Having trouble sleeping can feel really difficult, and we’re not going to tell you to “just close your eyes” or “put your phone away”… because when you’re lying there wide awake, that advice is honestly so annoying and not helpful.
If you’re stuck awake until 2am, there’s usually a reason for it, even if it’s not obvious. A lot of young people go through a stages where their sleep changes and they might have trouble getting to sleep, especially during puberty. On top of that, your brain might be busy or overthinking – even more when you are stressed about NOT getting to sleep!
Instead of trying to figure it out on your own, here’s some ideas to help:
- Start by talking to an adult you trust. Let them know what’s been going on and how it’s affecting you.
- Ask them to if this is something you could talk to a doctor about. This is exactly the kind of thing they’re there for.
- Before you go, write down what’s been happening. Things like what time you’re falling asleep, how often it’s happening, and everything you’ve already tried. That way you don’t have to remember it all in the moment, and they can actually see the full picture.
And if being awake at night is starting to mess with your mood or feel overwhelming, you don’t have to sit in it alone. Kids Helpline is there 24/7 on 1800 55 1800, even at 2am when you’re wide awake and over it.
This is a really big thing to be holding, and it makes sense that you’re unsure what to do. The fact that you’re even thinking about telling your parents, instead of just hiding it, shows a lot of courage and care.
Before you talk to them, it can help to think about why they might feel the way they do about this person. That doesn’t mean you have to agree, but it can help you understand where they’re coming from.
When you’re ready, try to pick a calm moment. You don’t need a perfect speech. You could start with something simple like, “I want to tell you something, but I’m a bit nervous about how you’ll feel.” That’s enough to open the conversation.
If you’re worried about how they might react, it can really help to talk it through with another adult you trust first. Someone who knows you and can support you, even someone from your school like a teacher or counsellor.
It can be really confusing when someone you trust says something you’re not sure you agree with. First things first, we don’t think there’s such a thing as a “useless” reason to cry. If something makes you cry, it matters to you, and that is enough. Crying isn’t being weak or dramatic. It’s something your body does to release stress and help you feel a bit more settled again. Being able to notice your feelings and name them is actually a really important skill.
Sometimes adults were taught that showing feelings isn’t helpful, so they say things like that because it’s what they learned growing up. But that doesn’t mean your feelings are wrong.
If you feel up to it, you could talk to your Dad about how that made you feel, or speak to another adult you trust. You deserve to be heard and taken seriously.
You are allowed to feel things, all of them. Crying might not fix the situation, but it can help you move through what you’re feeling, and that matters.
This sounds like a really special connection, and it makes sense that it feels big. When you find someone you really like, it can feel exciting and a bit all-consuming, like you just want to be around them all the time. That can happen in close friendships, and it can also be the start of a crush. Both are completely okay.
You don’t need to figure out exactly what it is right now. You can take your time, notice how you feel, and just enjoy being around someone who makes you feel good.
Nothing about this is weird or wrong — it just means you’ve found someone who matters to you. Just remember to also check that you aren’t crossing a boundary for her – is she happy to be spending lots of time with you too?
If this is something that keeps bothering you it would be a good idea to talk to a trusted adult, to help make sense of your feelings.
