How elevated cortisol can wake you up at 3 a.m. and what to do to get back to sleep.
Waking up in the middle of the night and struggling to fall asleep again is far more common than most people realize. The mistake many of us make is trying to force sleep. We shut our eyes, repeat “I have to sleep,” and the harder we try, the more alert we become.
The issue isn’t a lack of effort or discipline. In most cases, the body is stuck in a heightened state of arousal. Even when you feel exhausted, your nervous system may still be on high alert, reacting as if there’s a hidden danger.
Sleep specialist Michael Breus explains that falling back asleep isn’t about battling your body—it’s about helping it slow down.
Continued on next page
