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Paranoia preventing sleep
18/F
I can't sleep because I'm extremely paranoid. Every night before I go to bed, and I put off going to bed until five in the morning, I have to check my entire room for any spiders or bugs. I can't sleep in the dark because I'm terrified of what's on the floor or in the bed with me. I leave my computer monitor on, facing in the other direction. I check the big teddy bear I sleep with. I check the mattress and even the one above me (bunk bed). I can't sleep with my door closed because I'm afraid I won't have time to get out in case something happens. I can't sleep with it all the way open either because I don't want something coming in without my noticing.
I need a fan on when I sleep because if it's dead silent, every little creak in my old house scares the hell out of me. If I hear a noise, even over the fan, I stop and listen and try to find out what's making the noise. I'm a light sleeper, so I wake up at the smallest intrusions. For example, if my dog walks into my room and stares at me, I wake up up instantly. My bed is in the corner of my room and I can't sleep facing the wall with my back exposed. I feel like something is behind me, so I've slept away from the wall ever since I can remember. Even my teddy bear at my back doesn't ease the feeling.
What I'm asking is if there's anyway to calm myself down. I can't get a decent night's sleep because I'm so scared that I might wake up with a spider on my face or someone trying to get into my room (locking my window won't work because my window does not shut properly, leaving it about an inch open all the time. I cannot afford a new one either). I'm not sure where there's a line drawn at severe. Should I tell my doctor about all this?
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You need to tell your MD ASAP!!!
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I am not a doctor, none of us are that I am aware of. Even if we were it is not possible to make a diagnoses on just the information you have provided.
Are you paranoid? I really can't say. You do have issues though that I think you would benefit from speaking with a psychologist about. Just what is triggering these issues is what working with a psychologist will be of benefit to you.
If this is something new, something that has started recently then some change in your style of living may be one of the triggers. This change may bring out something from your much younger days that happened to you that is now causing these problems. This is only a guess on my part. What is not a guess is something is triggering this problem and you need professional help to find the trigger and learn to deal with it properly.
Your family doctor or medical insurance company should be able to help you find a psychologist to work with.
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It sounds like something you NEED to speak with your doctor about. Not getting enough or any sleep can damage your health, physically and mentally. You need 4 hours to "recharge" your mind, and 6 hours to "recharge" your body. But 8 hours a night is what is recommended now. But when you can, call your doctor or psychiatrist, and schedule an appointment as soon as they are able, and go to it and get help. Chances are they will be able to find the root of the problem and help you, as well as possibly giving you medicine to help calm you.
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