Can't Sleep, Feeling Helpless

I struggled with this same sleeping issue, and among all the treatments and pills I tried, the only thing that helped me was treating repressed anxiety and trauma. So maybe there's something bothering you that you haven't fully discovered yet.

ADHD here. I struggle with sleep in two different ways either my brain won't shut down and sleep or my body insists on staying awake. Usually it's the brain issue but the body issue is particularly difficult. My doc thought my body sleeping issues were because of restless leg syndrome, but we've since then concluded that the issue is adhd related. She put me on guanficine for bed time and it's been working fairly well. Sometimes I have to take a little dose of melatonin if I'm having body sleep issues that won't go away even with the guanficine, but I'm definitely getting a much better quality of sleep regardless. As far as my brain wanting to stay on, the melatonin doesn't help bc otherwise my body will be asleep but my brain won't. Over the years, I've developed a way to trick my brain into sleep. Sometimes it takes 5 min and sometimes 30, but no more than 30 min. I basically get comfy and into my sleeping position and close my eyes. Then I just "start a dream." So basically I just start some epic adventure story in my mind and force my brain to follow the story. This helps my brain calm down from 1 billion thoughts to just one single epic story line and eventually it just goes to sleep too. I continue these "dreams" or storylines for weeks until I get bored of them and then start a new one if the dream becomes dull or ineffective. This is also a useful tool for when you wake up worrying about real life in the middle of the night.

download webtoons, listen to music, flaming music may help, or if you feel like you need to drown out your thoughts try quiet, but fast and lyric filled music. animal crossing and Stardew valley are good games if you can access them, I know there is a mobile one and if you need to talk to someone try Replika, a fun app. or message me. you could also draw, dance, and build a fort for comfort

Or an audiobook

I struggle too. What helps me is yoga and meditation, just stretching and giving myself hugs and support ❤️ I bore myself with a boring podcast too haha