986: Anxietys Grip On Falling Asleep

In today's episode, Gina discusses the problem of anxiety and an overactive mind preventing us from falling asleep. How anxiety and an active amygdala drive fearful thinking is examined. A number of steps you can take to avoid this state at bed time, as well as how to calm the overexcited mind, are provided. Listen in and start falling asleep faster today!

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What is anxiety?

Quote:

Sleep is the best meditation.

-Dalai Lama XIV

Chapters

0:00:24 Introduction - Bringing Mind and Body to Peace and Calm

0:02:06 Chapter 3 - Mahatma Gandhi's Quote and Letting Go

0:03:07 Chapter 4 - Specific Ways Anxiety Impacts Sleep

0:05:08 Chapter 5 - Fear of Insomnia and Relaxation Techniques

0:08:23 Chapter 6 - Seeking Help and Support for Sleep Difficulties

0:10:33 Chapter 7 - Resistance to Sleep and the Amygdala's Role

0:12:00 Chapter 8 - Meditation Practice for Healthy Sleep Regime

0:13:05 Chapter 9 - Letting Go and Lightening the Load for Sleep

0:14:08 Training our body to let go and relax

0:18:23 Establishing a consistent sleep routine for better sleep

0:20:32 Reminding ourselves that we are safe and sound

0:22:26 The Importance of Sleep and Meditation

Summary

In this episode of the Anxiety Coaches Podcast, we delve into the impact of anxiety on our ability to fall asleep and have a restful night. We examine the various ways in which anxiety manifests during bedtime, including hyper arousal, racing thoughts, physical tension, increased heart rate, hypervigilance, nightmares or night sweats, circadian rhythm disruptions, and fear of insomnia. It becomes evident that anxiety can significantly disrupt our sleep quality and perpetuate a vicious cycle.

To counteract the grip of anxiety on falling asleep, we emphasize the importance of establishing a bedtime routine that promotes relaxation and surrender to sleep. By understanding how anxiety specifically affects our sleep patterns, we can implement various relaxation techniques and mindfulness exercises to improve our sleep quality and break free from anxiety-induced sleep difficulties. It is crucial to approach this process with curiosity and kindness towards ourselves, avoiding adding extra tension and anxiety to the equation.

One key aspect that contributes to improving sleep is surrendering and letting go. However, if sleep difficulties persist, seeking guidance from healthcare professionals or support groups is strongly recommended. We explore how an overactive amygdala, our alarm system to danger, can play a role in sleep resistance. Training our bodies to let go and discharging mental and physical tensions through daily meditation can help relax the amygdala, teaching it that we are safe and enabling it to stand down. Additionally, we discuss how gentle stretching, journaling, prayer time, or reading inspirational material before bed can aid in relaxation.

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