Why is my 18 year old tired?
Sarah Smith
Published Jan 18, 2026
There are lots of potential causes of fatigue. Medical causes can include anemia, Lyme disease, low thyroid, other chronic medical issues, or medication side effects. Mental health issues such as excessive stress, depression or dysthymia can also cause significant fatigue.
Is it normal for a teenager to be tired?
Up to 40% of healthy teens experience regular sleepiness, defined as an increased tendency to fall asleep. Fatigue is the perception of low energy following normal activity and is reported by up to 30% of well teens.
Why does my teenager have no energy?
Anxiety, depression, trauma, high stress, and other emotional issues can cause fatigue and other physical and mental health symptoms.) If your doctor cannot find a physical source for your teen's fatigue, you may want to visit a mental health professional to see whether he or she can determine a diagnosis.
How much sleep does an 18 year old student need?
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended that children aged 6–12 years should regularly sleep 9–12 hours per 24 hours and teenagers aged 13–18 years should sleep 8–10 hours per 24 hours.
What time should an 18 year old sleep?
School-age children should go to bed between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. Teens should try to go to bed between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m. Adults should try to go to sleep between 10:00 and 11:00 p.m.
37 related questions foundShould I let my teenager sleep all day?
So while teens should not be sleeping all day, a later bed time and later wake time are fine, as long as they sleep between 8.5 to 9.5 hours a day.
What time should a teenager go to bed?
In an ideal world, teenagers aged between 17 and 20 should be in bed by midnight and wake up at 11am. “You shift later wake times in early adolescence and early adulthood. It then very gradually drifts back to 10am, then 9am and then earlier and earlier.
Should I stay awake if I can't sleep?
Downsides of skipping sleep altogether
If you don't sleep, your drowsiness will continue to get worse until you can finally get some rest. Sleeping for 1 to 2 hours can decrease sleep pressure and make you feel less tired in the morning than you otherwise would by staying up all night.
How can I stop feeling tired?
Self-help tips to fight tiredness
- Eat often to beat tiredness. ...
- Get moving. ...
- Lose weight to gain energy. ...
- Sleep well. ...
- Reduce stress to boost energy. ...
- Talking therapy beats fatigue. ...
- Cut out caffeine. ...
- Drink less alcohol.
Why is my teenage daughter always in her room?
Teens, Privacy, and Independence
In this particular instance, your teenage daughter is likely in her room as a way to assert more independence and control over her life. Privacy can become even more important as she notices physical changes.
Should I wake my teenager up?
Teenagers need structure, explains Duffy, a Chicago-based psychologist and author of The Available Parent: Radical Optimism for Raising Teens and Tweens. “Sleeping the day away can drive some poor habits. So, difficult as it is, I strongly encourage parents to wake teenagers up on the weekends.
Why am I so exhausted all of a sudden?
Most of the time fatigue can be traced to one or more of your habits or routines, particularly lack of exercise. It's also commonly related to depression. On occasion, fatigue is a symptom of other underlying conditions that require medical treatment.
Can an 18 year old have fibromyalgia?
Most of the time fibromyalgia affects women over age 18. Even so, between 1% and 7% of children are thought to have fibromyalgia or similar conditions.
What is fatigue syndrome?
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that lasts for at least six months and that can't be fully explained by an underlying medical condition. The fatigue worsens with physical or mental activity, but doesn't improve with rest.
What is a narcoleptic episode?
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep. People with narcolepsy often find it difficult to stay awake for long periods of time, regardless of the circumstances. Narcolepsy can cause serious disruptions in your daily routine.
Why is teenage sleep important?
Sleep helps to fuel your brain and your body. Teens need more sleep because their bodies and minds are growing quickly. Scientific research shows that many teens do not get enough sleep. To be at your best, you need between 8 and 10 hours of sleep every day.
Should a 17 year old have a bedtime?
The answer depends on your teen and your own situation. A 13-year-old may need more help going to sleep at an appropriate hour, and parents can help. A 17-year-old shouldn't need as many reminders about good sleep habits. Rather than give an older teen a strict bedtime, it's better to educate your teen.
Is sleeping naked better for your health?
Sleeping naked together might improve your rest by reducing your stress and anxiety levels. Skin-to-skin contact between adults can increase levels of oxytocin, the “love hormone”. That increased oxytocin can help to reduce your stress levels. It can also make you feel more connected to your partner.
Is laying in bed as good as sleeping?
Lying down isn't completely useless—it does help your muscles and other organs relax. But you'd get the same results just from reclining on the couch. So sleep is still your best friend.
How many hours does Elon Musk sleep?
Musk wakes up each morning at around 7 am. He says he likes getting around six to six-and-a-half hours of sleep per night. Sleeping in is not an option for him, saying it affects his performance more than if he sleeps less.
Why is my teen staying up all night?
Staying up late is part of a natural transition from childhood. The internal clock of teenagers tends to shift about two hours later than when they were kids, though they still need eight to 10 hours of sleep. That is why many sleep scientists campaign for high schools to start later in the morning, Dr. Sterni said.
Is oversleeping a symptom of depression?
It's important to remember that oversleeping is a possible symptom of depression and that oversleeping doesn't cause depression. But it can exacerbate and worsen depression symptoms, Dr. Drerup explains. “If someone's oversleeping, they may wake up and feel like they've missed out on the day,” she says.
Why is my teenager so angry?
Other teens experience intense anger as a symptom of a mental health issue, traumatizing life experience, or simply from the stress and pressures of adolescence. Some of these common triggers of severe anger in teens include: Low self-esteem. Victim of bullying or persistent & unhealthy peer pressure.