Are you a kid who gets scared at betime? (Let me help)

This video is not intended to replace medical advice. This is for information purposes only. This video is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the guidance of a local mental health professional. Anxiety loves to bother kids at bedtime. No matter what age or what type of anxiety a child has, bedtime is universally a struggle for anxious kids. Why is that? It is quiet. It is dark. All activities and distractions are turned off. Minds want to review the day. Ears want to analyze strange sounds. Eyes want to figure out mysterious shadows. Hearts want to be “keep them safe.” When your child is scared to sleep, it impacts the whole family. Anxious kids don’t get a fitful rest. Parents don’t get a fitful rest – and the mood and irritability is set for destruction the next day.

Helping a child who is scared to sleep has much to do with the fears that pop up, as well as the environment they sleep in. Punishing, yelling and cajoling kids to sleep won’t help until you address the anxiety underneath the bedtime struggle.

Luckily for you, I just make a video to help your kids with fears of sleeping. Sometimes talking directly to kids to help motivate and empower them is the little push they need to start fighting their fears. In this week’s Ask the Child Therapist, Kids Edition I talk to kids about how fears of bedtime start and what steps they can take to feel less anxious when going to sleep.

***

Subscribe to my Podcast: The AT Parenting Survival Podcast

Ultimate list of helpful anxiety products (including sound machines and guided imagery mentioned in this video):

For my online OCD class: Parenting Kids with OCD

For more support parenting a child with anxiety or OCD visit:

Sign up to get notified when my online Social Anxiety Class opens:

To join my private Facebook group visit:

For AT Parenting online classes visit:

For the AT Parenting Class: Teach Your Kids to Crush Anxiety:

For my anxiety books visit:

Other social places I hang out:

[xgacha-kiwix]

I'm scared to sleep because when I close my eyes I think there is gonna be something there when I open them.

[naqya]

Im scared to sleep cause...im scared that maybe a creature or someone is watching me....that would be creepy 😖

[conduite]

its 5 am and im almost 18 and i havent been able to sleep because of a very stupid horror game. I was feeling really stupid because how dare me, be scared of something. But damn youre so chill i feel better just listening to your voice. Its nice to not be judged. Ive always had problems sleeping, i wish i had this video when i was a child

[kimkarlyfernando]

getting kidnapped while sleeping is that worst thing that could happen or being shot and dead....

[bannyrobles]

Guys, someone *IS* watching you when you sleep!😁


God and Jesus!!💖✨

[xosamten]

Im scared to sleep because I feel like someone is gonna break in my house and kill me while Im sleeping I feel like someone is watching me. OH AND I think so much about scary stuff for some reason like it wont stop

[AquaTyrant]

I’m a grown adult searching how to get over this because I’m to scared to meditate or sleep without the covers over my face. It’s never something to be embarrassed over, every person deals with anxiety, and accommodations are always valid.

[ballerinablush]

I was scared tonight so looked up this topic. Your soothing and caring voice helped me so much. Thank you 🌸 Now I can sleep

[juliancruz]

My fear is that if I close my eyes and when I open them I think there’s gonna be a dark shadow or a skinny black shadowy figure that’s gonna kill me

[Asmdbylaney]

I’m scared of someone breaking in my house killing me or kidnapping me

[qrtnziy]

You just told my whole life in 20 min. 😢 and mom and dad won't understand it. It's litterly a good content so hats off to her. 😊

[BreezyOng]

I’m 13 and stay in my room I just stay up all night and never get sleep so while watching this I felt way better now I can really sleep! Thanks!!!

[OiviaWard]

I just get a super creepy feeling out of nowhere. I'm 17 lol

[briare]

I came here cuz when I try to get good sleep I feel like I'm falling in a endless void cuz when I sleep I see pitch black. I rarely have dreams which makes me scared. I still sleep but I sleep with my mom. It makes me comfortable and happy when I sleep. When I sleep with my mom I know my mom's there and I'm not too scared. Like if this is same with you. Thanks. This really helped.

[brod]

I lay in my bed for usually an hour before I can fall asleep because I have so many thoughts about my heart just stopping, having a stroke, getting murdered in my sleep and just random things I could die from. When I was like 10 I cried every night thinking about death but I think I’m overcoming it a little. I just watched a video about disturbing facts so I was really anxious so ig I’m just using this as a journal or something. Good vid though and writing this down made me feel really calm.

[racingdinosaur]

Thank you so much. When you said to remove stuff that made you uncomfortable and check the spots where you think something might be, it helped a lot

[luna.]

I’m afraid of ghosts, I have been trying to sleep alone for a while now, still can’t sleep, When I close my eyes when I’m alone in night, I shiver and open my eyes, arghh, I want this fear to be gone

[Samuel]

How is it that when I'm awake, my thoughts are normal but when I'm going to bed, I think of my worst fears.

[leslovesliberty]

I'm a grown adult & found this so helpful, thank you! 😊

[digitalllbath]

Thanks for this video. I'm 21 and I have schizophrenia, it's really hard to live in my apartment completely by myself. It's weird, I can even sleep with my window open but for some reason the corner of my doorway just really gets to me. Normal thoughts (mostly) during the day, but just so much anxiety at night ugh. If any kid sees this, and needs reassurance, I got you. Reply to my comment and we can keep each other sane! Lol