Why do we have irrational thoughts at nighttime?

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Why do we have irrational thoughts at night time?

Thanks for asking. We've all been there. You wake up in the middle of the night and simply can't get back to sleep. No matter how hard you try to relax. Suddenly, a problem that seemed insignificant earlier feels enormous. You overthink it and imagine the worst. Then morning arrives and you realize you'd blown it out of all proportion. It's a very common experience. Anxious, irrational thoughts can feel much more intrusive at night.

Why does our brain react this way?

One possible explanation is known as the mind after midnight hypothesis. Researchers suggest that being awake during our biological night can change how we process emotions and make decisions. Negative feelings may become stronger, while the thinking skills involved in perspective, self-control and long-term judgment may be less effective.

That doesn't mean every night time thought is irrational. But when we're tired and awake at a time when our body expects to be sleeping, evaluating problems calmly can become more difficult. A study led by University College London analysed nearly 1 million survey responses from around 49,000 different people. It found that mental health and wellbeing were generally best in the morning and worst around midnight. However, because the study was observational, it couldn't prove that the time of day directly caused the difference. At night, our usual distractions also disappear. There are no activities, conversations or tasks to occupy us. With nobody awake to offer reassurance or another perspective, our worries can feel much bigger. Does this phenomenon have a name? It's commonly described as night time anxiety, although that isn't one specific diagnosis. It can involve difficulty falling asleep, waking with a feeling of dread, physical symptoms such as a racing heart, or repeatedly worrying that you won't get back to sleep. NHS guidelines note that stress and anxiety can make sleeping harder. Lying awake then creates more time to worry, producing a cycle in which anxiety disrupts sleep, and poor sleep makes regulating our emotions more difficult. Caffeine late in the day, an irregular routine, and using phones before bed can make matters worse. Some health conditions can also disturb sleep, so persistent problems shouldn't simply be dismissed as overthinking. What can I do to get a more peaceful night's rest then? The NHS recommends maintaining a regular sleep routine and allowing time to relax before bed. Putting your phone away, avoiding late caffeine, and keeping the bedroom dark, quiet, and comfortable may help. If worries keep circling, write them down before bed, along with anything you need to do the following day. You could also read or practice a quiet relaxation exercise. Rather than forcing yourself to sleep, only go to bed when you feel sleepy. If you're lying awake and becoming frustrated, get up and do something calm until you feel tired again. If anxious awakenings happen regularly, or affect your daily life, speak to a GP or another healthcare professional.

There you have it.

Now you know why we get irrational thoughts at night time. In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know for sure.