Can't get back to sleep after waking at 1am
Photo Credit: hang_in_there via Compfightcc
In this week's podcast we're responding to the following listener question about waking up and not being able to get back to sleep:
"I have woken up again at 1am and I am not able to fall back to sleep. I work a 9-5 job, have a 4 year old daughter, and my husband works an odd shift, so he gets home at 3:30 am.
It's really important for me to get a well rested sleep, but I think my anxiety is getting in the way. I use the rescue remedy for sleep spray but i am still awake for about two hours before I am able to fall back to sleep. I've tried to name my fears, like you have suggested in previous podcasts, but I still find myself frustrated.
My anxiety may be caused by a number of factors such as, the motherly need for checking in on my daughter, missing my husband i.e. the fact that we sleep separately due to his works schedule, and physically I think my body is just habituated to waking up every day at 1am.
I try to listen to a 15 minute guided meditation which usually helps me get back to sleep, but lately my anxiety has taken over and I find myself crying out of frustration when the 15 minutes has ended and I am still awake. Do you have an additional tips for me? I have not tried any EFT tapping because I was not sure if I should do that while laying in bed? Thank you so much. Sara"
One of the main problems with lack of sleep, which is seldom spoken about, is that anxiety is the main problem.
When you know you need to sleep and you are worrying about all the things you need to do tomorrow you are caught in a stress state that can to stop you sleeping.
It's completely understandable to be anxious about not being able to get back to sleep when you know you are going to have to drag yourself through the next day until you can try and rest again. Yet, while understandable, that extra stress is not going to help you get some rest.
To be able to sleep peacefully you need to be free from mental pressure. Here's where EFT can help.
EFT Tapping is very effective for dealing with any frustration and anxiety you may have about your sleep. It can help you calm andxiety and dissolve your frustration so you can become more relaxed and open about letting sleep happen naturally.
If you are using guided meditations, make a play list of several, or put your favourite on on repeat. Then you can spare yourself the frustration of waking up at the end and thinking it didn't work. Just keep listening and be open to relaxing as best you can.
Don't think about what you have to do tomorrow - think about what you can do right now to help yourself relax.
For help overcoming sleep problems where you wake up and can't get back to sleep listen to our podcast here: