Imagine your f/o helping you deal with your anxiety around sleep.
You dread sleep. Nightmares plague your nights and the mere thought of having to go to sleep paralyses you with fear.
After seeing you gets so snappy about the topic of getting to bed, they end up clocking it; whether it's because they asked and you told them, or because they recognised the signs.
Once they do know, they're doing everything in their power to help you through it. They don't care how silly it is.
They'll shadow you and talk to you while you get ready if it helps you not dissociate or spiral. They'll even help you with the tasks themselves if fear is making it hard to move or executive dysfunction joins the party.
They'll read aloud to you. Any book you want, even silly ones that are aimed at children. If it can help you relax, maybe even draw a giggle out of you, it's more than worth it, even if they =might feel foolish doing it. They'll do the voices and everything if it's one of those books.
They'll sing to you. maybe it's a specific song from your childhood theyr learnt just to comfort you, a more generic lullaby, a silly song, a song you just like, or the one song they know by heart. Even if they're one to think their voice isn't nice to listen to.
They'll make you angel milk or some tea, if it can help you.
They'll cuddle you, pat your head, tell your everything's alright. Even if they know they can't truly protect you from the nightmares, not really, they assure you they'll be there/ Whether they do so by putting on a show of being a brave nightmare hunter, or by assuring you that if you wake up from one, they'll be right there next to you, and they'll be more than happy to be woken up to help.
Lots of praise and reassurance is involved in the process. Small touches that remind you they're there, you're not facing this alone.
That night, when you finally drift off, it's not because of sheer exhaustion. You feel safe: you know they've got you.
