Most middle-of-the-night suffering comes from one reflex thought pattern. This episode explains how to break it.

Many people wake up at 2 a.m. and think something is wrong with their body. I used to think the same thing. What I share in this episode is a simple idea that changed how I understand nighttime wakeups. The body is usually fine. The panic is what keeps us awake.

In this episode, I talk about why these middle-of-the-night wakeups happen and why they feel so intense. I explain what behavioral sleep medicine teaches, which is that the brain learns patterns over time. If the bed becomes linked with stress, the brain starts firing alarms at night.

I walk through the exact steps I teach my coaching clients. I show how to break the bed-equals-stress loop and how to respond in a calmer way when a wakeup happens. I also share what to do when you are lying there wide awake and your mind is spiraling into "I am going to be exhausted tomorrow."

My goal in this episode is simple. I want you to understand that these nighttime wakeups are normal. And once you stop treating them like emergencies, sleep comes back on its own.

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If you are looking for a guide to help you navigate your health, book a 1-hour paid session with me. If you're not quite ready and want to get to know me better, book a free 15-minute introduction session. Not ready to book a session? Get your healthy aging score or find out your healthy aging type by taking these fun, free quizes on my website. Thank you for listening to this week's episode of Doctor Turned Health Coach by Mohammad Ashori MD. I would love your support by subscribing to this podcast, sharing it with someone you love, and leaving me a review on your favorite podcast app. Disclaimer: I care about each listener and want you to receive care that fits your life and medical needs. Always speak with your own licensed clinician before starting, stopping, or changing any health plan, medication, or routine. The information in this podcast is for general education. It is not medical advice. Listening does not create a patient–doctor relationship with me.

-Dr. Ashori MD