Anxiety is something unfortunately common. It’s an uncomfortable feeling that can show up at any time during the day, sometimes reasonably so and sometimes not at all. But have you noticed that, sometimes, anxiety is much worse at night? You toss and turn, unable to sleep. No matter how much you try, you just can’t relax at all. Instead, the spiral of anxiety continues for a long time.
It doesn’t happen to everybody, but if it does to you, then rest assured, you’re not alone. It’s common for anxiety to manifest at night, stronger than during the day. Nighttime is the perfect moment for anxiety to show up, and for you to be less equipped to handle it.
Fewer Distractions
Nighttime is usually your time to rest. Your days are busy with work and friends and family, and many other responsibilities. But nighttime, not so much. This is when you can relax after a long day at work.
Unless, of course, anxiety shows up.
And that’s exactly why it does show up. During the day, you’re too busy to worry. You simply don’t have time for it. So, of course, as soon as you finally have time to rest, your mind is going to be full of questions and worries you didn’t even realize you had.
Exhaustion
Your days are extremely busy, right? That means that, at the end of the day, you come home and you’re exhausted. When you’re exhausted, dealing with your anxiety is ten times harder. That’s why it feels so intense at night. It’s not just stronger, but you’re also less able to manage it.
It doesn’t help that nighttime anxiety often prevents you from sleeping. That means you stay up late, unwillingly. The next day, you wake up tired instead of rested, and you’re busy all day with work and other responsibilities. So, by the time you get home, you’re even more exhausted than you were the night before.
It’s a never-ending cycle, and all it does is cause you harm.
No Reassurance
Anxiety often relies on external reassurances to calm down. But at night, those are difficult to find. Most people you might trust with these anxieties are busy. A lot of times, they’re even deeply asleep by the time the worst of your anxiety hits you. That’s what makes it so hard to cope with anxiety at night.
Any services that might be in place to help you can also be closed for the night. That means getting professional help is pretty unlikely, even though this is when you need it the most.
Without any external reassurances in the moment, anxiety can be difficult to beat. That’s what makes nighttime anxiety much more worrying and noteworthy than any anxiety you might feel during the day.
Managing Anxiety
Anxiety is difficult to manage in its own right, but when it happens at night, it can be even harder to bear. It can affect your daily life and how you interact with the world. It leaves you exhausted, less able to cope with any daytime stressors, never mind the fact that anxiety comes back in full force every night.
That’s why it’s so important to get professional help when you need it.
Anxiety isn’t unbeatable. It’s not invincible. But many times, it’s hard to do conquer it alone.
There’s nothing wrong with seeking counseling. We all need a little help sometimes, and that’s okay. What matters now is that you make the first step and schedule an appointment. You don’t have to live with this crushing anxiety forever. You don’t have to be overwhelmed with worries every single night. And we can help you with that.
To schedule an appointment, email us at hello@awakencounseling.com or call us at 678-310-0358.
