91. Why Sleep Anxiety Keeps You Awake and How to Stop It with Dr. Chris Winters

If you’ve ever laid awake at night wondering what’s wrong with your sleep, this episode will change the way you think about it forever. In part two of our Sleep Series, Susan and Kate sit down with Dr. Christopher Winter, neurologist, sleep specialist, author of The Sleep Solution and The Rested Child, and consultant for professional sports teams like the LA Dodgers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Dr. Winter brings humor, science, and refreshing honesty to a topic that’s often overcomplicated and fear-driven. Rather than piling on more “sleep hacks,” he helps us see that much of what we call insomnia isn’t a disorder, it’s our perception, anxiety, and unrealistic expectations around sleep itself.

If you missed part one with Dr. Kirk Parsley, go back and listen to that conversation too, his approach dives deep into how sleep fuels performance and recovery, while Dr. Winter brings an entirely different, yet complementary, perspective to the table.

Rethinking Insomnia

Dr. Winter challenges one of the biggest misconceptions out there: that insomnia is a “condition.” He argues it’s actually a symptom, a sign of something else happening in your body or mind. Many people who believe they “can’t sleep” are actually sleeping more than they realize. The real culprit? Fear, frustration, and pressure to sleep perfectly.

When we lie awake thinking, “If I don’t fall asleep right now, I’ll ruin my day tomorrow,” our anxiety fuels the very problem we’re trying to solve. The moment we stop resisting wakefulness, and accept that it’s okay to be awake, sleep naturally follows.

The Myth of Eight Hours

According to Dr. Winter, the idea that everyone needs eight hours of sleep is outdated and based on flawed research. Most adults function best around seven hours, while others feel great with a little more or less. What truly matters isn’t the exact number, it’s consistency.

Your body thrives on rhythm. Going to bed and waking up around the same time every day helps regulate your internal clock and supports everything from energy to hormones to mood.

Key Takeaways

  • Insomnia is a symptom, not a disease.
  • The anxiety about not sleeping is often worse than the lack of sleep itself.
  • “Good sleep” doesn’t always mean eight hours, it means the right amount for you.
  • Consistency is more powerful than perfection.
  • You don’t need to fix your sleep, you need to trust your body.

✨ Listen now to Episode 91 of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable. and learn how to stop fighting your sleep, let go of the pressure, and finally rest with ease.

🎧 And don’t miss Part 1 with Dr. Kirk Parsley for another expert take on how sleep truly impacts your health and performance.

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Learn more about our guest Dr. Christopher Winter

Dr. Christopher Winter has practiced sleep medicine and neurology in Charlottesville, Virginia since 2004, but has been involved with sleep medicine and sleep research since 1993. Currently he is the owner of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine clinic and CNSM Consulting. He is the author of The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How To Fix It as well as The Rested Child: Why Your Tired, Wired or Irritable Child May Have A Sleep Disorder–And How To Help. In addition to working with numerous professional sports organizations to help their athletes optimize sleep, he is the host of the podcast Sleep Unplugged with Dr. Chris Winter which has consistently ranked as one of the most popular medical podcasts in the country. He is also the host of the Sleep.com series Sleeping Around with Dr. Chris Winter.

Learn More about Kate King:

Kate brings nearly two decades of experience as a licensed psychotherapist and board certified art therapist, combined with her work as a Radiant Life coach to the table. She is also the multi-award-winning author of three powerful self-help psychology books. Kate’s work integrates epigenetics through a relational, behavioral, and intergenerational family trauma lens. She also incorporates brain and nervous system science with psychology, spirituality, and creativity for a dynamic approach to deep inner work and personal healing.

Learn More about Susan Robbins:

Susan is a retired law enforcement officer and an accomplished Certified Epigenetic Human Performance Coach with a diverse and extensive background in wellness. She began her wellness career in 2015 as a holistic health and stress management coach. Her passion for helping others led her to expand her expertise into epigenetics in 2019, where she discovered the missing piece of the health optimization puzzle: Personalized health.

As a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Certified Level 2 Apeiron Zoh Epigenetic Human Performance Coach (DNA), and Certified PH360 Coach through Precision Health Alliance, Susan has developed a unique approach to health and wellness through completely personalized health. She is the proud recipient of the 2023 Precision Health Alliance Coach of the Year award. Susan works with clients to elevate their health and overall quality of life by understanding their unique needs based on their genetic makeup, taking out the guesswork, and getting results.

Their Synergy

Susan and Kate come from two very different, but perfectly complementary, worlds in the health and wellness space. Together, their synergy is magnetic. Think: science meets soul, strategy meets intuition, real talk meets radical transformation.

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