What Did Ancient Humans Do at Night (Why Can't I Sleep)

For so many ADHD brains, nights aren’t restful, they’re busy, creative, and wired. You’re exhausted, your head hits the pillow… but suddenly you’re wide awake, building entire business plans in your mind while the rest of the house is out cold. But that might not mean you’re broken. Ancient human sleep patterns, artificial light, and the hunter–farmer theory explain a lot of what is going on with you. In this episode, I look at how our nervous systems evolved to keep us alive in the dark, why two-phase sleeping may actually be your brain’s default setting, and how modern schedules, school systems and blue light clash with that old wiring. I share several gentle, practical ways to work with your rhythms instead of fighting them, staying calm enough to sleep enough and to be able to lend your child your nervous system when they are too wired to fall asleep. EPISODE REVEALS Around 70–80% of adults with ADHD have sleep problems. Their brains aren’t ready to switch off when the body is tired. For most of human history, people slept in two phases. A first sleep, a wakeful, reflective window in the middle of the night, then a second sleep until dawn. When artificial light is removed our bodies do this naturally. Blue light suppresses melatonin and fragments our sleep, keeping our brains convinced it’s still daytime. Learning calming techniques to trigger sleep helps you to get calm. Allowing you to in turn help your child who is also struggling. What looks like behaviour issues is often a dysregulated nervous system. A brain built for being always on the lookout for sabertoothed tigers rather than for modern life. BEST MOMENTS "We're living in a world where we've got alarm schedules, early starts, school systems. All these things that don't match how some brains actually work, particularly ours." "If you can model the calm, that's going to help you, then, that's going to help your child." EPISODE RESOURCES ADHD Chatter podcast with Dr Shyamal Mashru https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuNCL7spFNs Zenn - What Did Ancient Humans Do at Night? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st_Ah6Ykbh4 Insomnia is the most common sleep problem among adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6299464/ https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1528979/full RESOURCES Famisafe Parental control App: https://wondersharesoftware.pxf.io/ParentingAUDHD What to Do When Your Child Shuts Down: Real-World Parenting Strategies for Neurodivergent Kids Who Shut Down, Refuse School, or Just Stop communicating with you: https://amzn.eu/d/0fBIfbhR CLIFF´S SERVICES Are you struggling with anxiety and want support from someone who has been there and come out the other side? - Message Cliff here and take advantage of his founding members offer: https://m.me/cliff.kilmister CONTACT ME Instagram: @cliff_kilmister08 ⁠https://www.facebook.com/cliff.kilmister X - @KilmisterCliff https://www.youtube.com/@ParentingAutismandADHD HOST BIO Cliff Kilmister is a dedicated parent, advocate, and cat whisperer with firsthand experience raising a child with autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). Having navigated the challenges of school refusal, meltdowns, and sensory sensitivities, Cliff brings an empathetic, real-world perspective to the podcast. When he's not helping his child thrive, he’s dodging the evil stares of his three cats, who are plotting to take over the world (fortunately, they still haven’t figured out how to use the tin opener). Cliff offers practical advice, expert insights, and personal stories to help families facing similar struggles. Cliff is focused on connecting with professionals and networks to raise awareness about the growing need for the education system to adapt to the increasing neurodiverse population. Join the community on Patreon to share experiences, access exclusive content, and work together for change! This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/