Teenagers do not have the same biorhythms as adults, and need a greater amount of sleep for a number of reasons. The adolescent is going through major pubescent changes with rapid growth and development. During sleep the body repairs, restores, and rebuilds that which is necessary to maintaining a healthy body. If the body is deprived of adequate and sufficient sleep then many of these functions cannot be performed, or performed properly.
Sleep deprivation has long been reported to contribute to emotional and mental changes as seen in students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety, among other behavioral changes. Whether the child is 7 or 17, the signs of sleep deprivation are very similar:
- Difficulty getting up in the morning, may even sleep through alarm.
- Irritability and crankiness
- Predisposed to greater emotional outbursts
- Inability to concentrate or focus at school
- Falling asleep during the day
- Complaining of fatigue or loss of energy
- Poor motor coordination
- Accident prone
I agree with you, when I don't get enough sleep i see the difference from when i get about eight hours of sleep. I feel as though my performance is better when i have rested a sufficient amount of time.
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