Chapter 2 — Stress, Anxiety, and the Mind That Refuses to Switch Off

For many people, waking in the early morning is connected to the brain rather than a specific organ.

Stress and anxiety can have a powerful influence on sleep.

During the day, people are surrounded by activities, conversations, work, entertainment, and responsibilities. There is often little opportunity to think deeply about every concern.

At night, those distractions disappear.

A person who has been worrying about an upcoming deadline may suddenly find themselves thinking about it at 3:30 A.M. Someone dealing with relationship problems may replay conversations in their head. Another person may begin worrying about money, health, or responsibilities waiting for them the following morning.

This mental activity can make falling back asleep extremely difficult.

There is also a physiological component.

Stress activates systems involved in alertness, including the body’s sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Chronic stress can contribute to increased arousal, making the brain less capable of transitioning smoothly back into sleep after an awakening.

This can create a frustrating cycle.