Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

Why do I wake up every hour, on the hour?

69 Answers
Last Updated: 05/08/2022 at 7:12pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
India
Moderated by

Smita Joshi, BA Psychology / MA / Advanced EFT Practitioner

Counselor

I am empathetic with my Clients going through emotional overwhelm and passionate in helping them. I am supportive, openminded & interactive in helping my clients.

Top Rated Answers
StormyAngles18
- Expert in Sleeping Well
June 5th, 2016 2:31am
It could be many different things. you could have a sleeping condition (but check with a doctor first) it could be how your body timer is set. You can try (with doctors permission) sleeping meds and or vitamins to help you sleep better.
Anonymous
June 19th, 2020 12:05am
You are probably too worried about all of the things happening in your life at the moment. Sleep is a time to relax your body and mind, not to be preoccupied about events in your life. Remind yourself that you will be more prepared to take on life events if you are well rested and have a fresh mind and body. To help fall asleep better, you can even create some sort of nighttime routine in which you wind down without technology. Self care is extremely important, and good, effective sleep is, in my opinion, the best way to care for yourself.
Jezbr
August 28th, 2019 6:43am
Could be many things. Restless leg syndrome? Overactive bladder? You aren't tired? You need ear plugs or an eye shade? 7 Cups has a really great unit on sleep. I have struggled with sleep most of my life. And for me its finding a great rhythm and sticking to it. Even when its extreme. I used to be on a 12am bed time. Wake at 230, then go back to sleep and wake at 5am. i stuck to that for 4 years and was rested enough. Now a days I'm in different beds often and sometimes sleeping by 9pm and waking at 520am. so I keep waking up at odd moments. For me its also connected to if I had coffee, if i drank too much water before bed, if I payed video games before bed etc etc. But I would encourage you to look through the sleep unit on 7 cups or google it a little bit find your rhythm. You also might be snoring and waking yourself up :D I have done that too.
talia0531
January 22nd, 2020 2:55am
It is called your circadian rhythm. It is your body's natural clock! When your body adjusts to a daily, usual cycle it sticks with that cycle. It is why we sleep through the night, our body has learned to do so. If your circadian rhythm is messed with (for example, if you suddenly start sleep four hours a night instead of your usual eight), it can have long-term impacts on your health. If you want to change the hours in which you sleep or wake up, do it gradually so your circadian rhythm can effectively adjust. Our bodies are amazing things!
supportiveDreamer61
February 27th, 2020 1:03am
Do you use blue light before bedtime? Do you drink caffeine after 12 pm? Do you drink a little of liquids before bed? Are you stressed and or anxious? Try using a gratitude journal. Consequently, you can write down your worries and brief solutions before bed. Try putting on relaxing music. Do you have a relaxing bedtime routine? Try taking a warm bath before bed. Have you tried deep breathing or focusing on your senses? Consequently, you can count to 10, 100, etc. or count sheep. Are you taking any medications that can affect sleep? Are you hungry? Try having a light snack before bedtime. Perhaps warm milk and cheese.
M4GIC
April 12th, 2020 2:04am
Well, the timing is a coincidence I think! Waking up randomly several times a night is normal, but every hour? If you wake up at night that much you may need to see a doctor. A lot of people may need to use the bathroom or need to eat. A lot of people mid-night snack because it may help soothe them. But if you wake up that much it may need to look at your health and take care of it. looking at your health is the first thing to do then but your body may be trying to tell you if you need water or do something
Anonymous
May 29th, 2016 7:06am
You might be having insomnia, the kind that makes it hard for you to stay asleep. Maybe you could see a sleep doctor to determine the cause.
heretohelp2721
May 13th, 2020 9:04pm
You may feel anxiety about upcoming events or things you have to do. I have felt that way before and have had trouble sleeping. You can write a to-do list or a schedule for your upcoming events so, you can feel less stressed and anxious about the days ahead. Or you can do things that can help you relax before you go to sleep. Some examples are: reading a good book, meditating, watching an episode of your favorite show, taking a relaxing bath, or doing some stretching. It can also just be any activity that can help you wind down and destress. Hope. this helps!
Therapeuticcommunicator
May 14th, 2020 2:27pm
Your body may already be accustomed to doing that. Maybe you can try meditating before you sleep and see if that helps. A lot of times our mind is racing and we do not realize it. Sleeping with a clear mind will help. You might also want to talk to your doctor if you can. Sleep is very important and it will allow you to continue your day uninterrupted. Another way you can clear your mind is journaling. You can try to write what you are feeling. It does not need to be complete sentences or anything too lengthy if you just want to write words down that might help.
Anonymous
May 23rd, 2020 3:58pm
You would benefit from seeing a specialist for that. See your physician and see if they get you a referral to a sleep specialist. Also consider the things you are doing prior to sleep. Are you excessively spending a lot of time on the computer? The computer get keep your mind very animated, so it's better to wean off the computer a few hours before and listen to some calming music to go to sleep. Stress could be another reason. Something is bothering you so much, that you can't sleep. Again, this would be something better suited for a physician who can give a prescription.
SarahR0SE
June 7th, 2020 8:56am
Sleep can be affected by so many things. Your diet, your mental health and other biological factors. Firstly I would try and see what is causing the issue. If you feel it is related to your mental health then try to address that. Sometimes when we are unsettled in some way it can show through our sleep patterns and in some cases show through nightmares and terrors. try to resolve any issues (write a diary of feelings before bed, talk to others) When I encountered sleep issues I read a fantastic book by Guy Meadows called How to Sleep Well. Maybe you could start there? Warm Wishes
windfox3
February 14th, 2019 9:09pm
There are many things that affect the sleep cycle and the Circadian Rhythm. It can be as simple as having too much caffeine or sugar before you go to sleep. It can be that you have not had enough sunlight to boost melatonin production in your body at night. It can be hormones fluctuating, or too much light seeping into your bedroom that your retinas absorb through your eyelids. You can start by checking your diet/eating habits and clear your bedroom environment from any distractions (noise as well as light). If that does not work, you might want to consult a medical professional such as your doctor or sleep specialist for further evaluation.
Anonymous
May 19th, 2016 6:49pm
Sometimes, this could be caused by menstrual cramps. Have you had these lately? This is a common cause.
LadyDair
September 16th, 2020 1:27am
Something is stopping you from getting the REM sleep that you need- do you snore? That's a big sign that points toward Sleep-Apnea, which is easily handled and diagnosed, but if you go without a CPAP or doctor's help, it can lead to major medical issues in the future. Including chronic heart failure, at the worst. My late grandfather had this happen to him, and has counseled the WHOLE family to please get it checked. It's a small thing to prevent a huge problem. You could also be waking yourself from nightmares, which happen when you start to fall into that deeper sleep. Does it happen every night? That's hard to deal with.
Anonymous
January 14th, 2021 2:50pm
When you wake up in the middle of the night worried about work or personal problems, it's very hard to relax and go back to sleep. Your concerns about not resting add to a sense of impatience and dread. The overall effect sets up a cycle of insomnia that keeps you tossing and turning. Vivid dreams can be wonderful, but they can also be filled with deep fear. Realistic visions and an overwhelming sense of unease can turn an ordinary bad dream into a terrible experience. When this happens repeatedly through the night, it jolts you awake over and over.
fairyava
March 5th, 2021 6:35am
Your quality of sleep is dependent on many things! Some things you could ask yourself are: How much exercise am I getting? Am I eating nutritiously? Am I using electronics too closely to when I should be going to sleep? Are you worrying about day to day things? Your physical and mental state both impact your sleep. It can be beneficial to put away any screens 30 minutes before bed and to do a calming bedtime routine before trying to fall asleep. You may associate your bed with being awake now that you've gotten used to waking up consistently throughout the night, so retraining yourself to understand that the bedroom is a comfortable, relaxing environment to sleep in is important!
Anonymous
July 11th, 2021 11:50pm
I’m going to base this on my experience. I have insomnia and part of managing that is dealing with good sleep hygiene. It used to be a constant battle. I’d worry if I was getting enough sleep so I’d look at the clock to check how long I’d been asleep and how long until I had to wake up. Then I’d get anxious about how I was not going sleep much before my alarm went off and it would set the cycle up again for me to check the time and do calculations. After getting help and learning about good sleep hygiene practices I started covering my clock so I couldn’t check it. Now if I wake in the night I’ll just go back to sleep. That’s just this insomniac’s reasons for clock watching.
ScarletOwlet
November 7th, 2021 2:12pm
Waking up at such regular intervals could be the result of anxiety, noise, disturbances, habit, or other factors. If you are in a new situation or location then that could result in a feeling of being unsafe, which will lead to you waking up more frequently. Because of how regular it is, I would be more inclined to point it towards a regular noise. is there perhaps a church with a clocktower near to you? the subconscious mind is very good at picking up on things that you might not notice, so even if you think it is too quiet to disturb you, it might
coconutshavings
May 6th, 2022 1:21am
You may want to examine what is causing you to wake up. Is it a bad dream, force of habit, a biological need? Try to think if there is a pattern for this continual waking, and record what you notice. Once you have that, it could be beneficial to do some research for anyone else that may have experienced a similar phenomenon. Perhaps they would have insight. Beyond that, it would be good to consult with a medical professional to determine if there is an underlying reason that could be treated to allow you to sleep peacefully. I am sorry you are losing sleep, but don't give up looking for solutions!
Anonymous
May 8th, 2022 7:12pm
Usually when someone wakes up in the middle of their sleep it could be from a multitude of reason. Maybe you used to have to wake up every hour to do something like take care of a child. This may also be the result of being in deployment. it might also just be that there might be an external stimulus that causes this. Like a loud beep that might wake you up. This could also be a result of a disorder( ask a doctor about this, I just took AP Psych) like insomnia or sleep apnea. overall there are too many reasons, and some experiments might have to be done to figure out why.
Anonymous
December 9th, 2017 5:30pm
I think you might be stressed about something, something is keeping you up try to find out what it is so that listeners here can help you sleep without waking up every hour.
Anonymous
August 10th, 2016 8:03pm
Are you under stress in your life? Are you having nightmares? or perhaps are you going to bed too early? These are some reasons why you are waking up several times a night.
exquisiteLion14
August 27th, 2016 6:18am
How have you been feeling lately? Any anxiety or depression? Something in your life making you worry?
Anonymous
August 10th, 2016 3:47am
It might be anxiety. I would suggest talking to your doctor about your current health concerns. They would be best able to provide an expert opinion.
peachicus
September 25th, 2016 12:26pm
Is there a noise of event happening that wakes you from your sleep? an alarm maybe? If not maybe you're having a reoccurring nightmares?
Anonymous
June 29th, 2017 5:27pm
It can often mean you're stressed or you have something on your mind that you can't shake. I'd try speaking to someone about other incidents in your life which may be linked to this. Try and seek some help to find out if anything is bothering you or making you stressed.
beju
October 19th, 2017 4:47am
It may be due to extra alertness or feeling of responsibility for some work or issue on hand. It is a programmed internal clock.
Anonymous
July 10th, 2016 2:17pm
You might be stressed, there is maybe something that is haunting you, in which case the best thing you can do is to monitor your thoughts to see what you are struggling with.
Humanlikeu
November 17th, 2017 7:40pm
This is a very specific question with which I am left to assumptions of my own. My guesses would be useless and pointless to bettering the circumstance. Saying that, I recommend seeing a specialist on the matter. Start with contacting one of our therapists, here at 7cup. This issue could very well be vital to good health to narrow down the possibilities concerning your sleep. I do not want to come across here as intimidating and/or frightening. I am just relaying to you my confidence in seeking professional help. If your ever lost in deciding how to approach a remedy. You may also take your concerns to your pcp. They are your means to ending what sounds like to me, something I would become concerned about if I experienced such a frusterating sleep cycle. Sleep is important to health. Contact your doctor.
Anonymous
June 11th, 2016 4:46am
This could be for many different reasons. Emotionally, there could be some reason for you waking up. There also could be some medical reasons behind it as well. The best thing to do is think about if you're experiencing any heavy thoughts before bed, whether the sleep environment you're in is comfortable, or if there is a medical cause, get to the bottom of it by speaking with a doctor. Also, if at all possible, ask someone who has been around you while you're sleeping if they've noticed anything.