DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been nervous about everything over the past year. I find it hard to sleep at night. Recently, without even realizing it, I have started to bite my nails in my sleep. It’s totally weird. I never bit my nails as a child. But as a mature adult, I have awakened a couple of times with half my nails chewed up, and I had no memory of it. I feel like I’m of out of control. What do you recommend I do to get ahold of this? My hands look crazy, but more than how they look is the fact that I can’t remember biting my nails. -- Figure It Out, Detroit
DEAR FIGURE IT OUT: Think about the stress that you are facing these days. Make a written list of the things that are bothering you, and pay particular attention to anything that seems new or amplified. Have there been changes in your work? Your home life? Friendships? Health? Finances? You say it’s been happening over the course of this year. Your job is to single out what is making this year different from others.
Armed with that information, get a physical. Talk to your doctor about what’s been happening with you, and ask for guidance. Be specific when you share your personal evaluation of your life this year. The more you tell the doctor, the better able he or she will be to get you the help you need. You may be referred to a mental health professional who can help you sort through your feelings and come to some resolution that will calm you.
Also consider meditation, deep breathing, going to bed earlier and surrounding yourself with positive people.
(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)