i used to have trouble sleeping as a kid.
i could never fall asleep. i hated being awake and alone. i wanted either my mother or someone else to be awake with me until i was finally asleep. it was horrific to be the only one awake in the house and be unable to fall asleep. different combinations of tv on, tv off, nightlight on, fan on, fan off, door open-closed-somewhere in between, music on, music loud -- never worked. i would go through periods where i couldnt even try to sleep in my own room. i simply couldnt. i would wake up on the couch in the living room morning after morning. i was horrified to spend the night at someone elses house. i was afraid everyone else would fall alseep before i would, and then i'd be alone, desperately struggling to fall asleep, knowing that i wouldnt be able to.