A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I'm a 13 year old girl. I've been really sad and feeling depressed lately. And I just let too much stuff get to me. Yes, I speak to my family about how I feel. I see a counseller once a week. But my thoughts are keeping me up at night. I'm having trouble falling asleep. Do you know any way how I can fall asleep without these thoughts?
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female
reader, TasteofIndia  +, writes (18 March 2008):
 "Worry Dolls"!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worry_doll
Oh my gosh, I haven't thought about them or seen then in forever. What a wonderful idea! My Mother got me a bag of worry dolls when I was eleven and just about to start middle school... fond memories.
Thanks RhythmandBlues!!
A
reader, anonymous, writes (18 March 2008): Some great ideas here for you....One thing set up your bedroom to be dark, and quiet (run a fan for noise if you are easily awakened at night by sounds) no TV in the bedroom, no doing homework or internet surfing, make your room for sleeping and reading only, things that are quiet and won't stimulate you instead.
And here is something that sounds silly, but actually works....Place a chair in your room near your bed and before you lay you head on the pillow think of all the things that are worrying you, and then look at the chair and say I am going to put all of this on the chair for me to deal with tomorrow, and then say goodnight.
The Mexicans had another way of doing this trick. They have a little basket that contains 5 "Worry Dolls". You are to take a doll out of the basket for every worry that you have, and you are only allowed Five Worry Dolls in a Day, so five worries and that is it, you can see when you are out of dolls you are literally out of worries. Try it!
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A
female
reader, TasteofIndia +, writes (18 March 2008):
When I go to bed at night, sometimes I over think things too. Especially when I was younger. What I do to help me, is keep a diary. I have a lot of diaries actually, I have one that I keep for events and then my nighttime one is just for my thoughts on whatever the heck pops into my head. Whatever is stressing me out, I just write it all out. It really helps me sort through my thoughts by writing it all down... keeps the stress away.
Oh yes, and books. Go to the library, hook yourself up with a couple o' books and read late at night until your eyes are drooping and you think you won't be able to stay awake for another minute. Chances are you won't, and the second you put down that book, you'll be asleep for sure.
Good luck, sweetness... I feel your pain, I really do. Good night!
xx India
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (17 March 2008): Sleeping pills.
Or anti-depressants. I am currently on Lexapro, which has been helping me not to obsess so much about things.
Or you could try the natural route first:
1) Drink a glass of warm milk before you go to bed.
2) Try to go to bed at the same time every night.
And there are other natural methods out there, I am sure.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (17 March 2008): I find when i can't sleep because i'm worrying.. I just try to think about how my problems won't affect me when it's night time and i'm asleep and i'll have nice dreams and then i get to sleep easily..But if u try and have a cup of horlicks b4 u go to bed, that is really good :-)Also, listening to just some calm music (i don't necessarily mean classical) just like slow songs, and let yourself fall asleep whilst listening to the music. I like to do that! Good luck xx Hope xx
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A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (17 March 2008): remember worrying never changed anything.
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A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (17 March 2008): I am give my opinion that had happened to me and i learned few tricks, i started doing excercises even when i dont like to do, then i bought books of self help, then i bough this call valerian root tea or there are pills too and they are safe if you do not abuse, but in reality my problem was that every night i focused in problems that some how have solution and there is not worry about it, and sometimes there are others that does not have solutions and there is not need to worry about it, thinking and thinking over won't help with our problems instead it will increase them, do comunity work, church, reading, activities, watch discovery, put in your mind positive things, so you will atract possitive thinkings. It helped me a lot
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (17 March 2008): Hi,sometimes it seems as if our thoughts won't stop and our head is going to explode! The best thing I found was plenty of fresh air and exercise so I was physically tired. I would have a hot bath and a milky drink and go to bed as late as possible, say 11pm and get into bed. I found reading a boring book helped, usually falling asleep before the 3rd page!Also very helpful, write down the thoughts! It stops thoughts cycling and help to put stuff in context.The clock trick sounds good so give everything a go before reaching for tablets.Goodluck. Let us know how your doing.
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A
female
reader, Bean317 +, writes (17 March 2008):
It is really easy to over think things. I went on depression medicine when I was about 12. I had problems sleeping and awful anxiety. Thats what it is, anxiety. You can have no reason to be anxious, but yet you are. Read some meditation books. I learned a trick to imagine a clock at a basketball game, picture the time counting down from 10 to 1. You can't let yourself think of anything else, clear your mind and focus on the clock, seeing the red numbers go from 10 to 9 to 8...all the way down to 0. You should fall asleep before it gets to zero. If new thoughts pop into your head, start at 10 again. Also try some deep breathing to relax. I know it sounds silly but it really helps me when I can't sleep. Hot baths are great too as others have suggested.
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A
female
reader, rebecca.megan  +, writes (17 March 2008):
 i have exactly the same problem as you, i can get into bed at 9:00 and not be asleep untill 3:00 in the morning, and it can become really stressful at times. All i can suggest is you talk to your councillor or your parents about this problem, or maybe relax more before you go to bed, meaning a hot bath or warm drink, even reading part of a book. This sometimes helps me, try not to think too much also, when this happens, you have no chance sometimes.hope that helped a bit.xx
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reader, anonymous, writes (17 March 2008): Have you tried having a hot milky drink towards the end of the night? Like hot chocolate, just before you go to bed. I find this is really helpful if you're not feeling too great. Take a nice hot bath, with a nice bubble bath and treat yourself to a face mask. The heat and water sensation can make you very sleepy, so this might just do the trick. You could even try putting on some relaxing music while you're going to sleep. Just bury your head in the pillow, breath deeply, and concentrate on what you'd like to dream about most. Remember a really happy time, and immerse yourself in those feelings. It's all about focusing your mind on something different, other than keep looking at the clock and thinking, ''Argh I'll never get to sleep!'' Forget the time, forget you're not sleeping. Just relax and concentrate on dreaming. Once you've had a good nights sleep, it's the first step to getting into a good routine of sleeping. Good luck honey :]
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A
female
reader, Skeez +, writes (17 March 2008):
 Hello darling. It sounds to me as though you have some sought of depression. I know its difficult to feel like this at your age, what with hormones getting the better of you and etc. I was diagnosed with Dythymia at 12, having been very very sad since I was 10 (now im 17) and I used to have pure difficulty getting to sleep at nights too. I used to take sleeping pills and they did work, but after a while I just wanted to stop taking them, medicine wasnt something i wanted to rely on. Get yourself out there with your friends and have some really fun times. Go out shopping, or go to the cinema. Perhaps have a sleep over and talk about fashion and boys =]. Once you get home you will probably be very tired out and have happy thoughts in your head that will settle you down and get you to sleep. If this doesnt work im sure there are plenty of solutions out there that your GP could possibly give you.Goodluck hunni x x
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