Are you stuck in a vicious cycle of feeling tired, but unable to sleep?

By the time you finally get to bed at night after a long day, you are SO ready for a goods night's sleep. But if you are like most people, you have had those nights where you just can’t fall asleep no matter how tired you are. It’s frustrating and anxiety-provoking. The more anxious you get about not sleeping, the harder it is to fall asleep. You can get stuck in a vicious cycle.

Image of a woman wide awake at night. Anxiety at night can be overwhelming. Wilson Counseling in Houston offers support to navigate those restless moments, providing strategies to ease the mind and promote restful sleep.

Half of Americans say anxiety affects their ability to sleep.

If you have trouble sleeping at night, you are not alone. Over half of Americas say that anxiety affects their ability to sleep at night. It sometimes seems as if once we go to bed, there is room and time for those racing thoughts to take over. You may also find that you are going through your list of to-do’s because you worry about not getting everything done, or anticipate doing things you don’t really look forward to. When you worry, it can produce adrenaline in your body which makes it even harder to sleep. Our Houston anxiety treatment therapists work with people everyday who are struggling to sleep.

Image of a binder with a to-do list. Nighttime anxiety can cast a shadow over rest. At Wilson Counseling in Houston, we understand the challenges. Let us guide you towards peaceful nights, offering support and strategies to quiet the mind.

You are most vulnerable to negative thinking at night.

In our tired moments late at night, our thoughts can often veer to the irrational, distorted, and negative. You may worry that co-workers are mad at you, or that you have forgotten to pay bills, or that something terrible that you can’t name is going to happen. The tired mind doesn’t account for reality, or facts, it just relies on negative feelings and catastrophizing thoughts. Don’t trust it. You are most vulnerable at night to negative thoughts. However, you almost always feel better in the morning when you have had a good night’s sleep and your mind has rested.

Image of a girl lying in bed reading a book. Anxiety's grip can tighten at night, disrupting your peace. Wilson Counseling in Houston provides compassionate support to ease nighttime anxiety, offering strategies to help you reclaim restful sleep.

Steps to a better night’s sleep.

There is a lot you can do to make things better with poor sleep.

1- Good sleep hygiene

First I would focus on good sleep hygiene. I wrote about that in several other posts. Preparing your body for sleep by having a relaxing sleep routine can signal to the brain that it is time to slow things down.

Image of a woman doing yoga. Good sleep hygiene is key to easing nighttime anxiety. At Wilson Counseling in Houston, we empower you with strategies for a restful night, ensuring a peaceful and rejuvenating sleep

2- Sleep Medicine

Second, there are medications and supplements that can help you fall asleep. Talk to your medical doctor about your options.

3- Decrease your anxiety at night

Third, work on decreasing your anxiety through therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a highly researched form of treatment for anxiety that can work quickly and effectively. If you need help changing your sleep habits or anxiety, this may be a great route for you. I would also recommend doing deep breathing, or meditation to help you decrease your anxiety.

Image of a woman meditating. Decreasing anxiety at night is possible with the right strategies. Wilson Counseling in Houston offers support to help you reclaim peaceful nights, providing tools and techniques to calm the mind.

4- Talk back to thoughts keeping you awake

Fourth, talk back to negative thoughts. If your thoughts are telling you that you don’t have time to get everything done, reply with “There is time enough for everything that matters.” Or if your voice is saying something terrible is going to happen to your kids, reply with “Just because I have a bad feeling, does not make it true.” In other words, don’t let negative, anxious thoughts get a foothold in your mind. Talk back to them and reassure your tired mind that everything is going to be okay and you are strong enough to handle whatever comes your way.

Image of a thumbs down. Talking back to thoughts that keep you awake is a powerful tool in reclaiming your sleep. At Wilson Counseling in Houston, we guide you in developing effective strategies to challenge and manage nighttime thoughts, paving the

5- Be active when you can’t sleep

Finally, if you can’t sleep even after doing all of the above, just get up and do something for a half hour or an hour and then try getting back in bed and getting to sleep. Sometimes staying in bed worrying about not sleeping just makes it worse.

Image of a woman reading a book. Turning restlessness into activity can ease sleeplessness. Wilson Counseling in Houston suggests incorporating gentle activities when sleep eludes you, helping to relax both the body and mind.

Houston Anxiety treatment can help you sleep better and feel calmer!

Get help when you need it.

You need sleep. When you sleep at night it restores your body and mind. Insomnia will affect every part of your life. If you are struggling with sleep, don’t wait to make changes. You will feel so much better when you can start getting a regular night’s sleep again.

We hope you find these resources helpful! If you are struggling with loneliness, conflict, or anxiety, speaking to a an anxiety treatment counselor in Houston can help.

Contact us at Wilson Counseling to find out more about our services or to schedule an appointment. You can find out more about anxiety here. You don't have to go through this alone. We are in this together.