How to Calm Feelings of Stress and Anxiety

Verified by Sleep Expert Sammy Margo

“Anxiety and stress can cause sleeping problems and usually the sleep problem is alleviated once the stressful situation passes. Check out some of these useful techniques which may help you manage your anxiety and so may aid restful sleep.”

We’ve all had the experience of feeling anxious or stressed about something, to the degree that it keeps us up and makes it hard to fall asleep. If you’re a worrier by nature, your fears and concerns may regularly cause you to lie awake in bed for hours, tossing and turning.

When this happens frequently, one naturally begins to feel anxious or stressed about bedtime as night approaches, making it even harder to wind down. The good news is that anxiety can be successfully treated. Often through simple things you can do yourself, the vicious cycle can be broken and you can reduce anxiety.

In this article, Dr. Susan Biali helps guide us through reducing anxiety before bed using these simple methods…

1) Take deep, relaxing breaths

Taking deep, relaxing breaths can calm the nervous system and decrease general tension. When you notice yourself starting to worry or tense up, take several slow deep breaths in a row (breathe in through your nose and exhale your fears and worries out your mouth). I also use this technique whenever I have a difficult time falling asleep.

2) Avoid caffeine to reduce anxiety

If you’re a worrier, stay away from caffeine as it will add to anxiety before. If you must have something in the morning, choose green tea as it contains an amino acid, L-theanine, which promotes serenity and calm.

3) Try guided relaxation techniques

Find a guided, relaxation recording that you like (for example, via an anti-anxiety app like Mindshift), and use it daily. Learn to shift from tension to relaxation by listening to the recording when you’re feeling anxious before bed.

4) Write down your worries

When your stress and fears run around familiar tracks in your mind all day, it can be hard to gain control of them. Stop the cycle of chronic worrying by writing your fears in a journal. What is the worst that could happen? What is more likely to happen, optimistically? What can you do to improve the situation? When you examine your fears, they usually lose their power.

5) Exercise to blow off steam

If you’re feeling really keyed up, try going for a run, a brisk walk or go to the gym. You can reduce anxiety by consciously shaking off your fears and worries as you do it. Physical activity releases stress and also improves depth of sleep at night.

6) Try Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Anxiety and stress is often a result of poor thought habits such as fearing the worst, focusing on the negative, inaccurate assumptions and negative self-talk. CBT techniques can change your habitual ways of seeing the world. If your anxiety is significant, consider seeing a professional therapist trained in CBT.

Alternatively, there are CBT self-help tools and worksheets available online that can help you work through your worries.

7) Get enough sleep

Ironically, the less sleep you get, the more anxious you’re likely to be. It’s also harder to manage stress. If you’ve been feeling anxious, the last thing you want to do is cut corners on sleep. Get to bed earlier, to give yourself the best chance at a solid night’s rest. For more tips on how to improve your rest and manage stress better, check out our blog on how to sleep better at night.

Sleep Matter Club provides advice on how to sleep when you’re feeling anxious and stressed in a short video…

Finally, if you’ve been feeling anxious or stressed for a long time and it’s affecting your sleep significantly, it’s important to let your doctor know about it, in addition to trying these tips.

Find more tips from the NHS to manage stress and anxiety. And if you’re suffering from stress and anxiety, our sleep expert Sammy Margo advises you to always contact your GP for medical help.