Need more help?

Stories can be a gentle companion, but they cannot replace a person who can listen to you. If worry, anxiety or sleeplessness is taking over your days, you deserve real support, and asking for it is a brave thing to do.

If you are in danger or thinking about hurting yourself

Please contact your local emergency number right now, or reach out to someone you trust. You can find a free helpline in almost any country at findahelpline.com. In the United States, you can call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). Befrienders Worldwide lists emotional support centres at befrienders.org.

If worry keeps you awake or follows you everywhere

• Talk to a doctor, school counsellor or licensed therapist. Many offer a short first conversation.
• Tell one person you trust what the nights are like. Saying it out loud often makes it smaller.
• If you are under 18, a parent, teacher or school nurse can help you find the right person.

A gentle reminder

Lina and Zoe are fictional characters. Their tools, like writing a worry on paper, are small comforts, not treatments. Cozy Lina does not provide medical advice.