Can Anxiety Cause Insomnia?

Understanding the deeper roots of sleeplessness 

Yes. Anxiety can absolutely cause insomnia. And not just at night—its roots can reach far back into your earliest experiences of the world.

When we think of anxiety, we often imagine racing thoughts, panic attacks, or an inability to relax. But anxiety can be far more subtle and deep-seated. It can live in the body like a hum beneath the surface—always anticipating something, always preparing, always scanning.

This chronic state of vigilance—this inability to “switch off”—is a common thread for people struggling with sleep.
But where does it come from?

Anxiety often begins early in life.

The first seven years of life are foundational for how our nervous systems develop. This is the time when our bodies and minds learn what it means to be safe, loved, and held—or not.

If the environment we grew up in was unpredictable, emotionally chaotic, or lacked consistent attunement—our nervous systems adapted.
These adaptations were brilliant and necessary at the time, but as adults, they can manifest as:

– A constant sense of unease
– Hyper-awareness of others’ moods
– Difficulty relaxing or being still
– A need to stay in control
– Difficulty trusting that things will be okay

Even if your parents did their best, they may have been emotionally unavailable, overwhelmed themselves, or taught you (indirectly) that your needs were too much. Over time, your body may have learned to stay “on alert” as a form of survival.

This is especially true for those with anxious attachment patterns—where closeness and connection feel both deeply desired and deeply unsafe. You may long for support but also fear abandonment, which keeps your system cycling through uncertainty and tension. This inner confusion creates stress in the nervous system that doesn’t simply disappear when the lights go out.

Why anxiety keeps you awake

When bedtime comes, your body doesn’t suddenly forget the story it’s been telling all day.
If you've spent the day in a heightened state—overthinking, overgiving, staying busy to avoid the discomfort—your system doesn’t know how to simply drop into rest. Sleep asks for surrender, for stillness, for letting go.

But the anxious system says, “No, I can’t afford to do that. What if something happens?”
And so sleep doesn’t come. Not because you’re broken—but because a younger part of you still believes it’s not safe to rest.

Healing happens through safety, not force

This is why quick fixes or surface-level tips often don’t work for insomnia. They miss the root.
True healing happens when we begin to meet the anxious parts of ourselves with presence and compassion.

When we learn how to…

– regulate the nervous system calmly and consistently
– listen to what our anxiety is trying to protect
– create emotional safety in our day-to-day lives
– trust our inner rhythm again

…then the body can finally start to let go. Sleep returns not because you made it happen, but because your body no longer feels it has to stay awake to survive.

If this resonates with you, know you’re not alone and you will find peace again.

Insomnia is not a life sentence. It is a message from your system asking to be met, seen, and understood on a deeper level.

That’s exactly why I created my program Overcoming Insomnia. It’s a loving and powerful journey through the body, mind, and spirit—supporting you in releasing the survival mechanisms that keep you stuck in anxiety and awakening your natural ability to rest, feel, and trust.

Because sleep isn’t something you do.
It’s something you allow.
And you deserve to feel safe enough to allow it.

"Safety is the signal your body has been waiting for. When it arrives, sleep follows."

Annelies x

P.S. If this resonates with you, sign up to learn more about 'Overcoming Insomnia' .