Plato once compared the mind to a cage of fluttering birds, needing moments of stillness to settle. But for those of us with anxiety, those moments of stillness—especially at bedtime—can feel anything but calming.

Why does anxiety often worsen at night, and how can we quiet our minds to reclaim peaceful sleep? Let’s explore the science behind nighttime anxiety and simple strategies to break the cycle.

Why Anxiety Peaks at Bedtime

For many, nighttime is the first moment of the day when distractions fade, leaving us alone with our thoughts and feelings. While daytime busyness can keep anxiety at bay, the stillness of night amplifies the awareness of our suppressed worries.

Here’s how the cycle unfolds:

Silence Exposes Suppressed Thoughts: Without distractions, difficult emotions and thoughts surface to be felt and processed.
Perception of Threat: Anxiety tells us something bad could happen. This activates the body’s fight-or-flight response.
Physical Symptoms: Stress hormones kick in, causing a racing heart, tense muscles, or nausea.
Fear of Sleeplessness: Worrying about not sleeping adds another layer of anxiety, perpetuating the cycle.

It’s like avoiding an upset partner all day, only to have them demand attention right when you’re trying to rest.

Breaking the Cycle of Nighttime Anxiety

The key to peaceful sleep lies in addressing your anxiety during the day instead of suppressing it until bedtime. Here are effective strategies to calm your mind and body:

1. Create Daytime Stillness with the R.A.I.N Technique

Instead of running from anxious thoughts, make time during the day to face them with compassion. Psychologist Tara Brach’s R.A.I.N technique can help:

R: Recognise what you’re feeling without judgment.
A: Allow the emotion to be there without trying to fix it.
I: Investigate with curiosity—What’s behind this feeling?
N: Nurture yourself with compassion.

The above practice only takes 11 minutes. By carving out respectful moments to process your emotions, bit by bit they lose their intensity and are less likely to disrupt your sleep.

2. Practice Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a powerful technique to relax your body and prepare for sleep. Here’s how it works:

Start at your head, tensing and relaxing each muscle group.
Move sequentially through your body down to your toes.
Focus on the sensation of releasing tension.

Guided PMR videos on YouTube, like Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Anxiety and Stress (with Music), can make this even easier to follow.

3. Work with a Psychologist

If anxious thoughts persist, consider speaking with a psychologist or psychotherapist. Having a dedicated supportive space to process these feelings can be transformative. Especially if holding space for them alone feels too overwhelming to start

Quick Tips for Nighttime Calm

Set a Sleep Routine: Keep consistent bedtime habits to signal your body it’s time to wind down.
Journal Your Worries: Write down anxious thoughts during the day to “offload” them before bed.
Limit Stimulants: Avoid caffeine altogether and heavy meals in the evening, as they disrupt relaxation.
Reduce Screen Time: Blue light from screens trick your brain into staying awake. Light is a powerful sleep/wake regulator for the body and brain (so you see now why our phones and streaming services mess things up for us so badly!)

Conclusion: Reclaim Your Nights

Nighttime anxiety feels overwhelming, but it’s not insurmountable. By addressing your emotions during the day, calming your body with techniques like RAIN, PMR, and seeking support when needed, you can break the cycle of sleeplessness.

Remember, it’s not about eliminating anxiety altogether—it’s about learning to respectfully process our ‘stuff’ (preferably during the day) and supporting the body with science-based tools to ground and centre your nervous system.

Take it one step at a time and soon restful nights will be in reach.