Here’s one for all my insomniacs that lie awake worrying.
Darkness makes our problems mysteriously EXPAND. The Witching Hour – traditionally 3.00am – is the absolute WORST for your brain to throw you for a loop.
When our brain is alert at this time it means cortisol is surging through our body and our “Lizard Brain” is going on an unhelpful nighttime rampage. This generates an overload of fear-based messages which often fixate on one particular issue or problem we have and make it feel WAY bigger than it is. Before I get onto 4 things to DO about it, here’s a helpful image of what I am saying – probably feels familiar!
So, if you are stuck in a nighttime overthink here are FOUR things to DO:
- Remind yourself it is largely CHEMICAL. Its cortisol’s effect on your brain making the problem seem bigger. It’s a CHEMICAL trick of your brain. It’s not REAL. Feels like it is. It isn’t. Good to know.
- Get your brain onto a different topic: I HIGHLY recommend my Sleep Fairy Meditation to break the doom loop. You can download it – for free – my gift to you! – right here. Have headphones by the bed and hit play and I promise your brain will be switched to a different track and you will be peacefully asleep in no time.
- We have all had a long, dark, nights of the soul, ultimately it is part of the human experience. Whatever the situation, it will always seem better in daylight. Tell yourself it will seem at least 10% better in the morning. You will have access to the solution seeking part of your brain in daylight and that problem will start to shrink back into perspective.
- Breathing will focus the mind and calm the body. Drop yourself out of that stress response by using a technique called “Box Breathing”. You can experience that here with my special guided mediation. This is also my gift to you this week. You are welcome!
Enjoy my box breathing mediation on Soundcloud
I hope this helps, wishing you a peaceful night’s rest this evening
