Five Easy Steps I Take to Combat Nighttime Anxiety

One of my biggest problems now is sleeping. There have been innumerable evenings when I've tossed and turned and stared at the ceiling while a million ideas raced through my mind.


My anxiety is killing me; no matter how exhausted I was that day, I still have a terrible time closing my eyes and letting go of all those thoughts.

I always feel the most anxious right before bed. I feel as though I'm too terrified to close my eyes and go to sleep because I'm terrified of waking up.

My anxiousness is continuously fueled by my worry of waking up to yet another gloomy day.

It's the reason I stay up till five or six in the morning, and I'm just so tired of going through this cycle for days or even weeks at a time; I just wanted it to stop.

I wanted it to be over.

I need to start learning how to control my anxiety and quit giving in to my anxieties. And I wanted to tell you about this journey.

I have therefore made the decision to share with you today the five things I do to combat my nighttime anxiety.

1. Take in a Motivational Podcast

Just before I go to bed, my anxieties, fears, and thousand thoughts are at their worst. I reasoned that listening to something good is one of the best strategies to get rid of all those bad thoughts.

Something that will, in some way, offer me hope that things might not be as horrible tomorrow. I started listening to an inspiring podcast, and for some reason, it calms me down and helps me deal with the tension and anxiety I'm experiencing.

Therefore, if you feel like all of your worries are beginning to surface, try listening to something that will uplift and inspire you.

It need not even be restricted to listening.

Get your favorite book or, if you're a voracious reader, read a few motivational sayings before bed.

It's definitely worthwhile if it enables you to change all of your pessimistic thoughts into more constructive ones.

My nightly ritual has included this for some time, and it has undoubtedly made sleeping much more tolerable for me.

2. Mental Clearing

Admittedly, I had never been a fan of breathing techniques or mindfulness. Although I was aware that those methods were effective for many individuals, I didn't think I had any possibility of using them myself.

The problem was that I was constantly allowing my anxiety to rule my thoughts; it already had a firm hold on me, and I didn't believe that a straightforward breathing technique would help it relax.

Naturally, though, I was mistaken. By doing this, I am able to remove myself from all of my anxieties and fears in addition to clearing my head and concentrating on the here and now.

I now close my eyes and begin breathing softly before bed every night when I feel my worry beginning to sneak in. I spend roughly five minutes doing this, and it really improves my mood.

3. Putting My Concerns in Writing

I take out my journal and jot down all of my anxieties and fears as soon as they begin to race through my head.

I feel like I'm addressing my concerns in a more tangible way by doing something as opposed to only thinking about them.

This gives me clarity and peace of mind by assisting me in separating myself from all of my thoughts. It eases my nervousness.

Writing down your anxieties before bed has surprisingly benefited me in ways I never would have imagined, so try it if they are keeping you up at night.

4. Reduce Your Negativity Exposure

I reasoned that exposing myself to so much negativity before bed would just exacerbate my worry and panic because social media has the ability to make us feel horrible about ourselves and news websites are often discussing crime, corruption, and accidents.

Therefore, redirect all of your energy and concentrate on something constructive rather than wasting it on social media, the news, or anything else that makes you anxious or afraid. Something that will boost your self-confidence.

5. Unplug

This is closely related to what I just said. We are constantly—I mean constantly—on our phones, laptops, and other electronic gadgets these days. We keep checking our emails and browsing social media in the hopes that those activities will put us to sleep.

However, I have found that it doesn't. Those things only exacerbate my anxiety. It simply keeps feeding it till it devours me.

I changed my regimen as a result. I put my phone away an hour before bed and do something else. I read. I engage in play with my pet. In other words, everything that will help me feel more at ease and in control.

And I can't stress enough how much this little adjustment helped me control my anxiety.

I can overcome my fear of having to face another day when I'm doing something I enjoy or that brings me joy. I have the impression that tomorrow will be different, but in a positive way.

You are not alone if you experience the same nights as I do. I know how draining it is to have anxiety control your nights all the time. Keep in mind that you are a fighter and strong.

Please keep in mind that everyone has a different coping strategy, so even if some of these suggestions don't work for you, keep trying. Recognize your triggers, figure out how to avoid them, and continue.