u/One-Thing565

I need some reassurance, I’m exhausted.
I’ve been suffering from nonstop insomnia for 8 months now. I know it started from a need for control that eventually expanded into my sleep, but even knowing this, I still can’t seem to get better.

I’ve tried the most common CBT-I techniques, like getting out of bed when I can’t fall asleep, but nothing has really helped. But for about 5 days, I managed to sleep more thanks to a melatonin chamomile drink (even though melatonin usually doesn’t help me). I still woke up during the night, but I was able to fall back asleep.

Then I had my first activity that required me to set an alarm and wake up early. Even though I followed the same routine that had been working, I barely slept at all… only about an hour and a half.

I’m exhausted from not being able to enjoy going out with friends, birthdays, or other activities because I’m always tired. It started during a stressful period because of exams, and now it seems to have perpetuated itself.

I had an initial appointment with a psychologist, but I have to wait until the end of August for the next one, and I don’t even know yet if they’ll be a good fit. But I’m scared that when university starts again in September, I won’t be able to attend properly because I can’t sleep.

Can anyone reassure me that recover is possible and going back to sleeping normally? As evening approaches, I’m already stressed knowing that soon I’ll have to go to bed and spend the whole night tossing and turning again…

I just miss sleeping normally, like I used to. I don’t even remember what that feels like anymore. I’m really sorry for the long post ❤️‍🩹

Hi, my insomnia started during a stressful period back in January, and it kind of stuck around and became the actual stress itself, worrying about whether I’ll sleep or not.

Things like getting out of bed when I can’t sleep don’t really seem to work for me. I feel like I need to “recalibrate” my brain to stop trying to control sleep so much. Do you guys have any advice or experiences with this? Ironically, yesterday, after waking up at 3 AM and still being awake at 7 AM, I started repeating some positive affirmations to myself like a mantra, and I eventually fell asleep. I don’t know if it was because of the affirmations or just because I was completely exhausted by that point, though.

I’ve been struggling with insomnia since February, when I had my first university exam session. During that period, it mostly showed up as multiple awakenings during the night, almost always at the same times: around 1 a.m., 3 a.m., and 5 a.m. After the exams ended and I went back to attending classes, it didn’t go away. I kept waking up during the night and found it increasingly difficult to fall asleep. I started becoming obsessed with how many hours of sleep I was getting because I was worried about not having enough energy to study and attend lectures. It was definitely better than it had been during the exam session itself, but I was still struggling and never really slept well.

Now I’ve gone through a second exam session, and I think I was only sleeping around 4–5 hours a night while preparing for exams. At that point, it wasn’t even about waking up anymore, it became an inability to fall asleep in the first place. Before some exams, I either didn’t sleep at all or only managed to get 2–3 hours of sleep.

Now, i usually fall asleep once, but I wake up less than an hour later and then I can’t get back to sleep no matter what I do.

I’ve tried several CBT-I techniques, but I find them very difficult to stick to because I constantly have to study for exams or wake up early for classes. I really need advice because I still have more exams coming up. I’m already stressed, but not because of the exams themselves anymore—it’s the sleep. Going to bed has started to feel like a task or an obligation. When I lie down, I just wish it were already the next day, hoping I’ll at least make it there with a few hours of sleep.

Has anyone experienced something similar, especially during university? What helped you break the cycle of anxiety around sleep? I really need it.

Ciao! Ho 20 anni e mio fratello ne farà a breve 19. È da quando ha 11 anni che diventato estremamente violento, sia fisicamente che verbalmente. Non solo con me, ma anche con mia madre e persone più deboli nella sua scuola. Più volte ho detto ai miei genitori che lo avrei denunciato e ogni volta loro se la prendevano con me, perché è sangue del mio sangue ecc. Sì, pure mia madre che subisce violenza e terrorismo psicologico da lui ogni singolo giorno lo difende. Il telefono dove avevo diverse registrazioni di audio dove spacca cose, minaccia di morte noi o anche il gatto, si è rotto, perciò li ho persi tutti. Ora sto registrando ogni volta che ha un meltdown che è molto spesso ma comunque non è materiale “”forte e credibile”” come lo avevo prima. E sono estremamente stanco ultimamente di dover continuare a subire ste cose e voglio effettivamente denunciarlo o comunque fare qualcosa. Ma la mia solo testimonianza potrà valere? E se poi i miei genitori mi andranno contro? Sono sicuro che i vicini di casa magari potranno testimoniare contro di lui sentendo ogni giorno le sue urla ecc. Non ho foto di lividi o altro, le cose peggiori che ho sopportato anni non le ho mai fotografate.

Per dare un po’ di background, volevo affittare un posto vicino all’università per stargli alla larga. Però, oltre alla difficoltà a trovare una stanza, i miei genitori non mi aiuterebbero finanziariamente. Ho dovuto anche lasciare il mio lavoro part-time perché avevo pochissimo tempo per le lezioni, che sono tutte a presenza obbligatoria, e per studiare nei fine settimana.

Non so veramente che fare e non mi interessa più cosa pensino e i miei genitori di denunciare mio fratello. Però, se dovessi fare qualcosa, ho paura che non cambi nulla e che alla fine torniamo a vivere insieme dopo qualche procedimento legale, per poi vendicarsi . Avete qualche consiglio?