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Gao Yinan, anxious and depressed, has been suffering from insomnia for many days. What should he do?

sleep disturbances bedroom proximity sound sensitivity nighttime disturbances phantom sounds
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Gao Yinan, anxious and depressed, has been suffering from insomnia for many days. What should he do? By Anonymous | Published on December 18, 2024

I'm so sleepy, but I can't sleep. The reason is that my sister's bedroom is very close to mine, and she spends all day in bed twitching.

Sometimes I can even hear the sound from her phone when I'm doing my homework. I'm very sensitive to sounds, and when I hear them, I get distracted and easily affected.

When she sleeps, she always sniffs her nose, and she also plays with her phone until late at night. I am very afraid of hearing sounds. I feel that the sounds are full of malice and are attacking me. When I don't hear them, I also hear phantom sounds. I panic very easily, and in the end I have no sleep at all, and I am dead tired the next day? It's been a few days now, and I pay full attention to her when she sleeps.

I can't switch back to normal. I'm anxious, depressed, can't sleep, my grades have dropped, I want to cry, I don't know if I'm going to make it, I just want to die!

Tatiana Tatiana A total of 7247 people have been helped

Good day, classmate. I can discern the confusion you are facing, and I extend a gesture of comfort.

One possible solution would be to initiate a conversation with your parents about the issue at hand and request their assistance in addressing it with your sister.

On occasion, older sisters may be unaware of the impact of their actions, causing disturbances to their younger siblings.

On occasion, I have been guilty of this myself. When I am preoccupied with my own affairs at home, I may inadvertently overlook the feelings of others.

Furthermore, it would be beneficial to ascertain the number of bedrooms in your residence.

In the event that there is an additional room that is not currently in use, it would be advisable to relocate there initially.

Subsequently, at the conclusion of the academic term, you may resume occupying your current bedroom.

In the event that an additional room is available, it would be advisable to utilise it for the purpose of undertaking homework.

In general, it is preferable to designate a room for homework rather than a bedroom.

Should you be interested, you may wish to peruse some literature on the subject, such as Nonviolent Communication and Why Families Hurt.

It is my sincere hope that a solution to the problem you are facing will be found as soon as possible.

I have no further suggestions at this time.

It is my sincere hope that the responses I have provided are both helpful and inspiring to you. I am the solution, and I dedicate myself to rigorous study on a daily basis.

At Yixinli, we extend our warmest regards to you and the entire world. Wishing you the best!

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Juliette Nguyen Juliette Nguyen A total of 9942 people have been helped

Good day. From your description, it appears that you have been experiencing insomnia at night, which can be a distressing and anxiety-provoking condition. Could you please let me know when your insomnia first started?

Please clarify whether this has always been the case or if it began when you started high school. Also, please confirm whether your sister has always lived next door.

Please describe your perception of your sister's nocturnal noise levels. Additionally, can you recall any specific events or individuals that may have precipitated your insomnia and anxiety?

Gaining an understanding of this reason may assist in the alleviation of insomnia and anxiety.

If you require further assistance, you may wish to consult with your sister. For instance, you could request that she wear headphones and play with her phone at night to ascertain whether this improves your situation.

If necessary, parents can assist with coordination.

It is also important to view going to bed at night as a relaxing experience rather than a task that must be completed. Anxiety can impede the ability to fall asleep. To help induce relaxation, you can try to increase physical activity during the day, drink a glass of milk before bedtime, soak your feet, or engage in other relaxing activities. You can also listen to some sleep-inducing music or white noise.

I would like to conclude with one final point. I am unaware of the duration or frequency of your auditory hallucinations and the feeling that sounds are malicious. Please describe your coping mechanisms. If the issue has persisted for over a month and you are unable to resolve it independently, I advise consulting with your parents to determine if a hospital visit is necessary. This could help address the underlying causes of your insomnia and anxiety. Finally, remember that you have people in your life who care about your well-being and wish for your continued growth and happiness.

I hope these answers provide some useful insight. Best regards,

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Brooke Brooke A total of 4921 people have been helped

Hello, my child.

I know you're in high school and have some serious sleep issues. This has led to a few psychological problems, like conflicts with your sister, hearing voices, a drop in grades, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of urgency, guilt, and self-blame. I'm sending you a warm hug. High school is a totally different psychological state and social environment than junior high. Unfortunately, your generation has had three years of the pandemic, which has meant less daily physical exercise and social interactions. It seems like they've struggled a bit to handle life's challenges. You can't be blamed for this, and you shouldn't blame your sister, because she's been through the same three years of the pandemic.

I don't know what your family situation is like, but when faced with such challenges, can parents provide accurate empathy and spiritual companionship? It would be really helpful to have someone to talk to.

Your sensitivity is a gift.

The questioner herself knows she's highly sensitive. In the book The Ladder to Heaven by child psychiatrist Winnicott, he explains this trait like this:

Our brains have a special neurological system that helps us understand and respond to social signals from others.

This nerve cell, called a "neuron," helped our early ancestors to gradually break away from apes. It allows us to reflect the behavior of others, from simple imitation to more complex imitation, thus gradually developing language, music, art, the use of tools, and so on.

It helps us understand other people's intentions, emotions, and the social significance of their actions. People with well-developed brains have stronger language skills and the ability to empathize, as well as a lower tear point.

I'm not sure how many years the questioner is older than her sister, but it's possible the threat of your birth hasn't been eliminated for your sister, and she might still have a bit of hostility inside. Ha, you figured it out. My daughter is five years older than my son, and she's now 17. She still argues and fights with her younger brother every day.

Her pet phrase is that brothers with sisters are warm and caring, and sisters with brothers are tough. I don't know if this is a valid argument, but it's also possible that society itself pours less love on girls. Your birth was also seen as a threat or competition for the little girl.

Your sensitivity also means you're vulnerable.

Your highly sensitive nature makes it easier for you to pick up on danger signals, so you may have been sleeping lightly for a long time. You are also prone to overinterpreting less-than-friendly signals. Your sister is a few years older than you, and I'm afraid that you have been immersed in these unfriendly emotions since childhood, always maintaining an alert defense mode. This state is like a taut rubber band, and in the long run, no one can stand it.

You'll think about how you used to try to win games as a kid and how you couldn't. You'll believe that you can't protect yourself. This is called "learned helplessness" in psychology. You could have left the situation, but you waited for the pain to come. The process is as follows:

Facing a series of disappointments and obstacles in an "uncontrollable" situation where you're trying to respond but not getting the desired results.

Your thoughts are based on what you've experienced, and at this point, you may feel like your actions don't affect the outcome. You might even think that you can't control what happens in your life.

This leads to the idea that the future is uncontrollable. In other words, even if you try hard, you're unlikely to achieve results.

Low morale and resignation

Sleep disorders have probably been around for a long time. The good news is that if you just regard it as a physical illness, get treatment, and don't overthink it, it probably isn't as serious as it is today with hallucinations.

The role of psychological counseling

Based on what you've described, it seems like you might have a mental illness. It's a good idea to get treatment from a local psychiatric hospital as soon as you can. Don't feel ashamed of your illness. The pandemic has been going on for three years, and it's been a lot for everyone. People with psychological problems and even mental illness are everywhere. Brain neuroscience is already very developed, and there are drugs with very good efficacy for schizophrenia, as well as mania and depression. You'll get great treatment.

It's also a good idea for the original poster to go to a counselor as soon as they can to work through some of the issues from their childhood, heal some old wounds, and start to develop their talents.

My name is Zhang Huili, and I'm the Sunshine Dolphin. I hope my answer is helpful to you. If you find it useful, please give me a like.

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Xeniarah Xeniarah A total of 98 people have been helped

Hello, I hope my answer helps.

You're uncomfortable, can't sleep, and your grades have dropped. It's tough. I want to give you a hug and hope you can feel some warmth and support. Let's start by adjusting your sleep and see if you can communicate with your sister and help yourself sleep better. Then, you can work on your emotions. When your state improves, your academic performance will also improve.

My advice is:

Why are we so sensitive to sound?

Think about what's going on and you might find out why.

You say you're easily affected by your sister's TikTok videos and the sound of her sniffling. So sounds or our phantom hearing really have an effect on us. Did your sister move in recently?

Has your sister ever made similar noises? Why have they affected you recently?

If your sister used to live next door but you were never affected by her voice, then see if something has happened recently that makes you feel attacked. If your sister has only recently started using TikTok and making these noises, then it is best that we still communicate with her. I believe that she will understand you.

2. Talk to your sister. Tell her how you feel and what you want.

If your sister affects you, you can talk to her. If you don't say anything, she won't know. You can say, "Sister, I haven't slept well. When I hear you playing loud sounds, I can't sleep. I need your understanding. In the future, can you not make any noise after 9 pm?"

Can I wear headphones and listen to my phone at night?

3. Get a good night's sleep and release your emotions.

If you can't sleep and feel distracted, try these two methods to calm down and sleep peacefully.

To fall asleep, focus on your breathing and relax. Inhale for 5 seconds, hold your breath for 5 seconds, exhale for 5 seconds, hold your breath for 5 seconds, and then inhale again. Repeat this cycle until you fall asleep.

Second, you can use the safe haven sleep method. Imagine yourself in a safe place. Fall asleep there. It might be hard to imagine at first, but you can adjust it until you feel safe. Then, imagine yourself in that safe place. Relax and fall asleep.

You can also release emotions by talking to a friend, getting support from loved ones, or writing about your problems. Even if you don't find a solution, it will help you feel better. The more you write, the better you will feel.

For reference. Best wishes.

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Octavia Harris Octavia Harris A total of 4229 people have been helped

Dear Sir/Madam, Thank you for your question. Best regards,

You are experiencing anxiety/long-duration-of-fatigue-overwhelming-negative-emotions-constant-complaining-what-to-do-13091.html" target="_blank">fatigue, yet unable to obtain sufficient rest. This psychological state is having a detrimental impact on your well-being. I empathize with the challenges you are facing.

To complete your homework, you require a quiet environment. However, the sound of your sister's mobile phone is affecting your ability to concentrate.

The sound bothers you because it disrupts the tranquility of your study environment. Additionally, the sound is perceived as malicious and aggressive.

Our ability to resist the influence of electronic products such as mobile phones is limited. Your sister's behavior of playing with her phone presents a challenge to our willpower and offers a clear temptation.

Therefore, regardless of whether you are distracted or perceive the sound as malevolent and intimidating, these are all emotional responses to your sister's cell phone behavior. They represent defense mechanisms you have developed to protect yourself.

You repeatedly tell yourself that you must refrain from using your phone during study sessions to concentrate on your studies and avoid distractions. This leads to feelings of guilt when you do use your phone.

You are aware that you should not use your phone during study sessions, but you find it difficult to resist the temptation. Consequently, you are afraid of hearing the sound of playing with your phone. When you cannot hear it, you will consciously try to catch it, and when you cannot catch it, you will experience the symptom of auditory hallucinations.

This is the anxiety produced by obsessive thoughts. As a result of the tension and anxiety, we will experience physical manifestations of panic when exposed to strong stimuli.

Due to the negative reinforcement of strong stimuli, individuals may experience nervousness and anxiety while their sympathetic nervous system is in an excited state. This can also lead to insomnia. When anxiety and excitement alternate, it can have a significant impact on one's daily life, potentially resulting in drowsiness and poor academic performance.

These are the psychological interpretations of your current situation. Once these have been understood, it will be possible to reduce anxiety and perceptions of cell phone use.

Firstly, it would be beneficial to engage in deep breathing exercises or muscle relaxation techniques to help you relax and reduce your anxiety levels. Secondly, it may be helpful to alter your attitude towards mobile phone usage and accept your sister's behaviour in this regard, as this could assist in changing your perception.

It is my hope that the above interpretation and suggestions will assist you in resolving your current situation and achieving a state of relief.

My name is Chu Mingdeng, and I extend my sincerest regards to you and the world.

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Marguerite Marguerite A total of 5659 people have been helped

Hello, dear questioner!

From what you've told me, it's clear you're also aware that you're sensitive to certain sounds. In fact, people who are sensitive to sounds often find it really difficult to fall asleep if there's even the slightest sound. I used to be the same way! It's probably because we're feeling too stressed, anxious or depressed, or have things on our mind that we can't let go of, so we can't fall asleep peacefully. It's totally normal, and I understand how you feel.

I can see that when you're feeling troubled, you don't speak your mind, which is really affecting your sleep. It's going to start affecting your grades too, if we don't do something about it. But now that you know what's going on, we can make some changes!

Let's see how we can solve this together!

[1] It's so important to express your feelings and needs directly to your sister.

For example, you can say something like, "I'm feeling really stressed right now, and I hope you can turn the volume of your phone down a bit because it's so loud and it's keeping me up at night." If your sister really cares about you or treats you like family, she'll probably be happy to turn it down. If she's an adult, she'll probably be able to understand why you're asking and think about how she can change. If she doesn't want to change, it might mean your relationship could do with a little work.

[2] Learn to release your stress!

For example, when we feel very stressed, we can choose some ways to relieve stress, such as listening to music, watching some videos we like, or meditating or mindfulness. It is also helpful to relieve our stress and emotions through some ways and methods.

[3] It's so important to learn to be aware of your emotions and feelings.

When we feel a negative emotion or feeling, it's a great idea to try to identify the cause of this emotion or feeling. What does this emotion or feeling tell us about the needs of our inner child? What ways and means can satisfy our needs? Then we can look for solutions to satisfy our inner needs.

[4] Don't be afraid to ask your parents for help!

If you're in this situation and your relationship with your sister isn't the best, and you've already told your sister about this, but she hasn't corrected it, you can also talk to your parents. It's important to tell them what you need. Don't forget to tell them about your current situation, too. You can hope that your parents and relatives will understand your current pressure and emotions.

I really hope this advice helps!

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Aaron Aaron A total of 2596 people have been helped

Hello, question asker! I'm Enoch, the answerer.

From what the questioner has said, it seems that she is sensitive to sounds and is always bothered by her sister's TikTok sounds, and even her sister's breathing sounds bother her. She feels that these sounds are malicious, and her insomnia and declining grades also make her feel that she is affected by them. She doesn't blame others, but just feels a bit hopeless.

There are a few reasons why this might have happened.

1. Someone with a depressive temperament is more sensitive.

The questioner's temperament may be depressive, so they are more sensitive to sounds.

2. Some definitions of this situation have been made to make the questioner feel more excluded.

The questioner feels as if these voices have some kind of malicious intent because they upset them and they cannot control them.

3. Not taking timely and active measures to solve the problem.

I was affected, but I didn't know how to solve it, so I just let it happen.

I've got a few suggestions for the questioner, which I hope will be helpful.

1. Self-regulation

You might want to do some other activities or listen to some other sounds to take your mind off things.

2. Speak with your sister

Have a chat with your sister and ask her to turn the volume down or move her position.

3. Ask your parents for help.

Ask your parents to help you figure out how to fix the problem with the poor sound insulation in the walls.

I hope the person who asked the question will think more broadly and solve problems in a more effective way.

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Diana Louise O'Connor Diana Louise O'Connor A total of 9276 people have been helped

Hello, landlord! I'm smiling!

After reading your description, I have a better understanding of the question you want to ask, and I would absolutely love to give you a hug in four dimensions!

From your questions, I can tell you're eager to learn! I think you'll find this situation helpful. You're highly sensitive to sounds, which means you're in tune with your external environment. In psychology, people like you are called field-dependent, because they're attuned to the sounds made by people or things.

As you can see from the description, the owner of this post is easily distracted, especially when there is loud noise, which presents an exciting challenge for you to overcome. You are very sensitive to sound, which means you have the opportunity to practice writing your homework in an absolutely quiet environment. However, any sound may attract your attention, which is something you can work on.

I feel the same way when I go to the library to read a book and don't want anyone to make noise. If someone makes some noise, for example if the music is too loud, I will notice it and become irritated.

Because my attention is distracted, it also disrupts the rhythm of my learning. But there's an easy fix for that!

I've also put together a few tips and tricks to help you out! I really hope they'll make a difference for you.

(1) You can absolutely improve your concentration! Try meditation to help you focus and tune out distractions.

(2) You can finish your homework early! This means you can improve your efficiency at doing homework, rather than leaving too much homework to do at night.

(3) You can find some time to talk to your sister and say what you want to say, instead of blaming her for how she affects you. Instead, you can say that you hope she will wear headphones to watch TikTok videos and turn the volume down as much as possible, because you are sensitive to sound. This is a great opportunity to come up with a solution together!

(4) When you're feeling down, get up and get moving! Sports, chatting, journaling — whatever gets you out of that negative mood and into a positive one.

(5) You can distract yourself more often by doing the things you love! Don't let yourself be in a negative environment for too long, but try to withdraw from it more often.

The world and I love you!

Wishing you all the best!

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Comments

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Mortimer Davis A diligent heart is a heart that never gives up.

I understand how frustrating and overwhelming this situation must be for you. It sounds like your sister's habits are really affecting your ability to focus and rest. Maybe it's time to have an open and honest conversation with her about how her actions impact you. Let's see if she can find a way to enjoy her time more quietly.

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Megan Anderson He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger.

This is really tough, I can tell. Have you considered talking to your parents or another family member about what's happening? They might be able to help mediate and find a solution that works for both you and your sister. Sometimes setting boundaries can make a big difference.

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Alina Thomas Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.

It's so hard when you're trying to concentrate on your work and there are distractions. Perhaps using noisecancelling headphones or playing soft background music could help drown out the sounds from your sister's room. Creating a more peaceful study environment might help you stay focused and calm.

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Ricardo Miller True learning is a journey of exploration and discovery of our own potential.

The stress and lack of sleep must be taking a toll on you. It's important to take care of yourself. Could you try establishing a relaxing bedtime routine to help signal to your body that it's time to wind down? A warm bath or some light reading before bed might help ease your mind.

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Kaitlyn Miller The more one studies different medical and humanistic concepts, the more well - rounded they become.

I'm really sorry you're feeling this way, but I want you to know that you're not alone. There are people who can support you through this. Have you thought about speaking to a counselor or therapist? They can provide strategies to cope with anxiety and improve your sleep quality.

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