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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Nicola Appleton

'Your nervous system thinks you’re in danger' — two sleep doctors explain why I'm waking up at 3 a.m. and how to stop

Christopher Allen Chris Allen William Lu Brain Instagram
The image shows a man lying in bed with his eyes open and his arm resting on the top of his head. A digital clock beside him shows the time is 3AM.

You’re not imagining it, the news cycle feels alarming right now and it’s almost impossible to get even a wink of sleep. If, like me, your bedtime is punctuated by 3 a.m. wake-ups or lying awake struggling to quieten racing thoughts, there are steps you can take to wind down and fall asleep.

“Your body won’t let you sleep right now. Not because you’re broken — because your nervous system thinks you’re in danger,” Dr. Christopher Allen, a sleep medicine physician, wrote on Instagram.

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