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!Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors!https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/Thank you for supporting The Anxiety Coaches Podcast.Find even more peace and calm with our Supercast premium access membership! https://anxietycoaches.supercast.com/Here's what's included for $5/month:❤ New Ad-Free episodes every Sunday and Wednesday❤ Access to the entire Ad-free back-catalog with over 600 episodes❤ Premium meditations recorded with you in mind❤ And more fun surprises along the way!All this in your favorite podcast app!To learn more go to:https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.comJoin our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program Learn more about our One-on-One CoachingWhat is anxiety?Quote:Sleep is the best meditation.-Dalai Lama XIVChapters0:00:24 Introduction - Bringing Mind and Body to Peace and Calm0:02:06 Chapter 3 - Mahatma Gandhi's Quote and Letting Go0:03:07 Chapter 4 - Specific Ways Anxiety Impacts Sleep0:05:08 Chapter 5 - Fear of Insomnia and Relaxation Techniques0:08:23 Chapter 6 - Seeking Help and Support for Sleep Difficulties0:10:33 Chapter 7 - Resistance to Sleep and the Amygdala's Role0:12:00 Chapter 8 - Meditation Practice for Healthy Sleep Regime0:13:05 Chapter 9 - Letting Go and Lightening the Load for Sleep0:14:08 Training our body to let go and relax0:18:23 Establishing a consistent sleep routine for better sleep0:20:32 Reminding ourselves that we are safe and sound0:22:26 The Importance of Sleep and MeditationSummaryIn 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.