It's Hard For Me To Calm My Mind To Go To Sleep

I see patients of all ages. Her body was adapting to stress and giving her all it had, yet at the same time it was leaving her vulnerable. Without these steps in place, she might have succumbed to even more anxiety and health issues. They seem, as far as I can tell from my research and clinical experience, to be the most common responses to stress among all humans. You may be wondering what makes it more likely that you’ll land in any one of these patterns or stress types. I’ve found it seems to be related to a combination of genetic factors, including cortisol and adrenaline production and breakdown, as well as your history of stress exposure. What’s more, it becomes clear to them that diabetes, cancer, heart attacks, strokes, and dementia are possible outcomes for themselves. After a lifetime of working hard and raising a family, their focus turns inward, and they realize that stress really has done a number on their bodies. No matter what the scenario, however, we are not alone with these stress patterns. Mastery, though, takes vigilance. In fact, I find that after I help a person recover from stress, getting their cortisol and adrenaline levels back on track, they might find themselves yet again in a highly stressful situation down the road. At this time, their body reverts right back to the same pattern they just recovered from.

Why Remind Me?

Having learned their body’s stress response pattern, they heal more quickly. That said, there are rare cases when the body changes to a different stress pattern. Suddenly the Stress Magnet becomes the Blah and Blue. I often see such shifts happen when a person hasn’t fully addressed their stress or when a life transition happens, such as menopause. The person may have taken steps to support their adrenals to either make less or more cortisol, but various forms of stress still presided. Perhaps a loved one faced a serious health issue that demanded their time and attention. Or perhaps their job required a move. Maybe they found out that they were getting exposed to mold or another toxin and simply didn’t have the time and energy at that moment to help their body recover. If they started out with low cortisol and adrenaline, the levels might have gone even lower. The results may surprise you, not least of all because chronic stress can change how we view ourselves! Remember, cortisol is a hormone that signals to our digestion, immune system, nervous system, and all the other hormones in our bodies. When cortisol shifts, those systems will also be shifted. Adrenaline, on the other hand, is a neurotransmitter, signaling to our bodies to respond to stress.

Your Thoughts Control You

When the levels of cortisol and adrenaline shift, it affects our energy, sleep, focus, mood, and body in general. As you answer the questions in the quiz, think of how you feel today and have felt over the past week. By knowing where you are now, we can best build a plan for support and recovery. Each question has five possible answers, numbered one through five. Ask yourself each question in each section, choose the answer that describes you best, and circle that number. At the end of the quiz, I’ll show you how to unpack the results. I have a lot of energy, especially in the morning. My energy can drop midway through the day. My energy level increases in the evening and/or when trying to go to sleep. My energy level varies and is lower than I’d like it to be. It is hard to wake up and get out of bed. I feel exhausted in the morning and/or like I need a nap in the middle of the day.

When You're Alone

My energy level is okay or low, but I push through. I have a lot of energy, especially in the morning. Lower than it will be later in the evening or at night. I feel exhausted and it’s hard to get out of bed. I make it through the day on adrenaline. Makes people think of me as someone who gets a lot done, although my energy can drop a bit midway through the day. Is low, but then it increases in the evening, keeping me awake and getting things done. I often feel I need a nap or caffeine to keep going. Stays low even after a nap and caffeine. It’s difficult to exercise. Is pretty good, actually. I can work a very long day and into the evening. Increases, which can make it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep. Is lower, and I prefer an early bedtime. Is as low as, or lower than, it is the rest of the day. I can’t wait to go to bed, even though I know I’ll likely wake up tired. Starts to drop, but it’s hard for me to calm my mind to go to sleep. I find that six or seven hours of sleep feels like plenty and I tend to wake up early. I find it difficult to fall asleep, tend to stay up late, or wake up after a couple of hours of sleep. I’m tired in the evening and fall asleep easily, but never feel like I got enough sleep. I can sleep eight hours, but I still wake up tired. I’m tired in the evening and ready for bed, but my mind can race or wake me up. I can keep working to finish a project if needed. I wish I could go to sleep, but my body and/or mind are keeping me awake. I wish I could do more, but my body is exhausted. I’m ready for bed, but it can be difficult to turn my mind off. .I am very energetic, focused, and decisive, and I am able to get lots done, although sometimes I feel overwhelmed. Then it’s hard to focus during the day. I have brain fog often and/or need coffee to stay focused. It’s very hard to think or get things done.