91. Why Sleep Anxiety Keeps You Awake and How to Stop It with Dr. Chris Winters

If you’ve ever laid awake at 3AM, counting sheep, overanalyzing your life, and stressing that you’ll be a zombie tomorrow, this episode, part 2 of our series on sleep, is one  you don’t want to miss.Today, Susan and Kate sit down with the Dr. Christopher Winter, neurologist, sleep medicine specialist, and author of The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child. He’s the go-to expert for pro athletes, firefighters, and anyone who’s ever wondered, “What’s wrong with my sleep?”But here’s the twist: according to Dr. Winter, your sleep might not be “broken” at all. In fact, the way we think about sleep, our fears, expectations, and obsession with perfection, might be the real problem.This isn’t another conversation about blue light and blackout curtains. Dr. Winter flips the script on everything you think you know about insomnia, sleep hygiene, and the infamous “8-hour rule.” You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you might just stop fearing those restless nights once and for all.Because maybe, just maybe… your body knows exactly what it’s doing.In this episode:Insomnia isn’t a disease, it’s a perception.  Most people who say they “can’t sleep” are actually sleeping more than they realize. The problem isn’t sleep, it’s the anxiety about sleep.The real secret? Be happy awake or asleep. When you stop fearing wakefulness, insomnia loses its power.This conversation will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about sleep, and maybe even help you stop fighting with your pillow.P.S. This is part 2 of our sleep series! Check out last week's episode with Dr. Kirk Parsley for another perspective on sleep!Learn more about our guest Dr. Christopher WinterDr. Christopher Winter has practiced sleep medicine and neurology in Charlottesville, Virginia since 2004, but has been involved with sleep medicine and sleep research since 1993. Currently he is the owner of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine clinic and CNSM Consulting. He is the author of The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How To Fix It as well as The Rested Child: Why Your Tired, Wired or Irritable Child May Have A Sleep Disorder--And How To Help. In addition to working with numerous professional sports organizations to help their athletes optimize sleep, he is the host of the podcast Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter which has consistently ranked as one of the most popular medical podcasts in the country. He is also the host of the Sleep.com series Sleeping Around with Dr. Chris Winter.RESOURCES:Connect with Dr. Chris WinterWebsite: https://www.wchriswinter.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchriswinterYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepUnpluggedPodcastTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drchriswinterFind all of Kate and Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes: https://healthyawakening.co/2025/11/03/episode89Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/Connect with Kate: https://theradiantlifeproject.com/Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcastFind listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/linksP.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast