Sleepless but Not Hopeless: Overcoming Anxiety at Night

Do you find yourself tossing and turning at night, unable to quiet your mind?

Do you scroll through social media, watch TV, or lie in the dark while your thoughts race in a thousand different directions?

What keeps you up at night?

Financial worries? Health concerns? Fears about the future?

If you struggle with sleepless nights, you’re not alone. I know firsthand what it feels like to desperately want to sleep, only to be jolted awake by a sudden heart palpitation or a negative thought that spirals out of control. And if you experience anxiety, you know that a lack of sleep can intensify those anxious feelings, creating a frustrating cycle of restlessness and worry.

So how do you ground yourself when sleep feels impossible? How do you remind yourself of what is true?

Some people cling to a comforting memory. Others recite a favorite Bible verse or visualize a peaceful future to transport themselves away from the mental turmoil of the present.

For me, I take inventory. I remind myself of what I know to be true.

Anxiety has a way of distorting reality, making everything feel uncertain and overwhelming. That’s why I intentionally speak truth over my mind.

I tell myself:

• “I am safe.”

• “I am loved.”

• “I am okay.”

These affirmations don’t work like a magic spell that instantly erases anxiety and sends me into a deep sleep. But what they do is create a habit—a mental habit of redirecting my thoughts from fear to truth.

Over time, this practice helps shift my focus from anxious rumination to a place of calm.

Your anxiety may try to counteract these truths with fearful thoughts, pulling you deeper into the cycle of worry. But persistence is key. As persistent as anxiety is, you must be equally persistent in replacing lies with truth.

And then, sleep.

Repeat this practice each night, and in time, you will embrace the blessing and gift of restful sleep.