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The Science of 3 AM Wake-Ups: Why It Happens

From Stress Hormones to Ancient Survival Instincts: Understanding Your Sudden Awakenings

Kristie Leong M.D.
6 min readMar 7, 2025
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Have you ever wondered why you’re sleeping soundly and then WHAM, like a bolt of lightening, you’re wide awake and staring at the dark ceiling, wondering why you can’t get back to that pleasant dream you were having?

Hopefully, it wasn’t a nightmare!

Once awake, you glance at your trusty clock. It’s 3:00 am and your thoughts begin racing, back to that stupid thing you did in third grade or the mistake you made last week that cost you tons of time and money.

It’s a frustrating phenomenon that can make you desperate for a solution, not to mention, tired the next day. Sound familiar?

Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash

You’re Not Alone in This Midnight Battle

I used to think I was the only one wrestling with this. But I discovered I’m in good company. After talking to friends and patients, a surprising number of people reveal their own struggles with unexpected awakenings.

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Kristie Leong M.D.
Kristie Leong M.D.

Written by Kristie Leong M.D.

Ready to change your health trajectory? As a family physician, I'll help you build a path to lasting health—one meal at a time." https://www.histaminedoctor.com

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