Why We Can’t Sleep: Insomnia, Anxiety, & the Call to Rest Well with Dr. Benjamin Long

Sleep is essential to our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being—yet for so many people, bedtime is filled with restlessness, anxiety, and frustration. In this episode of The Daring Well Podcast, Rita Mercer is joined by Dr. Benjamin Long, sleep medicine physician, seminary student, and creator of the Sleep Habits Journal, for a powerful conversation on why insomnia happens and how we can respond with compassion instead of self-blame.Dr. Long explains the science behind insomnia, including how stress, burnout, and unhelpful sleep habits keep the nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight mode. Together, Rita and Dr. Long explore why forcing sleep often backfires, how anxiety becomes conditioned to the bedroom, and what it means to “cease” before bed in a culture that glorifies productivity.This episode also weaves in faith-based practices, including prayer, reflection, and the Prayer of Examen, showing how spiritual rhythms can calm the nervous system and restore a sense of safety at night. Listeners will walk away with practical tools, deeper understanding, and renewed permission to rest well—without guilt or striving.----------------------------------------------1. Why We Can’t Sleep: Understanding Insomnia Without ShameDr. Long breaks down what insomnia really is, including predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors. This segment helps listeners reframe sleep struggles with compassion and clarity instead of frustration.2. Anxiety, Burnout, & the Nervous System at NightThis section explores how stress and overthinking activate the nervous system and interfere with sleep. Rita and Dr. Long discuss why high achievers and caregivers are especially vulnerable to restless nights.3. Sleepless Night Rules: What Helps (And What Hurts)Dr. Long shares practical sleep strategies inspired by CBT-I, explaining why forcing sleep, clock-watching, and long naps can worsen insomnia. Listeners learn how to gently retrain their brains for rest.4. Breaking the Cycle: Worry Time, Doomscrolling, & BoundariesThis segment addresses common sleep disruptors like racing thoughts and nighttime scrolling. Dr. Long offers simple tools such as worry time, journaling, and technology boundaries to support calmer nights.5. The Call to Rest Well: Faith, Trust, & Sacred SleepThe episode closes with a reflective conversation on faith, prayer, and rest as acts of trust. Dr. Long shares how spiritual practices can transform sleepless nights into moments of connection and peace.----------------------------------------------Connect Sleep Habits Journal & Sleep Resources by Dr. Benjamin Longhttps://thewholeheartedmd.com/sleep-habits-journal/----------------------------------------------Send us Fan MailSupport the showFollow us on YouTube & TikTok: @DaringWellFor free wellness resources. Click the link to tap into new ways to reset with mindfulness, holistic wellness tips, and coping skills. https://www.daringwell.com/freebies