Cant Relax At Night Psychotherapist Shares Why Anxiety May Feel Worse After Dark

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Why does this happen? To understand the reason behind nighttime anxiety, we asked psychotherapist Dr Chandni Tugnait, Founder and Director, Gateway of Healing, who explained why the mind can feel like it is on overdrive at night.

“For a growing number of people, nighttime is less a period of rest and more an unplanned tally of the day that was too loud to process. This is not a personal failing or a sleep disorder, but it is what happens when the nervous system has been overloaded for hours on end and is finally handed a moment of quiet; it does not quite know what to do with it,” she also noted that it actually happens with many people.

Let's break ot down and closely look at what the drivers behind nighttime anxiety are. The psychotherapist told us there are three reasons why this may happen:

The psychotherapist warned, “The solution is not more stimulation to outrun the thoughts, nor is it forcing the mind into stillness it is not ready for.”

This means you may end up scrolling on your phone or watching something on TV as a form of distraction. But according to Dr Tugnait, the actual way to cope with anxiety at night is by slowing down the mind and body.

Her recommendations include following a gentle bedtime routine, such as putting screens away, journaling, reading, stretching, or listening to calming music.

These habits can collectively help the mind slow down and relax your nervous system.

For the long term, consider practising stress management techniques during the day, such as deep breathing when you face a hurdle at work. This can help you prevent the nervous system from becoming overstimulated at night. When you begin to manage stress better during the day, nights will become easier too!

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.