Help for ten year old with insomnia

27 replies

user1496146479 · 13/11/2025 22:15

Posting here for traffic!!

My ten year old daughter who is suffering with anxiety which is currently really impacting her ability to sleep and subsequently all the family.

Started back in August, following a holiday in which she experienced jet lag when we returned. This has almost settled, and then she had an injury.

Currently she is unable to settle to sleep at night. Can be up til gone midnight sobbing, and typical anxiety symptoms, stomach pain, nausea , occasional vomiting etc. None of this persists in the morning.

Is worried about going to bed from late afternoon, saying she won’t be able to sleep etc.

We have tried breathing exercises, counting, magnesium cream & drink, calm carry etc, nothing works.

Tried her in our bed, slept in her bed, no joy.

Got prescribed Melatonin (2mg) no impact yet, perhaps worse…

Has started missing school due to exhaustion.

On multiple waiting lists for therapy/counselling, no light here.

DH & I both work FT & are just about clinging on! Siblings started to get impacted too due to all the upset/stress etc

Wondering if anyone has any other suggestions?

please!

OP posts:

Tweakie123 · 13/11/2025 22:30

Not sure anything i can add will help as it seems you've tried everything. Just posting to offer hope really! My eldest went through similar - had a couple of night where she couldnt get to sleep until 2/3 am which then seemed to trigger a period of insomnia for months. She'd get really wound up and angry that she couldnt sleep... which obv didn't help. I used to lay with her (she has double bed) and give her a milky drink and a slice of toast. Then i would read quietly to her, she preferred that to an audio book. Would be for hours sometimes!! It eventually resolved, and if she had a relapse i think the routine of drink/toast/readinng meant she knew she would fall asleep so it took the pressure away. Youngest also had a bit of a sleep wobble at 10, not as severe but I'm convinced theres another sleep regression at 10! Good luck

mindutopia · 13/11/2025 22:20

Try hypnotherapy. Many but not all hypnotherapists work with children. Anxiety and insomnia is something they really commonly see and treat. Most work online now so doesn’t even have to be anyone local.

There is one I’ve had highly recommended for children, her practice is called The Youth Fairy. I think she’s based near London but has a few therapists in other places who work with her. Otherwise, if you google the Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapists they should have a list.

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