Stress is probably the biggest contributor to sleeplessness, and it can come in many forms – both physical (i.e. chronic pain) and emotional (i.e. excessive worrying). According to the Better Sleep Council, 65% of Americans lose sleep due to stress and 16% have stress-induced insomnia.

Whatever the source or sources of your stress are, it’s critical to find a way to reduce or at a minimum, manage it. Because, in addition to costing you valuable sleep and the countless health problems that arise when you don’t get enough rest, stress is the cause of as many as 90% of doctor visits and is linked to the six leading causes of death!

The key is to get your stress hormones under control because too much Cortisol (the main hormone that our body produces when we’re stressed), can wreak havoc on everything from digestion, restoration, repair, immune function, energy expenditure, and energy storage, to mood and sexual responses. It can also contribute to weight gain – especially around your waistline.

Stress can also cause the body to use up nutrients (i.e. amino acids, B-vitamins, vitamin C and minerals) and other resources too quickly. For example, when your body uses too much Cortisol (including its reserve stock), you experience fatigue. Cortisol levels are typically highest in the morning, so if your Cortisol reserves are depleted from constant stress over time, your body will have a hard time waking up and feeling refreshed in the morning.

Take note, those of you who often wake up feeling tired … you may need to put some time and energy into managing your stress better.