Why is my teen always tired?
If you’re a parent constantly asking, “Why is my teen always tired?” — you’re not alone. Tiredness in teens is incredibly common, but that doesn’t make it any less worrying when it affects your child’s wellbeing, school attendance, or quality of life.
Tiredness in teenagers can be completely normal, but it can also be a sign of something more serious, such as teenage CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), especially when it persists for weeks or months.
In this article, we explore what causes tiredness in teens, what parents can do to help, and when it might be time to seek professional support.
Understanding tiredness in teens
Teenagers are known for staying up late and struggling to get out of bed — but there are genuine biological reasons for this. During puberty, a teen’s internal body clock (circadian rhythm) shifts, meaning they naturally feel sleepy later at night. Yet they still have to wake early for school or college, leading to chronic tiredness in teens.
Other normal causes of tiredness in teenagers
· Hormonal changes during puberty
· Increased demands from school, exams, sports, and social life
· Overstimulation from devices, games, and social media
· Blue light exposure reducing melatonin (the sleep hormone)
· Nutritional deficiencies or skipping meals
· Irregular sleep routines
If your teen is only tired occasionally or improves with more rest and lifestyle tweaks, it’s usually nothing to worry about. But if the fatigue is ongoing and unexplained, it might be something deeper — like teen CFS.
When tiredness in teenagers becomes a concern
Have you tried everything — limiting screen time, encouraging a regular bedtime, balancing your teen’s weekly schedule — but they’re still exhausted?
This ongoing exhaustion may be a symptom of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in teens, also known as Teenage CFS. While still poorly understood, CFS is a serious and often disabling condition that affects energy levels, concentration, immunity, and daily functioning.
If you're Googling “Why is my teenager always tired?”, it may be time to consider that this isn’t just normal puberty fatigue — but something that requires specialist help.
Comments
Post a Comment