Fear of sleeping at age 16...

[Trace3690]

For about 6-8 months now, I have not been getting the normal 6-8 hours recommended for teens attending high school.  Instead, I have been getting about 22-30 hours a week  just by not being able to, and the fear of dreaming. I have had a pretty bad past due to bullying( beaten up in elementary and middle school as along with name calling), family/friend stuff, and all the high school drama that has built up as well. I don't think it is stress due to me not having much on my mind until night gets close. Why is this happening? Does anyone have a clue or any ideas of helping me to get better hours of sleep? I have tried meditating, warm milk, tea before bed, yoga, all those. I am just worried that my school work will be even more effected due to this...

Any ideas will be much appreciated!!

Thank You...
Trace3690

[Ms_C]

I'm glad you told your father, you can not keep these things to yourself because it just makes it worse. I have been talking to a Transformational Life Coach which is slowly helping. It has almost been a year that I have been suffering from anxiety/depression and at first the only one that knew was my husband. I was in the ER every day for about 2 or 3 months. You might not be comfortable talking to your school counselor but you should talk to somebody....trust me i never wanted to talk about it to anyone either...it's ok to cry no matter who you talk to. Call our local Mental Health.  

[Trace3690]

Thank you for concern. I finally told my father just last night actually about my nightmares and the past bullying..bad thing is...it was during an anxiety attack...my very first one. I was so scared, I told him everything that was on my mind, and everything that was going on in my life. He heard everything and thought he didn't know anything because well...he didn't. I never told him anything until then. I am always dependent of myself until yesterday...I was so scared because of the attack and I thought I wasn't going to make it..I had way to much oxygen in me to where my face was numb, my left arm, and my right arm was going to it. I had an IV and they gave me something to calm me down/slow down my breathing. Good thing was, because of the medication they put in the IV, I was able to sleep quite a while(to me anyways, I don't know to anyone else). I was crying and crying and I couldn't stop because of memories and I just told him everything that I was going through..he couldn't believe what all I was dreaming about, except for some.  Yet, I am glad I told him...a lot is off my shoulders now, yet I still have fear...my father asked if i needed to talk to the school counselor about this, and of course I said no...I barely know her, and every time I always try and talk about it, I burst into tears and I can't get any words out, so I just stay quiet.
Thank you so much for any other advice you have to help me get through this...I want to be able to sleep well again. I forgot what it is like to sleep 8 hours like I used to.

[Ms_C]

I'm sorry you are experiencing this. Have you talked to your parents about this? If not I strongly recommend it, maybe they can get you the help you need. I've had anxiety for almost a year now and I know how tough it is especially when you are not sleeping. Does anyone know that this bullying is going on? You are too young to be worrying so much...