Can’t Sleep and Want Someone to Talk To? A Few Things to Try at Night
Late at night, when everything goes quiet, the things you had no time to think about during the day come back. Wanting someone to talk to is normal, not a weakness. Here are a few things to try, and who you can talk to.
Slow your body down first
- Dim the screen, or put the phone down for a few minutes.
- If you have been lying awake for a long time, get up for some warm water or sit somewhere else until you feel sleepy.
- Write down what keeps going round in your head and leave it for tomorrow.
- Breathe in slowly and out even more slowly, a few times.
- If poor sleep has lasted weeks and affects your days, talk to a doctor.
Who can you talk to?
- A friend or family member you trust: just send a message. They may be asleep, and a reply tomorrow is fine.
- If you need someone to really listen: find a free, 24-hour helpline where you are at findahelpline.com.
- If you don’t want to worry anyone you know and just want a few words with someone: an anonymous chat with a stranger can help.
Seven minutes with a real person at LowBatteryTown
LowBatteryTown is free, one-on-one anonymous chat with no sign-up. Choose a nickname, your social battery and how you want to chat, and you are paired with another real person who is waiting. The beta is for people aged 18 or older.
Fewer people may be around late at night, and a match needs another real person to be waiting, so it may not be instant. You can cancel waiting at any time. A chat lasts 7 minutes, continues only if you both extend, and you can say good night when you are ready to sleep.
Keep yourself safe while chatting
Don’t share your name, phone number, address, school, workplace or social accounts. If a chat feels wrong, leave or report it.
The town is not counselling or an emergency service. If you are in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.