Lydia, 20

Her story

I knew the word insomnia long before it had an impact on my life. People tend to use it constantly as if it were a momentary effect or a grace to put via Instagram stories when it's one in the morning and they can't sleep. I wish it was that, stay up late or just have a bad night. Because when your life starts to revolve around that disease, everything goes downhill.

I was 14 years old when I was caught up in doctor visits, severe stomach pains, and fainting in class from lack of sleep.

As a result of the strong impact that I had on my life, I began to develop mild anxiety that led to acute insomnia. Due to my age and poor medical management, apparently, I was just a nervous girl (when I have always been very calm and able to sleep for more than 8 hours): nervous about the exams, nervous about the future, nervous about what had happened …And too young to take any type of medication that would treat what was really happening to me. I went from my parents' clinical sleep aids that were too strong, to natural gummies that weren't enough. And in my life the nights of crying out of frustration continued, fainting in class for having been awake for more than 48 hours, the alteration of my routine by falling exhausted in the morning and waking up the next morning totally disoriented... The biggest mistake of all was taking it in secret because I didn't want to slow down the lives of others or fill them with worry. That only made it bigger and harder to control. Until my dark circles, my general malaise (I couldn't eat, I couldn't study or concentrate on a simple conversation), and the teacher's notice to my parents became clear evidence and immediate action. It was when I came into the hands of a naturalist that things began to be called by their name. The treatment was slow but effective, although it was my desire to have control of my life again that changed everything. They were years of weaknesses and recoveries, but that only made me understand what was happening to me and learn to control it. Just as it helped to warn others of what was happening to me and make them see what was the best way to help me.

To this day, there are moments when insomnia or anxiety reappear, in the end, they are somehow part of me, but they will never be stronger than me.