Have you ever noticed that your worries feel much more overwhelming when you lie awake at night? There’s a scientific explanation for why the brain struggles to think clearly during these hours.
Here are 10 reasons why your thoughts may seem darker at night – and what you can do about it.
The brain works differently at night
When we sleep, the areas of the brain responsible for logical thinking and problem-solving are less active. This makes it harder to think rationally.
Lack of daylight affects our thoughts
Daylight has a positive impact on our mood and thinking. When we lie in the dark, we are more likely to see things in a negative light.
The emotional brain takes over
At night, the brain is more guided by emotions than logic. The limbic system, which controls fear and worries, is more active, while the rational brain is less alert.
Lack of sleep makes problems worse
When we don’t get enough sleep, we tend to overthink and worry more. Fatigue makes it harder to handle stressful thoughts.
We lack distractions
During the day, we are busy with work, social activities, and other tasks. At night, there are no distractions, which can make problems feel more pressing.
Catastrophic thinking takes over
When we are tired, we tend to exaggerate our worries. A small challenge can suddenly feel like a disaster because the brain lacks the mental resources to assess the situation objectively.
Anxiety and worries can disrupt sleep
The more we think about our problems, the harder it becomes to fall asleep. This can create a vicious cycle where sleep deprivation intensifies our worries.
Lack of control makes us more vulnerable
At night, we can’t act on our worries. We can’t send an email, make an important decision, or solve a problem. This can make us feel powerless and increase stress levels.
We underestimate our ability to handle problems
When thinking at night, we often focus on what could go wrong instead of how to solve challenges. This reinforces feelings of insecurity.
The solution is often to “sleep on it”
Making big decisions in the middle of the night is rarely a good idea. Often, problems seem less serious when we wake up in the morning and can think clearly again.
This article is based on information from IFORM.