When I was younger, I had this problem (still do at times)---then, when I slept my dreams were a comfort... From teen through twenties I had severe insomnia, couldn't shut my brain off... it was so bad I would hallucinate during the day at times having been awake for several days (& still working/going to school in a daze)
Have you tried reading? I used to stay up late reading, now when I read at night I get drowsy, even if I am interested in what I am reading. (& sometimes I use an audio book or radio play like the bbc production of lord of the rings, or librevox (online site with books read aloud)....music doesn't work for me because I listen and respond too much emotionally. Apologies for the disjointed response....

One technique that did help, with practice, and still does help (sometimes it is hard because you have to keep bringing yourself back to it as your mind will drift back again) is to visualized something I like in detail (for me, it would be something like setting up camp at my favorite remote lean-to, constructing a piece of furniture, or planning a trip, visualizing and watching, going through every detail of the activity & pulling myself back when the past/other disturbances slipped back in----I keep making myself start the activity again in my head and suddenly it is the next day...
Now, I can sleep (I did give in and begin meds in my 30's----did very well for a while....)
but I dream about the past repeatedly and wake up feeling awful,
the emotional aftermath is hard to shake.
And, it feels as if it is hard to wake up, I feel aware of trying to wake up and get out of the situation...
Something that might help short of prescription meds, is taking a benadryl when you get into bed (just for a while)----for most people this antihistamine causes a brief but strong period of sleepiness, about 20-30min after taking; but you have to give in to that feeling at the time it comes on, it doesn't last.
It will be important, of course, to deal with the issues that cause the problem over time so that you can be free...........................as you can be. Losing sleep just makes things harder to deal with because you are always tired underneath...
Hugs.