Help

[Laurenxoxo]

So every night for as long as I can remember I have always struggled getting to sleep! My partner falls asleep pretty much as soon as his head hits the pillow where as I can't fall asleep for hours sometimes. I think it's mainly because I'm always thinking too much ! I definitely overthink about literally everything. I always think of bad situations that are more than likely never going to happen. I always think of horrible ways me or my family could die. Like one thought I constantly get is 'what if there's a fire, and we get stuck and can't get out' I just overthink about everything. It has definitely got worse since my mum passed away in 2018. But it's just horrible, I don't know if this is anxiety or what? I just keep thinking, I'm 21 I should be enjoying my life but I can't seem to do that when I have these horrible thoughts and when I have to overthink every single thing I do.

Sometimes I get myself so worked up about nothing and panic so much I get chest pain and can't breathe properly... it's just ruining my life having the mind that I do 😩

You were,very young when your mum passed away

I think lots of us have those irrational fears, often late at night when there is nothing to distract us.

I am a terrible overthinker and i also have anxiety. One thing i find helps is goung to my "garden". In my mind i imagine walking through a wooded path, i can smell pine needles and i can hear the autumn leaves crinching beneath my feet. Its one of tose days when its just warm enough not to wear a coat. At the end of the path there is an overgrown formal garden with a crumbling stone bench and statue. An old rose arbour rises over a fountain that is covered with ivy. It works just enough for the birds to bathe in.

I don't usually get that far but my 'garden' is a safe place. Safe from all the unwanted thoughts and niggles. I often have to try really hard to focus abd stop my mind drifting back to bad thoights but it does help.

Sonetimes i just say to myself - fuck this, im going to my garden.

You are very normal and so many of us have trouble sleeping.

Maybe try some herbal teas or rescue remedy. If the insomnia continues you mught find sleeping tablets will help reset your body clock.

Sorry, i waffled a lot there

Hi op, sorry to hear about your loss. That's still very recent and very raw for you. I'm a mental health nurse and this is a common problem for people. The previous poster has suggested some good advice. Trying to focus your mind on your own 'happy place' could help get rid of those intrusive thoughts and help you drift off to sleep. When I have experienced this I found the Head space app a godsend. They have options for people who can't get to sleep as well as options for people who sleep as soon as thier head hits the pillow but wake up a few hours later. There are loads of great sleep pods on you tube as well. For me it's ear phones on and concentrate on the podcast, I have never heard it all the way through. Hope this helps, hope you find a solution soon op