Why Is Anxiety Worse At Night?

You've been waking up exhausted more times than you've felt rested each week. Despite being completely drained emotionally and physically, when it comes to bedtime, your body and brain seem to get a recharge.

You've tried everything from washing your sheets to turning the temperature down in your room to flipping your pillows. No matter what you try, nothing seems to work.

When it's time for bed, you plug your phone in, set your alarms, and close your eyes. Instead of counting sheep, your brain starts to fill with all of your worries from the past five years, tomorrow, and five years down the road.

Let's learn more about why anxiety is worse at night.

Less Distractions

One of the main reasons that anxiety is worse at night is that there are fewer distractions when you're trying to fall asleep than when you're navigating through your day. During your day, you may be focused on work, school, commuting, cleaning, and other tasks and to-dos on your list. When you're falling asleep, you have time to think about everything that's making you anxious or causing you stress instead of distracting yourself with other activities.

Lack of Sleep

Anxiety can cause a lack of sleep, but a lack of sleep can also cause anxiety. If you're not getting the recommended amount of at least eight hours of sleep each night, it can bring on more feelings of anxiety and stress. The anxiety can even start to trickle into your day.

Consuming Too Much Caffeine or Alcohol

Make sure you're paying attention to how much caffeine you're drinking during the day and when you're drinking it. Caffeine can have a negative impact on your sleep and also your anxiety. If you drink too much caffeine during your day, it can restrict your blood vessels, which in turn can increase your blood pressure, leading to anxiety.

Drinking alcohol can turn into a vicious cycle. Someone may use alcohol as a coping mechanism for not being able to sleep. Unfortunately, drinking alcohol is a short-term and temporary solution. It can lead to increased anxiety and other mental health issues or disorders.

Social Media and The Media

Late-night social media scrolling or news consumption can also be culprits of anxiety at night. Individuals who spend time in front of screens like their television or phone before bed are already at risk of having difficulty sleeping. The news and social media can often lead to other problems like comparing yourself and your posts and stories to your friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and random strangers on the internet. You may even start to worry about the world, yourself, and your loved ones' health and happiness.

Fear of Anxiety At Night

Another cause of having worsening anxiety at night is the actual fear of having anxiety in the first place. Someone struggling with anxiety is already aware of how much distress their anxiety causes them. They may be worried about having anxiety during and throughout the night for themselves, but they also may be concerned about their anxiety affecting the sleep of their friends and family members as well.

Next Steps

Anxiety is a completely normal emotion. Everyone can experience it from time to time. That being said, if you notice that your anxiety is starting to impact your daily life and routine in a negative way, it may be time to seek additional support. Working with a licensed and trained mental health professional can help you get to the root cause of your anxiety and help you work towards finding healthy coping mechanisms next time you're feeling anxious. Don't delay in getting the help you need and deserve. Reach out today to set up a consultation for anxiety treatment.