Your Scary 3 a.m. Thoughts Are Usually Wrong
About this episode
The episode discusses how to challenge and manage negative thoughts that contribute to insomnia.
There is a kind of thinking that keeps insomnia going. If you have been awake at 3 a.m., you know it well. One thought shows up. "If I don't sleep soon, tomorrow will be ruined." Then another one. "What if I never sleep right again?" Then another. Soon a small worry has grown into full panic. A lot of people with insomnia say it feels like walking on eggshells inside their own head. They try hard not to set off the next wave of worry. That makes sense. Those kinds of thoughts are one of the biggest reasons people can't sleep. They get loud right before bed. Then they get loud again in the middle of the night. But how you deal with the thoughts is something you can change. Challenge your thoughts This one is simple. When a scary thought shows up, stop and ask yourself one question. Is this really true? Or is my brain making up the worst thing it can think of? Here is how it works. Say you are in bed thinking: "I won't be able to work tomorrow if I don't sleep right now." Instead of believing it, check it. Think back on the rough nights you have had. You still got through those days, right? Even better, think about the times you were sure the day would be awful. And then it turned…
More episodes of Former Insomniac by End Insomnia
- The 3-step practice for sitting with anxiety at 2 a.m.
- Why Pulling Harder Against Insomnia Keeps You Stuck
- What "Accepting" Your Insomnia Actually Means (It's Not Giving Up)
- Why Caring Less About Sleep is the Key to Sleeping Well
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