I have been having trouble going to sleep for about 20 months, since the time I started going to high school. I don’t know if that had anything to do with it, because it caused me a lot of stress. But I am still having this problem and it is getting worse even though now it is summer and I don’t usually have to wake up early.
When I go to bed, it usually takes me over 30 minutes to go to sleep, and sometimes a few hours. I think it might be because at night I tend to think about my problems too much. I have been taking melatonin for a few months, not every night, but maybe twice a week if I really need to get to sleep soon. I’ve found that it’s been really helpful when I need to get to sleep quickly. One question I have: Is melatonin harmful or addictive at all? I know that I shouldn’t be depending on it to get a good night’s sleep, and I need to find a better way to reduce the time I am laying awake, trying to get to sleep. I don’t have any problem with waking up in the middle of the night. I am usually pretty tired most of the time during the day, and when I wake up, I usually don’t feel very rested. What can I do about this? Thank you very much.
— Jenica, Age 15, Ellicott City, MD, USA
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