Lack of sleep anxiety

[NighttimeAnxiety128]

I get so triggered by disturbed sleep. I had a hard time with post partum anxiety when my eldest was a newborn and it takes me right back. He has been an amazing sleeper since, but unfortunately in the last few weeks it's all been going wrong (he's 5).

He wakes up constantly from about midnight saying he is scared. He's finally asleep now after a full two hour stint. I've not had any sleep yet and can't fall asleep as I'm so anxious/wired/sort of angry to the point of tears.

I can hear my youngest stirring as well and I'm in a total state of panic, wanting to leave the house and get away from it all.

Obviously that's not normal 😪, any ideas on how to help me get some sleep so I can function tomorrow and deal with this mental health issue long term?

And how to help my 5 year old to sleep normally again? I've been trying to not give in to easy fixes such as letting him sleep with us in the hope that long term we can go back to good habits but it's making things worse. He gets upset, it takes longer for him to go back to sleep and we end up with no sleep all round. But a good sleep routine is all that kept me sane in those newborn days and it had served us well up to now.

Help, I'm really struggling.

I know how you feel. I have a long day tomorrow with a long drive and haven't managed to sleep yet. The anxiety of not sleeping means that I can't sleep even though my DC are teens now so don't wake in the night! I have a DH who snores instead and have been listening to him snoring away (from the spare room!) all night so far. Makes me murderously angry!

I'm too far away from the young child years to think of any advice for your DC but just know that you're not alone. Mine didn't sleep through reliably for years and sleep was a big issue. It feels lonely but so many people go through this.

I find it helps to listen to sleep hypnosis recordings on YouTube (although not worked for me yet tonight). Just know that it won't always be like this. You'll get through it and out the other side 🥰

Thank you @Notcookie I'm sorry you're going through this too. It's even more frustrating when you can't sleep even though noone is keeping you awake, I had bouts of insomnia post partum and it was the pits!

I hope you've managed to fall asleep by now. I went to sleep shortly after posting and DS woke me up again at 5. He just won't let me sleep, I feel like I'm being tortured. DH has gone to him and I'm in tears. I have such a busy day at work and will have to function on 3 hours sleep.

Feeling so desperate, as well as worried about what's keeping DS awake and whether it's going to be forever. He should be exhausted by now.

It won’t be forever, that’s what you need to remember. This time of year they are getting bugs and excited about Christmas. He will settle down.
Have you thought about taking some magnesium glycinate to help you sleep? In desperation some times I take an antihistamine.

Thank you @DustyLee123 it's been almost a month now since the bad sleep started so I really worry its going to be forever. I honestly can't figure out why its happening and its fuelling my anxiety further. I feel helpless. He went back to sleep an hour ago and I still didn't. I'll look into the magnesium.