*10 POINTS* Why do I wake up at 3 am EVERY day?

Question

It's really starting to freak me out! At exactly 3 am (to the minute), every single day, I wake up, regardless of what time I went to bed. I've even taken things like Benadryl, Zanaflex, and other medications that make me VERY drowsy and pass out (I didn't take them to sleep, they were for legitimate reasons, such as hives and a back injury, respectively), and I *still* woke up out of a dead sleep at 3 am. I'm NOT reinforcing it either. I've tried everything from just laying there with my eyes closed until I fall back asleep (which sometimes isn't until 7 or 8 am), to eating something and going back to bed, to getting up and watching TV until I think I'm tired, sleeping in a different room, etc. It ALWAYS happens and it's driving me crazy! Not to mention, in all the scary movies (i.e Amittyville Horror), the character wakes up at the same time every night! Please tell me what could be causing this! Thank you!

Answer 1

I don't know where you live, but there may be a sound -the 3am train to nowhere, or a factory changing shifts, or a neighbor's alarm, which goes off at that time. It must be something mechanical to be so precise. I have trained myself to wake without an alarm at 7am every day, but I am usually within 10 min. (+ or -). The fact that it is on the dot means it is almost certainly exterior not interior.

Answer 2

Welcome to my life. My body for some reason thinks that 3 is a great time to get up, like I'm rested for the day. The worst part is I'm not and I end up falling asleep again around 6 to then wake up very drowsy at 7. I'm pregnant so I think part of my problem is the baby is active at 3 everyday, but I can't be sure that's why I'm doing this. There could also be something going on in your house at 3 everyday (not talking about ghosts) that could be waking you up. My alarm clock used to make a click sound at a certain time at night, I used to wake up to that (not knowing that it had even made a sound) I got rid of that alarm clock.

Answer 3

Are you tense often? Often times anxiety can keep you up at night. I would check with a doctor to seriously diagnose your sleep disorder and perhaps even a sleep disorder.
A few other things you can try are to take a relaxation class (it might help you unwind before you fall asleep). Another thing that I tried when I was having trouble for a while going to bed was to take something called Valerian Root. It's all natural and it makes you fall asleep naturally (not pass out).
I would discuss what options there are for helping you about your sleep disorder (because it really seems like a sleep disorder).
If you don't do anything, it can seriously affect your health adversely.

Answer 4

You know that is so wierd, my psychiatrist says that the "psychiatry community calls 3 am the withing hour. Isn't that odd? They don't know why.I wake up also between 3 and 3:30 but I'm able to fall back to sleep.

Try seeing a DR for some sleep meds.

Answer 5

Don't ever take the sleeping pills route!!

1. They will damage your liver big time and you can get into serious health problems.

2. You will get hooked up on them and you won't be able to have a normal life any more if you don't take your pills everyday.

The sleeping pills industry is damaging our health by capitalizing on our ignorance, and by distracting people from effective and natural ways to deal with this problem. I had been taking prescription sleep medications [Ambien] for over 5 years. It stopped working and I simply took more. Still did not work. Nights were very difficult - medication put me to sleep but I would wake up after 2–3 hours with a strong sympathetic response (fast pulse, pounding heartbeat, wide awake alert). It was a very difficult cycle to break. I was really in bad shape due to lack of sleep.

After years of struggling I was able to cure my insomnia naturally and pretty fast. I followed the Sleep Tracks sleep optimization program, here is their official web -site if you want to take a look: http://www.insomniacure.net

Ohhh..and Good Luck!

Answer 6

You are more than likely astral projecting yourself once you start to dream. 3 a.m. is just the time you have subconciously decided to return.
I always wake up at 3:10 a.m.
This is the only explanation I can come up with. Forget the Amittyvill Horror.
Don't stress. Nothings happening except that you wake up at the same time.
Sleep well.

Answer 7

This is a type of insomnia. It's type is "maintenance" insomnia. This can be treated with certain types of medications and behavioral ways as well. You need to reset your "clock" First make sure you are maintaining regular sleep habits. If this is the case the next step is to set your alarm at say 2:30 until the habit is broken at 3 am. If this works keep setting your alarm back until you reach the time you actually go to bed. If you are also getting up to go to the bathroom or to get a snack, stop fluids a few hours before bedtime and do not get up out of bed. Make sure all noises, even ones you may not think about such as pets or the furnace kicking on at that time may disturb you with out your realizing it. Or your bed partner if you have one may be disturbing you. Try to eliminate as many possibilities as you can. It could also be related to your digestive system. If you are eating right before bed cut that out as well and restrict yourself to the 3 hours before bedtime rule. Digestion can take 3-4 hours. This may also be disturbing your sleep.

Good Luck!!

Answer 8

Possible reasons:

stress
sleeping patterns
lack of relaxation
worry
excitement about (whatever)
contemplating too much on (school, work, family, etc.)

try staying up til 2:59 then go to sleep
most likely u will wake up at 11, then slowly rotate the hours you sleep, til you can go to bed at a comfortable hour for you.

Answer 9

It may be stress related. Has anything changed in your life since this started?Try relaxing before bead. Do not worry or think about waking up. Think of pleasant things you'll do the next day. If you do wake up. Again don't panic, stay relaxed and just lay in bed. Don't worry if you'll fall asleep again. Just relax and lay there. This may help.

Answer 10

its called the body clock, if its bothering you and causing you not to function well in the morning you should get help from professionals your not the only one who has this type of problem. i used to wake up every 2:00 AM everyday & feel rested this is beacuse i often study to the wee hours of the night so my body got situated to the fact that i am awake at this hour. since i dont need to be up that early anymore i helped myself by drinking milk before bed, or relaxing my body before i doze off this actually helped and now i have programmed myself to wake up at 7:00AM