Here's Why Your Brain Hits "GO" On Every Anxious Thought Right When You Want To Sleep

"Anxious thoughts love to spike at night. Whether it's right before you fall asleep or if you get up in the middle of the night to pee, they're always there, waiting until it's just dark enough outside to convince you that it will always be dark, forever, and that no light will ever come, ever, and good luck thinking you can survive life because look at you here, panicking in your own bed."

"Whether you have a diagnosed anxiety disorder or just feel a little more worrisome and fretful at night, it's totally normal to feel like your brain is doing its best to think of the worst possible things at night. And listen, anxiety isn't all bad. It's how our brain protects us. But at night, it could be coming from a few different things."

"Alexandra McNulty, LCSW-C, owner and lead therapist of McNulty Wellness Collective, says that if you're waking up in the night and your brain is hitting play on those anxious thoughts, it might be attributed to dysregulated blood sugar. You don't have to be diabetic or pre-diabetic to experience these effects. For women, restricting or undereating are common behaviors that can contribute."

Anxious thoughts commonly intensify at night when exhausted people try to sleep, with the brain replaying embarrassing moments, projecting worst-case scenarios, and triggering panic. This phenomenon is universal and not indicative of brain dysfunction. Nighttime anxiety serves an evolutionary protective purpose but becomes counterproductive in the evening. Multiple physiological and environmental factors contribute to nighttime anxiety spikes. Blood sugar dysregulation represents one significant cause, affecting both those with and without diabetes or pre-diabetes conditions. Women who restrict or undereat frequently experience these effects. Understanding the root causes of nighttime anxiety helps normalize the experience and provides pathways toward managing intrusive thoughts.

Read at Scary Mommy