Can’t Sleep? Understanding Insomnia Symptoms in Your Body

Sleep struggles are everywhere—many of my clients, friends, family, and people I meet in daily life seem to have them. Women often carry a lot: balancing careers, children, partners, and even aging parents, often leaving their own needs last. This makes women’s sleep health particularly vulnerable.

If you’re struggling to sleep, it’s not just about late-night screens or an extra cup of coffee. Often, your mind, body, or spirit is sending a message: something isn’t balanced, something needs attention.

Sleep only comes when your body feels safe. Imagine this: if a tiger were chasing you, would you lie down for a nap? Of course not—your whole system would focus on survival. Insomnia symptoms are your body’s way of communicating. Instead of just asking, “How can I sleep better?” try asking, “What is my body trying to tell me?”

Struggling to Sleep? Your Wake-Up Patterns Can Reveal Clues

Noticing when your sleep is disrupted can help identify possible imbalances:

• Falling asleep (Bedtime): Trouble here may indicate an overstimulated mind, nervous system tension, or difficulty “switching off.” Skipping complex carbs at dinner can make this harder—your body needs glucose to produce serotonin and melatonin. In TCM, this is Gallbladder time, linked to decision-making and letting go of worry.

• Middle of the night (1–3 AM): Often linked to liver stress, emotional processing, or unresolved tension. In TCM, this is Liver time, associated with detoxification, emotional release, and toxin processing.

• Late night / early morning (3–5 AM): Could reflect adrenal fatigue, anxiety, or deeper emotional or spiritual unrest. In TCM, this is Lung time, connected to grief, letting go, and circulation of energy.

• Early morning (5–6 AM): Waking during this time can signal low energy or a still-alert nervous system. Gentle grounding, calm support, early morning walks or slow stretches can help start the day in balance.

Your Body Knows Its Own Rhythm

Eight hours isn’t a magic number—everyone’s sleep needs differ. Waking early doesn’t always mean you haven’t rested. Notice when you feel alert, calm, and energised, and use that as a guide. Over- or under-sleeping can leave you groggy; tuning into your rhythm is key.

Root Causes of Why You’re Not Sleeping (and Sleep Tips to Support Healing)

1. Hormonal Imbalance (Not Just for Women)

Progesterone, estrogen, cortisol, and thyroid influence your sleep-wake cycle. Low progesterone or high cortisol can leave you restless. Shifts through perimenopause, pregnancy, stress, or lifestyle changes can throw off your rhythm.
Sleep tip: Support balance through nutrition, stress management, and professional guidance.

2. Your Nervous System Doesn’t Feel Safe

Chronic stress, trauma, or anxiety keeps your body in “survival mode”—constantly on alert, as if a tiger is nearby. Modern life often traps us in this “on” state, leaving us wired, restless, and unable to switch off. Adrenal fatigue may develop over time.
Sleep tip: Support your nervous system with rest, lifestyle adjustments, adrenal nourishment, supplements, or gentle holistic healing practices. Address stressors before your body forces a shutdown.

3. Gut Imbalances and Inflammation

Your gut produces much of the serotonin your body needs for melatonin. Digestive issues or inflammation can disrupt sleep.
Sleep tip: Support gut health with nutrition, probiotics, and anti-inflammatory practices. Also take time to notice what deeper factors—stress, emotions, or lifestyle habits—might be affecting your gut and sleep.

4. Blood Sugar Fluctuations

Low blood sugar at night triggers cortisol and adrenaline, waking you anxious or hungry. Skipping complex carbs at dinner can worsen this. Sleep tip: Eat balanced dinners with protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs to stabilise blood sugar, support melatonin, and calm the nervous system.

5. Unprocessed Emotional or Energetic Stress

Old fears, trauma, or lingering emotional stress can surface at night.
Sleep tip: Try journaling, therapy, energy work, or other practices to release stored stress and calm your system. Notice what underlying patterns or emotions might be keeping your body on high alert..

6. Toxic Overload

Exposure to chemicals, pollutants, medications, vaccinations, recreational drugs, and mould can irritate your nervous system, disrupt sleep, and affect gut and hormone health.
Sleep tip: Reduce exposure, nourish your liver and gut, and support detox gently through nutrition and lifestyle adjustments. Sometimes hidden or less obvious factors can be affecting your sleep—exploring what these might be can help your body rest more deeply.

7. Electromagnetic Sensitivity

EMFs from Wi-Fi, smart devices, and electronics can overstimulate those with sensitive nervous systems, making it harder to settle for sleep.
Sleep tip: Minimise nighttime EMF exposure. Keep technology out of the bedroom and opt for traditional books instead of phones or e-readers. Create a calm, tech-free sleep space.

8. Major Life Changes or Chronic Worry

Stressful transitions or ongoing worry keep your nervous system on high alert, making it hard to fall or stay asleep.
Sleep tip: Set aside a daily “thought reset” time to process and release worries. When you get into bed, make a conscious decision that this is a place for rest, not thinking. Consider therapies that support deep emotional and nervous system healing to help your body release what keeps it on high alert.

Many root causes of sleep disruption respond particularly well to holistic healing and medical intuitive guidance, uncovering deeper patterns your body may be holding and complementing practical sleep strategies.

Making Peace with Your Bed: Overcoming Sleep Anxiety

For many, the bed becomes a place of frustration. Sleep anxiety can make rest even harder. Shift your focus from forcing sleep to simply resting your mind and body:

• Visualise a calm, peaceful place—a quiet beach, healing garden, or soft cloud.

• Place intrusive thoughts into soft floating bubbles and let them drift away.

• Invite your spiritual team or whatever you believe in, to support your healing and rest.

This transforms your bed into a sanctuary, easing sleep anxiety—even if rest doesn’t come immediately.

Ready to Restore Your Sleep and Feel More in Balance?

Struggling to get a good night’s sleep? By combining science and holistic healing, medical intuition can help uncover what’s keeping your body from truly resting. Together, we address sleeplessness at its source and support deep, restorative sleep.
Book a session and let’s help your body rest fully again.