Sleep Problems: I Want to Sleep but My Body Won't Let Me

I Want to Sleep, but My Body Won’t Let Me: Understanding and Overcoming Sleep Troubles

Enjoying a good night’s sleep is often easier said than done and unfortunately, many of us have sleep problems. We can find ourselves lying awake at night, desperately wanting to sleep, but it seems like our bodies have other plans. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why can’t I sleep at night even when I’m tired?” you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll focus on your circadian rhythm (the 24-hour internal clock in the brain that regulates cycles of alertness and sleepiness by responding to its environment) and how it can be affected by an inconsistent sleep schedule. Inconsistent sleep schedules can be caused by various reasons: chronic disease or illness, environmental changes in light/dark cycles, travel across time zones, and mental or physical stress.

An imbalanced internal clock, or circadian rhythm, affects your body’s hormonal levels which can leave you feeling exhausted during the day or unable to sleep at night, as well as negatively interfere with your mood. NuCalm Rescue, PowerNap, and FlowState have the potential to beat this problem because they restore balance to all of your physiological systems and rhythms. It’s a reset button for your circadian rhythm so it can get back to balance.

Why Can’t I Sleep at Night Even When I’m Tired

It’s a frustrating scenario---feeling utterly exhausted but unable to fall asleep. This situation often leaves people even more exhausted and anxious. Let’s dive into why your body might resist sleep, even when you’re tired, exhausted, and barely able to function.

Oftentimes, racing thoughts, or when “my brain won’t stop talking to itself”, are one of the easiest symptoms to identify when you can’t fall asleep. Your body may be physically tired with muscle fatigue but thoughts flow into your mind and your brain won’t stop thinking. You may be thinking about the day’s events and wish you could change something or perhaps you are worried about an event tomorrow or in the future.

Stress and anxiety often play a significant role in the occurrence of racing thoughts at night. Stress can disrupt your circadian rhythm and can exacerbate an already out-of-balance 24-hour internal clock. Exhaustion should naturally lead to restful sleep, but sometimes, it can trigger a cycle of sleeplessness.

Why Can’t I Sleep at Night but Can During the Day

For some, the struggle to sleep at night contrasts sharply with their ability to nap during the day. If you’ve ever wondered, “Why can’t I sleep at night but can during the day?” the answer may lie in the intricate relationship between your circadian rhythm and stress.

Circadian rhythms vary from person to person, with some naturally inclined to be night owls and others early birds. Regardless of where you fall on the circadian rhythm night owl or early bird spectrum, the average adult should get between 7-9 hours of sleep a night. Your natural circadian rhythm will dictate when you start to get tired and naturally wake in the morning. However, stress will disrupt your “normal” sleeping pattern. Stress initiates the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can interfere with our natural sleep-wake cycles.

If you are asking yourself, “I can’t sleep, what should I do?”, consider practicing good sleep hygiene, healthy habits such as regular exercise and eating a balanced diet, and finding a stress management tool or technique that works for you. You can experiment and utilize multiple practices. Consider including NuCalm in your overall stress management strategy for reliable and predictable results. Rescue, PowerNap, and FlowState reset the brain’s hormonal control center, the hypothalamus, and stop the release of stress hormones for stress relief and autonomic nervous system balance.

What Do I Do If My Body Won’t Let Me Sleep

When your body refuses to cooperate with your sleep desire, it can be frustrating. Racing thoughts and restlessness can make the night feel endless and you end up feeling more fatigued and stressed than when you went to bed. There are many things you can do during the day to prepare yourself and maximize your success for sleep such as practice good sleep hygiene (no screens within 1-3 hours of bedtime, limit caffeine and alcohol later in the day, pass on large meals before bedtime), prepare an optimal sleeping environment (cool and comfortable temperature and bedding), engage in good habits such as regular exercise and nutritious diet choices, and manage stress regularly.

If you are reading this right now, and it’s the middle of the night and you are trying to fall asleep, start by taking a deep breath. Taking just one deep belly breath has been shown to have a calming effect. Try not to be frustrated with yourself and accept your situation without judgment (we know this is very difficult). You can try visualizations or imagery-focused meditation for relaxation. If you are a current subscriber, you already know how to turn off your brain so you can sleep. Use the Rescue journey with an eye mask and a pair of headphones. If you have to be up at a specific time, set the alarm on your mobile device as you may fall asleep while using Rescue.

Why Am I Having Trouble

Sleeping at Night All of a Sudden

Sometimes, sleep troubles can sneak up on us, seemingly out of nowhere. Having trouble sleeping at night suddenly, with or without a history of sleep problems, is tough. Have you ever had your eyes closed but can’t sleep? Sudden stressors, whether they are work-related, personal, or environmental, can trigger sleep difficulties seemingly out of the blue and wreak havoc on a finely tuned system like your circadian rhythm. Stress activates the body’s “fight or flight” response, leading to the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. While this response is essential for dealing with immediate threats, it can have adverse effects on your sleep when chronic or intense. Stress hormones, particularly cortisol, can keep you in a state of heightened arousal, making it challenging to relax and wind down before bedtime. Your body remains in a state of alertness, making it difficult to transition into sleep mode. Cortisol can also reduce the overall quality of sleep. It can lead to lighter, less restorative sleep, causing you to wake up feeling fatigued and unrefreshed.

Why Won’t My Brain Let Me Sleep

Racing thoughts, ruminating about the day, and worrying about a future event are all answers to the popular question, “Why won’t my brain let me sleep?”. These symptoms of an overactive mind at sleep don’t rest and can keep you up night after night.

Did you also know that the impact or side effects of racing thoughts, ruminating about the day, and worrying about a future event may be ammunition used to throw off your circadian rhythm? The brain’s circadian rhythm, or “master clock”, is located in a small region in the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is also a crucial component of the brain that plays a central role in regulating various bodily functions, including the body’s response to stress through the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. When you encounter a stressor, like worrying about a future event, the “fight or flight” response such as releasing stress hormones, is coordinated by the hypothalamus. The result is a thrown-off circadian rhythm which if pervasive can turn into chronic sleep problems.

What to Do When Your Brain Won’t Let You Sleep

Regaining control over your sleep starts with addressing both stress and circadian rhythm issues.

Stress: Managing stress effectively is essential for improving your sleep quality and achieving a sense of calm before bedtime. Here are some stress management techniques, relaxation practices, and mindfulness exercises that can help calm your mind and promote better sleep: deep breathing exercises such as “belly breathing” or box breathing, muscle relaxation which focuses on “release and relax” separate muscle groups, traditional meditation such as guided or visual imagery, mindfulness, yoga, journaling, and aromatherapy. If you want reliable and predictable results and are willing to commit to a regular Rescue, PowerNap, or FlowState practice, then NuCalm is for you.

Circadian Rhythm: Good sleep hygiene practices are consistent with how to address circadian rhythm issues such as eliminating artificial light late in the day, including an optimal sleep environment consisting of temperature and light/sound management, eliminating the consumption of caffeine or food that may stimulate the body, and matching activity with appropriate times of the day. Because of stress and circadian rhythm’s bidirectional relationship, their relationship can significantly impact one’s health and well-being when compromised:

• disruption of sleep-wake patterns
• lack of hormone regulation
• cause or exacerbate sleep disorders
• negatively impact mood and mental health
• suppressed immune response
• upset regular digestive functionality

By effectively managing stress and promoting relaxation, you can create a conducive environment for better sleep and overall well-being.

What to Do When You Can’t Sleep at Night

We’ve shared a lot of information about the symptoms of an overactive mind when trying to sleep, how the brain reacts to these symptoms, and the impact on your circadian rhythm or sleep-wake cycle. We’ve all experienced those nights when we lay in bed for hours, unable to drift off into slumber. Remember to practice good sleep hygiene, and healthy habits, and manage stress effectively.

Sleep troubles can affect anyone, but understanding the underlying causes and implementing effective strategies can make a significant difference in your ability to sleep well. Remember that you’re not alone, and there are solutions to help you achieve the restful nights you deserve.