Why do I wake up at 4am and can't get back to sleep?

Anxiety or depression

Stress can make it hard to get to sleep in the first place (that's called sleep-onset insomnia). But anxiety can also cause you to wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble getting back to sleep (called middle insomnia, or sleep-maintenance insomnia).

How do I get back to sleep after waking up at 4am?

What causes waking up at 4am?

There are many reasons why you might be waking up too early. They include external factors, such as environmental disturbances like temperature, light, and noise. They also include internal factors, like your circadian rhythm, sleep disorders like sleep apnea, and/or medical issues, like heartburn.

What to do when its 4am and you can t sleep?

Get out of bed and do something relaxing that might make you feel drowsy — like reading or playing a repetitive game like Sudoku. Keep the lights low and go back to bed after 30 minutes or so (or sooner if you start feeling sleepy). Avoid technology, like phones, computers, or TV.

Why can't I fall back asleep once I've woken up?

For most, it's likely behavioral or environmental reasons like drinking caffeine or alcohol late in the day. It may also be due to a poor sleep environment. There may also be deeper reasons such as a sleep disorder or another medical condition.

How to Stop Waking Up in the Middle of the Night- 6 Ways to Beat Insomnia Without Medication

What is it called when you can't fall back asleep?

Overview. Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep, or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. You may still feel tired when you wake up.

Can I take melatonin in the middle of the night?

It's readily available, and it's supposed to help you sleep . . . right? Sleep deprivation can make this logic seem sound, but experts say taking melatonin in the middle of the night can actually make your sleep schedule even worse.

How can I force myself to sleep?

What does waking up at 4am mean in Chinese medicine?

Chinese Medicine practitioners use The Organ Body Clock to help them determine the organ responsible for diseases. For example, if you find yourself waking up between the hours of 3-5am each morning, you may have underlying grief or sadness that is bothering you or you may have a condition in the lung area.

What to do if you wake up at 4am?

Robbins says to give yourself 15 minutes — get out of bed again and try to do something that relaxes your body. For example, some gentle yoga or a breathing exercise. Wait until you feel tired to get back in bed.

What organ is active 4am?

The hours between 1am and 3am are governed by the liver meridian. Emotionally it is associated with anger and physically associated with your shoulder. The hours between 3am and 5am are governed by the lung meridian.

What organ is healing at 4am?

If you consistently wake at 4 AM - it could be due to an imbalance in your Lungs, which is related to grief and sadness, fatigue, or reduced immune function.

What organ is active at 3 4am?

Organ and peak functionality

3–5 a.m. Lung: This period is when the lungs are at their peak energy. It's is believed to be an ideal time to exercise, as opposed to later in the day.

What is the very best natural sleep aid?

Several of the most popular natural sleep aids include melatonin, GABA, tryptophan, 5-HTP, CBD and THC, valerian root and lavender.

What is the military way to fall asleep?

The military method

Relax your legs, thighs, and calves. Clear your mind for 10 seconds by imagining a relaxing scene. If this doesn't work, try saying the words “don't think” over and over for 10 seconds. Within 10 seconds, you should fall asleep!

Why won't my body let myself sleep?

If you're tired but can't sleep, it may be a sign that your circadian rhythm is off. However, being tired all day and awake at night can also be caused by poor napping habits, anxiety, depression, caffeine consumption, blue light from devices, sleep disorders, and even diet.

Who should not take melatonin?

If you've been drinking alcohol, it's also not safe to take melatonin. Melatonin is also not for you if you're pregnant or breastfeeding. Researchers simply don't have enough data to know if it's safe for fetuses or breastfed babies.

What can I take if melatonin doesn't work?

What happens if you take melatonin every time you wake up?

Keep in mind that melatonin as it occurs naturally in the body doesn't have much of a daytime presence, so if you take melatonin too close to morning (such as if you wake up at 4am and erroneously take some to get back to sleep), or during the day, you can set yourself up for not just being drowsy and groggy, but ...

What are the 3 types of insomnia?

What causes insomnia in females?

Mental health conditions, such as depression,⁴ anxiety,⁴ or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Neurological (brain) disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease. Conditions that cause chronic pain, such as arthritis.

How many hours of sleep is considered insomnia?

There is no set number of hours of sleep that qualifies someone as having insomnia because each person has different sleep needs. Generally, adults are recommended to get 7 hours of sleep each night.

What does it mean when you wake up at the same time every night?

If you are waking up at the same time each night or waking up frequently throughout the night and struggling with falling back asleep, it could be due to factors beyond your environment. Waking up frequently at night often occurs alongside physical and mental disorders, and tends to increase with age.

Can your liver wake you up at night?

However, if you are suffering from a troubled liver, it is possible that your liver may struggle to breakdown melatonin. This may result in increased bouts of daytime fatigue followed by night-time alertness when your liver finally gets around to deactivating the melatonin still circulating in your system.

What organ is cleansing at 5am?

5am - 7am. LARGE INTESTINE | Wake up, release bowels, meditate.