I have a lot of trouble to fall asleep. Unless I'm completely exhausted, it takes me an hour or more to finally get to sleep. It seems that the more I want to sleep, the harder it is.

Part of it is a fear thing...due to some reason I don't understand, when I close my eyes, I start imagining all manner of evil creatures sneaking up on me while I'm vulnerable in bed. I have no idea why I do this and the more I try to NOT think about it, the more I imagine. I've tried telling myself that it's not real, they don't exist, there's nothing there, but it doesn't matter, my body doesn't listen and I start getting all freaked out and paranoid. I've tried ignoring it and it does no good...eventually I have to open my eyes to prove that there's nothing there

Basically, is there any way to fall asleep more easily?