Not falling asleep due to bedtime anxiety

[Guest guest]

Another night, another bedtime, another 1-2 hours trying to help my dd9 move

past her bedtime anxiety and fall asleep. Those of you who have written about

meds that help your kids sleep, is this why they need them? Do they have the

worst anxiety at bedtime when the rituals have to stop and there is no

doistraction to mask all the bad thoughts?

She peels her nails and cuticles all day, so at night we put bandaids on many

fingers, sometimes even soft gloves to help her stop hurting herself. She seems

to be in SO much pain when her world goes quiet and still at night. She has to

do her routine--potty, blow nose, apply chapstick, take drink of water--over and

over. After a while, she's a nervous wreck, us parents are frustrated because

nothing is working--not logic, not suggestions, not threats of punishment, not

anger, not begging--so tonight I simply stroked her face and talked quietly

about the beautiful white snow that will make it's way to Wisconsin once again

this winter. Within 10 minites she was out, asleep...last few nights it's been

hours before she just passes out from mere exhaustion...and us along with her.

She admits she wants us near and will up her frantic disposition to make us

stay...but I do believe she is so afraid to be alone. Tonight rather than lay in

bed with her, which we try to avoid so it doesn't become habit, I pulled up a

little chair and just stayed close, stroking and talking. I am to the point

where I would rather feel pity or empathy for her than feel anger towards

her...as hard as it is to be us parents, it's got to be SO much worse to be

them.

Sleepless kids? Rough nights? High anxiety? Is this why some of your kids take

meds for sleep? We see a psychiatrist for the first time in two weeks, to

finally try meds for confirmed OCD and GAD, and likely Aspergers.

Thanks in advance for your insight. I have learned so much from sharing your

journeys.

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