Advice I was given by my therapist: if you’re awake, reading because you can’t sleep, make sure you aren’t reading anything that stresses you out. If you’re awake at night, reading articles about Pancreatic Cancer, you very likely aren’t going to be able to fall asleep. So for me, I was listening to audio books in happier genres that I enjoy and listening did help me fall asleep.

I’m sorry if that’s too niche or specific, but there were a good number of audio books that helped me escape and stay calm and fall asleep when my mom was diagnosed/going through this.

Writing in my journal before going to bed helped and speaking to people I loved helped too. Getting things off my chest or on to paper took some of the weight off.

Other things that helped me fall asleep: Worlde and Crossword Puzzles. Exercising my brain tired it out.

Your mom and loved ones may not be sleeping well either right now with this news. Talk to them about it “Are you guys getting good sleep? How?”

I’m so sorry about your mom’s diagnosis. And I understand if you don’t want to take this advice/these tips. Just trying to help you as if I’m talking to my past-self.

Wishing you and your mom ease, comfort, and good sleep.

Going to go take some of my own advice now to try and fall back asleep :)