The following is a visitor-submitted question or story. For more, you can submit your own sleep story here, or browse the collection of experiences and questions other visitors have shared here.

I'm Only 11 Years Old, At Boarding School, And I Think I Might Have Insomnia

Last week I got back from half term break, and i missed my parents and home very much. I only see them once a month at boarding school. The first two nights I got nine hours of sleep. Being able to sleep felt normal and not so miraculous.


The third night I woke up countless times, and at five i couldn't sleep, so i whispered with a dormie.

On Saturday night, (i got back on Wed) I couldn't sleep at all. I tossed and turned, because I didn't know what to do. I went to the loo at 4:30 in the morning, without sleeping yet. I didn't sleep at all until 7:30 am, in which i had to wake up thirty minutes later. ARGH! I wrote this down, as a story, except hiding my identity. Me? I felt like SHIT all day. But it was alright, because i assumed that was only one night.

NO...

The next night, i didn't sleep. I was half-awake until 2:39, where i was awake completely. Two hours later I went out of bed, for breakfast, because we were going across the boarder for a special war celebration, at five am.

For the next week, i only slept about seven hours- total. I thought about how LUCKY the other girls were, that they could sleep. My tutor gave me advice, but it didn't really work...

So here I am, a lost female 11 year old, homesick, seeing my parents in AGES, and sleepless. I hope this isn't insomnia, though, because at home i fall asleep INSTANTLY, whilst here at this boarding school I get like hardly any... I pray that I'll sleep tonight… I feel so lonely and the night goes by so slow... Please help me :( Thanks

Comments for I'm Only 11 Years Old, At Boarding School, And I Think I Might Have Insomnia

Click here to add your own comments

Sep 09, 2015
 So do i NEW
by:

I hear u i haven't slept in 5 days i think Its insomnia grrr didn't think i would have to worry about this EVER i mean I was fine until two days before school so jacked up I mean i was so tired tonight i was in tears i said antiquote i just want ro sleep 1 night is that so muvh to ask so i looked up insomnia and i matched all of the symptoms oh,im 11 1/2 uhoh

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to "I Can't Sleep!" Stories.



Enjoy this page? Please help us pay it forward to others who would find it valuable by Liking, Sharing, Tweeting, Stumbling, and/or Voting below.

About This Site

Welcome! This site is continuously being created by students of Dr. William C. Dement's Sleep And Dreams course at Stanford University.

We made this site as a call to action for people all over the world to live healthier, happier, safer, and more productive lives by learning about their own sleep. We have faith that reading the information provided on this site will motivate you to be smart about your sleep deprivation and strategic about your alertness in order to live life to your fullest, most energetic potential.

In fact, we challenge you to do so! What do you say, are you up for the challenge?

A Note On Visitor-Submitted Questions:

Publishing sleep stories and questions from our visitors is meant to create a forum for open and proactive dialogue about an extremely important portion of our lives (one that occupies 1/3 of it and affects the other 2/3) that isn't talked about enough. It is not meant to substitute a trip to the doctor or the advice of a specialist. It's good to talk; it is not good to avoid consulting someone who's profession it is to help you with this kind of stuff.

If you are in any way concerned about your sleep health, don't wait for an answer on here, and don't necessarily rely on them. See a sleep specialist in your area as soon as possible.

More Questions:

Ask | Answer

The Stanford Sleep Book

Stanford Sleep Book Picture

Dr. Dement's pioneering textbook has been the core text for Sleep and Dreams since 1980, but it has just recently been made available to the wider public for the first time.

In it you'll find a more detailed account of the most important things you need to know about sleep, alertness, dreams, and sleep disorders. Studies, statistics, plus plenty of Dr. Dement's classic anecdotes painting the history of sleep medicine.

Preface | Intro | Contents | Get A Copy

More Sleep Resources

The Zeo

Track Your Own Sleep With Zeo

A revolution in personal sleep tracking, the Zeo is a wireless headband that transmits your brainwaves in realtime to a dock (pictured here) or your smartphone. The result? You can wake up and see exactly what stages of sleep you were in during the night! Unprecedented personalized sleep knowledge.

Sleep Paralysis: A Dreamer's Guide

Sleep Paralysis Treatment Book

Ever woken up paralyzed? A surprising number of us have, believe it or not. But few know the actual causes of this phenomenon, and fewer still how to exert control over it. Dream researcher and sleep paralysis expert Ryan Hurd shares breakthrough insights into how to do just that.

Important Disclaimer

Please Note:

The information found on this page and throughout this site is intended for general information purposes only. While it may prove useful and empowering, it is NOT intended as a substitute for the expertise and judgments of healthcare practitioners.

For more info, see our
Terms of Use.