I'm scared to go to sleep at night?

Question

No, I'm not joking. I just moved into my first apartment and I can't sleep here, I think it is because I am scared to be alone at night... but i stay up all night and when it gets light out I fall asleep, and then I also take naps during the day! I don't even know what it is I am scared of!!!! But I'm too embarrassed about this to tell anyone so Please help! Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks

Answer 1

Avoid before-bed snacks, particularly grains and sugars. This will raise blood sugar and inhibit sleep. Later, when blood sugar drops too low (hypoglycemia), you might wake up and not be able to fall back asleep.

Sleep in complete darkness or as close as possible. If there is even the tiniest bit of light in the room it can disrupt your circadian rhythm and your pineal gland's production of melatonin and seratonin. There also should be as little light in the bathroom as possible if you get up in the middle of the night. Please whatever you do, keep the light off when you go to the bathroom at night. As soon as you turn on that light you will for that night immediately cease all production of the important sleep aid melatonin.

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No TV right before bed. Even better, get the TV out of the bedroom or even out of the house, completely. It is too stimulating to the brain and it will take longer to fall asleep. Also disruptive of pineal gland function for the same reason as above.

Wear socks to bed. Due to the fact that they have the poorest circulation, the feet often feel cold before the rest of the body. A study has shown that this reduces night wakings.

Read something spiritual or religious. This will help to relax. Don't read anything stimulating, such as a mystery or suspense novel, as this may have the opposite effect. In addition, if you are really enjoying a suspenseful book, you might wind up unintentionally reading for hours, instead of going to sleep.

Journaling. If you often lay in bed with your mind racing, it might be helpful keep a journal and write down your thoughts before bed. Personally, I have been doing this for 15 years, but prefer to do it in the morning when my brain is functioning at its peak and my coritsol levels are high.

Get to bed as early as possible. Our systems, particularly the adrenals, do a majority of their recharging or recovering during the hours of 11PM and 1AM. In addition, your gallbladder dumps toxins during this same period. If you are awake, the toxins back up into the liver which then secondarily back up into your entire system and cause further disruption of your health. Prior to the widespread use of electricity, people would go to bed shortly after sundown, as most animals do, and which nature intended for humans as well.

Keep the temperature in the bedroom no higher than 70 degrees F. Many people keep their homes and particularly the upstairs bedrooms too hot.

Eat a high-protein snack several hours before bed. This can provide the L-tryptophan need to produce melatonin and serotonin.

Also eat a small piece of fruit. This can help the tryptophan cross the blood-brain barrier.

Reduce or avoid as many drugs as possible. Many medications, both prescription and over-the-counter may have effects on sleep. In most cases, the condition, which caused the drugs to be taken in the first place, can be addressed by following the guidelines elsewhere on this web site.

Avoid caffeine. A recent study showed that in some people, caffeine is not metabolized efficiently and therefore they can feel the effects long after consuming it. So an afternoon cup of coffee (or even tea) will keep some people from falling asleep. Also, some medications, particularly diet pills contain caffeine.

Alarm clocks and other electrical devices. If these devices must be used, keep them as far away from the bed as possible, preferably at least 3 feet.

Avoid alcohol. Although alcohol will make people drowsy, the effect is short lived and people will often wake up several hours later, unable to fall back asleep. Alcohol will also keep you from falling into the deeper stages of sleep, where the body does most of its healing.

Take a hot bath, shower or sauna before bed. When body temperature is raised in the late evening, it will fall at bedtime, facilitating sleep,

Drink Warm Milk

A glass of warm milk 15 minutes before going to bed will soothe your nervous system. Milk contains calcium, which works directly on jagged nerves to make them (and you) relax.


Quiet Ears

This technique is an ancient Eastern meditation as well as a great way to fall asleep.

1. Lie on your back with your hands behind your head, fingers interlocked, and your palms cupping the back of your head. Get as relaxed as possible (This position make take a little while to get used to).

2. Place your thumbs in your ears so that you are pressing the outer flap of your ear and blocking the entrance to the ear canal.

3. Lie quietly and listen for a high-pitched sound that you will gradually hear inside your head.

4. Lie there for 10 to 15 minutes and concentrate on that sound. Then put your arms to your sides and go to sleep. (Don't worry about all the stories of people who have ringing in their ears. This is different -- and natural.)

Hot Water Bottle

To help you sleep after a high stress day, lie down with a hot water bottle on your stomach, close your eyes and breath deeply, so the bottle rises and falls. We carry a lot of tension there and the weighted heat releases it.

Answer 2

Its ok to be afraid, I'm 34 and a single parent of 5 children, and when my ex starting taking our children every weekend, I hated bedtime cause I was all alone in the house ( 3 bedroom , single story home). So what I did was, I had a TV in my room, and I left it on all night. Also, this may sound dumb to some people, but, maybe the energy in the apartment feels strange to you, try throwing a party, or have a few really good friends over for a get together, and just have fun. The place should then feel better, especially at night. But, the TV thing did work for me.

Answer 3

You could try praying or meditate, depending on your beliefs. You might want to get a cat or a dog, they keep good company, if not (last resort) get a roommate. But you could start by checking the locks, windows, kitchen and places to make sure everything is secure. Stay up at night with light out, listen carefully, get used to the night noises, walk around, nobody know your place in the dark better than you do. Try leaving the TV on and try chamomile tea before going to sleep. That should work, if not call your parents or any close person you care about before going to bed, that should ease your mind a bit. Hope you catch up with your zzz's.

Answer 4

In most cases insomnia -- the inability to sleep or inability to sleep well at night -- is a symptom, not a disease. It usually reflects some underlying process. While medication is often used to treat insomnia, you should discuss this with your physician first. Insomnia, is, in fact, best dealt with by including cognitive-behavioral therapy. This simply means education about sleep, and a few simple methods that may help patients sleep.

There are many steps you can take that may help you overcome insomnia and get a good night’s sleep. Some of these strategies are listed below:

Follow the rules of good sleep hygiene


See a doctor.


Take a warm bath.

Get a massage.

Listen to music.

Drink warm milk.

Drink herbal tea.

Sleep on a firm mattress.

Sleep with your head facing north (magnetic) and feet facing south.

Count something.

Relaxation techniques

Answer 5

Here are some simple things you can try:
-Try to familiarize yourself with the apartment and your area.
-Personalize your room: Put up things around your room that are comforting to you, such as things that are important to you, pictures of freinds and family, etc.
-Put on some quiet calming music when you lay down.
-Read a good book without too much action.
-Drink a nice warm beverage like milk, tea, or cocoa.
-Get a pet, preferably a dog, cat, something that can lay on your bed/floor and not be caged.
-Get a dim light for your room if you can sleep with a bit of light. A lava lamp is an excellent light to have in your bedroom. You can watch it for long periods of time and be asleep before you know it!
-Do not play video games before sleeping, they will stimulate your mind and keep you awake.
-Make sure you are relaxed before sleeping, if not, find something calming to do until you feel at least somewhat relaxed.
-Sleep with a [large + fluffy] stuffed animal, I know it sounds childish, but you would be surprised at the results
-If you are religious, pray
I hope this has helped. Good luck with your new apartment!

Answer 6

Don't feel bad it happens to the best of us sometimes. Even though I live with my parents I am still afraid of the dark. I have to turn off the lights in a certain order and the light to my room has to be on before I can turn them off. And I made the mistake of going to watch Saw 3 at 10:00 at night and I couldn't sleep. I had both lights on and I would dose off and wake back up. I had to eventually lock the door to my room even though I knew my parents were down the hall and no one would be in the house without them knowing. Wild imaginations can be a killer sometimes.

Answer 7

I would suggest a night light and maybe a pet for company. I am a light sleeper and when I first moved into a unfamiliar house/apartment I couldn't sleep until I KNEW every sound and could ignore them to go to sleep. I also read to make myself tired as well as take melatonin to help me get to sleep. It is all natural so no side effects! Good luck!

Answer 8

Try to familiarize yourself with the apartment, eventually you'll get used to being alone. If you fell unsafe, check that you've lock the door. Sometimes, calling your family/friends before going to sleep might help. Keeping a light on, get lavender incense, or drink a cup of milk can help you sleep too. If it continues, talk to a trusted person or a doctor. Consider getting a pet as well ^^

Answer 9

ohh...try using really good quality pillows go to sleep with a night light or with some calming music like the sounds of water or meditating music. always have a glass of warm milk b4 u go 2 sleep it will make u more tired. don't do stuff to make you go 2 sleep. stay in bed and watch a movie drinking warm milk or tea or hot chocolate or what ever. make sure u love the movie so much u cood watch it a million times. try reading that make you extra tired.

i hope i helped

Answer 10

Sounds in a new place can keep you awake. Like the furnace clicking on, the air ducts banging. Get a night light, turn on a radio on low, and drink some chamomile tea before bed. In time you will adjust to the sounds and get some sleep.

Answer 11

Develop a comforting bedtime ritual. A cup of cocoa (substituting coffee creamer for cocoa works pretty well if caffeine turns out to be an issue), a story (no Robert Ludlum!), comfortable pajamas, etc.

Self-hypnosis tapes work pretty well for relaxing in the general direction of sleep. If you also find yourself quitting smoking or whatever the subliminal suggestions were supposed to help you do, that's a bonus.