Hello all,
First time posting here.
We are having trouble with my eight year old son. He is struggling with sleep anxiety and has done so for several years. I'm taking him to the doctors next week to see if he may have any neurodivergence (anxiety/ adhd/ OCD etc).
We have exhausted all options when it comes to sleep (no tablets/ screens/ reading/ nightlight/ no nightlight/ regular checking/ audiobooks) and it's now affecting my relationship with my husband. From 7-10/11pm we have the same situation at bedtime and it's draining as we have no time together. My husband loses his temper particularly when my son screams/ has panic attacks and wakes up our four year old.
My son wants to sleep but he is scared that he won't be able to sleep and will be the last one awake.He has now been getting anxious earlier in the day. I have tried to reassure him over and over but he doesn't seem to want to listen.
When he does fall asleep he often wakes up between 15-30 minutes later. And then we are back at square one.
He has a residential school trip coming up and at this stage we can't allow him to go. He has been away with cubs camping before but he said he spent the first night wide awake.
If anyone has any advice (however obscure!) please share. I feel broken.and I want some time in the evening back!
Thank you!