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Struggling to fall asleep even when you’re physically exhausted? You’re not alone and according to neuroscientist Dr. Wendy Suzuki, your brain might be “stuck in stress mode.” In a recent Instagram video, Dr. Suzuki, a professor at New York University known for her research on cognitive health, explained why so many people experience racing thoughts when trying to wind down for the night.
“Exhausted but can’t fall asleep?” she asked. “Your brain might be stuck in stress mode. It’s 11:48 pm, your body feels like mush but your brain [is] tap dancing on the ceiling.” Dr. Suzuki explained that these racing thoughts are a common sign of overstimulation, anxiety, or chronic stress the kind that lingers for weeks or months. This state of mental overdrive can make it nearly impossible to shift into relaxation, even when your body is desperate for rest.
While long-term stress should be addressed with the help of a healthcare professional, Dr. Suzuki offered a calming technique anyone can try at home: a body scan. “Here is one of my favourite wind-down tools a body scan,” she said. “Start at your toes. Notice any tension there? Let it go. Then your ankles, calves. Slowly move up your body, pausing to check in at each stop and release what you don’t need.”
The process, she explained, isn’t just about muscle relaxation. It engages a function known as “interoception” — the brain’s ability to sense what’s happening inside the body. Whether it’s a growling stomach or a pounding heart, interoception helps shift the mind from high alert to a calmer state.
“This taps into something called interoception, your brain’s sense of the inner world, which helps shift the gears into rest mode,” she added. “And don’t just save this trick for bedtime. Try it at your desk, on a train, in a waiting room.”
Her followers were quick to react with support and share their own nighttime rituals. “Going to try this ASAP! Mine is a warm cup of tea and breathing techniques,” one wrote. Another commented, “Mildly interesting audiobooks before bed. Works so well for me.”
So, if your mind is doing mental gymnastics at midnight, it might be time to try a body scan — and let your brain tap out instead of tap dancing.
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