trust and deepen connection. We also offer trauma-informed care for those processing past pain in a safe, compassionate environment.
Our team treats concerns like anxiety, depression, OCD, disordered eating & body image challenges, and women’s mental health. For whole-person care, we offer brainspotting, Christian counseling, online therapy, functional nutrition, and sports performance coaching, tailored to support emotional and physical resilience.
Meet Madeline Verdesca: Therapist for Teens in Roswell, GA
Madeline Verdesca is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Roswell, GA, committed to helping teens and individuals feel understood, empowered, and supported. With extensive training and real-world experience, she guides clients through life’s challenges by focusing on healing, growth, and meaningful relationships. Madeline values each person’s story and offers practical tools to help them find clarity and fulfillment.
When she’s not at Renovating Hope, Madeline enjoys gardening, reading, singing, and walking with her husband and their labradoodle, River. In every session, she aims to foster hope and help clients build a life rooted in agency, connection, and joy.
References from a Therapist for Teens in Roswell
American Medical Association, American Academy of Sleep Medicine . Resolution 503: Insufficient Sleep in Adolescents. Chicago, IL: American Medical Association, American Academy of Sleep Medicine; 2010
Cohen, R. (2014a, January 24). Study suggests kids should unplug before sleep | reuters. Reuters.com.
Findlay SM. The tired teen: A review of the assessment and management of the adolescent with sleepiness and fatigue. Paediatr Child Health. 2008 Jan;13(1):37-42. doi: 10.1093/pch/13.1.37. PMID: 19119351; PMCID: PMC2528817.
GARRALDA, M. E., & RANGEL, L. (2001). Childhood Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. American Journal of Psychiatry, 158(7), 1161–1161. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.158.7.1161
Judith Owens, ADOLESCENT SLEEP WORKING GROUP, COMMITTEE ON ADOLESCENCE, Rhoda Au, Mary Carskadon, Richard Millman, Amy Wolfson, Paula K. Braverman, William P. Adelman, Cora C. Breuner, David A. Levine, Arik V. Marcell, Pamela J. Murray, Rebecca F. O’Brien; Insufficient Sleep in Adolescents and Young Adults: An Update on Causes and Consequences. Pediatrics September 2014; 134 (3): e921–e932. 10.1542/peds.2014-1696
The National Sleep Foundation. (2024, March 7). National Sleep Foundation’s 2024 Sleep in America Poll.
The National Sleep Foundation. (2024, May 10). What to know about teens and sleep. National Sleep Foundation. https://www.thensf.org/what-to-know-about-teens-and-sleep/
Richard P. Millman, Working Group on Sleepiness in Adolescents/Young Adults; and AAP Committee on Adolescence; Excessive Sleepiness in Adolescents and Young Adults: Causes, Consequences, and Treatment Strategies. Pediatrics June 2005; 115 (6): 1774–1786. 10.1542/peds.2005-0772
Summer, J. V. (2024, March 11). Napping: Benefits and tips. Sleep Foundation. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/napping
Yuan, N. (2014, March 11). Tips for a adjusting your child’s sleep clock by Nanci Yuan, MD - Stanford Medicine Children’s health. Tips for Adjusting Your Child’s Sleep Clock by Nanci Yuan, MD - Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/about/news/releases/2014/adjusting-your-childs-sleep-tips.html
