Why am I always more anxious at night-time?
It’s a grim irony that, for many, the time of day best spent winding down your worries is too often sabotaged by, well, more worry. ‘When you’re busy, with lots going on during the day, it’s easier to push thoughts to one side,’ explains clinical psychologist Dr Jessamy Hibberd. ‘But once you’re near the day’s end, essential tasks completed, the fear and worry you’ve squashed down can catch up with you.’ That you know the negatives of not sleeping – for your overall health as well as your capacity to handle tomorrow’s challenges – only amps up your anxiety, making you more alert and further sabotaging switch-off. ‘For many, it can become habitual, to the extent that you associate your night-time with worrying, the same way you automatically think “food” when you walk into your kitchen,’ adds Dr Hibberd. To break the cycle, she recommends instating a hard technology cut-off time, reassessing your caffeine and alcohol intake (both known as sleep disruptors) and committing your worries – plus possible resolutions – to paper before it’s time to wind down. Still no joy after a month of good habits?
Chat to your GP.