Anxiety Before Sleep
A state of heightened worry, tension, or fear occurring specifically in the period before sleep, disrupting the ability to relax and fall asleep. Often associated with insomnia, generalised anxiety, or health anxiety.
Quick answer
Anxiety before sleep (ICD-10: F51.0 Insomnia; ICD-11: 7A00) is a key maintaining factor in insomnia disorder. CBT-I addresses pre-sleep cognitive arousal directly. Mindfulness, ACT, and herbal support are used as adjuncts. Stimulus control and structured wind-down routines have good evidence.
Recognition
Do any of these feel familiar?
Racing thoughts or worry escalating at bedtime
Physical tension or restlessness when trying to sleep
Preoccupation with fears about sleep quality itself (sleep anxiety)
Catastrophising about the next day during wind-down
Difficulty switching off from daytime stress
What is Anxiety Before Sleep?
A state of heightened worry, tension, or fear occurring specifically in the period before sleep, disrupting the ability to relax and fall asleep. Often associated with insomnia, generalised anxiety, or health anxiety.
Approaches Commonly Explored
Commonly explored for conditions related to Anxiety Before Sleep, grouped by mechanism — select your subtype above to highlight the most relevant path.
How to use these approaches
Most people begin with Stabilise approaches, then progress toward Resolve and Sustain.
Cognitive patterns, emotional processing, and stress response.
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