(Image credit: Future)
Just when I think I’ve got my sleep problems under control and I'm finally getting the rest I need, my 3 a.m. wake ups make an unwelcome return. During these periods of middle insomnia (the most common cause of insomnia) I wake with a jolt and my heart pounding in my chest.Staring at the clock and willing myself to fall back to sleep just isn’t cutting it, so I spoke to leading sleep doctors to help pinpoint the cause behind my 3 a.m. wake ups — and how, crucially, I can better manage them for improved rest.Together, they’ve helped identify the three main culprits behind my middle of the night awakenings, along with simple routine strategies I can use to try and sleep through once and for all.Key takeaways: At a glanceDoctors pinpoint three potential causes of my 3 a.m. wake ups, which include a lack of adequate sleep pressure, elevated cortisol levels and blood sugar fluctuationsDaily habits such as napping and sleeping in on the weekend are unexpected causes of middle insomniaTips for sleeping through my 3 a.m. wake ups include eating my evening meals earlier and sticking to a consistent sleep scheduleDoctors also recommend spending more time in nature to manage anxiety and lower cortisol levelsDoctors pinpoint the top 3 causes of my 3 a.m. wake ups
