The Circadian Rhythm: Your Body’s Timekeeper

Have you ever noticed how a bad night's sleep can send your mood into a nosedive? One minute you're cool as a cucumber, the next you're snapping at a friend or falling into waves of anxiety. 

There's a reason why sleep deficiency can hijack our ability to regulate our mood and emotions, and it all comes down to the body's internal clock.

The concept of the circadian rhythm dates back millions of years, evolving in tandem with the Earth's 24-hour light and dark cycles. This internal clock is responsible not only for regulating our sleep-wake cycles but also for coordinating various physiological processes—from hormone release and body temperature fluctuations to metabolism and immune function. 

Simply put, aligning your internal clock with the external environment is crucial for maintaining your overall health. When this rhythm is disrupted–whether from irregular work schedules, traveling to different time zones, or too much screen time before bed–a range of health issues is bound to arise.

As day turns to night, the brain releases sleep-inducing hormones like melatonin while dialing down stimulating ones like cortisol. It's a delicate dance that tells your body when to rest and when to be awake.

On the occasion that your circadian rhythm falls out of sync, this hormonal balance is dysregulated. So if you suddenly find it difficult to manage anxious thoughts and feelings as you lie awake at night, it might be because your cortisol levels remain high — causing bouts of nighttime anxiety. 

For those already struggling with an anxiety disorder, the cycle only intensifies. Sleep deprivation can worsen anxiety symptoms, making it even harder to fall and stay asleep. This sets off a self-reinforcing loop of worry and insomnia.

To help break this cycle, the value of maintaining proper sleep hygiene cannot be overstated. 

When your internal clock is aligned with your external environment, your cortisol levels naturally lower at night — allowing you to drift off to sleep more easily and wake up feeling refreshed rather than anxious. And perhaps more importantly, you improve your ability to manage stress and regulate your emotions — the foundation upon which your resilience is built.