🧠 The Modern Sleepless Mind: Psychologist Goutham on How We’ve Forgotten the Art of Rest
- Garige Goutham Kumar
- Nov 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 1
In the earlier days, sleep was not something people chased — it came naturally. Before electricity, before screens, before the constant hum of modern life, human beings lived in harmony with the rhythm of the sun. People would finish their dinners by evening and sleep by 7:30 or 8 p.m. The body responded to darkness, and the mind knew it was time to rest. Sleep was not a luxury; it was a rhythm of life.
But over the past century, our environment has transformed completely. With the advent of electricity, artificial lighting, and 24-hour lifestyles, the natural cues that once told our brain it was nighttime have faded. Our homes and offices stay bright even at midnight, and our circadian clock — the body’s internal sleep timer — is perpetually confused.
💡 How Modern Living Disrupts Our Natural Sleep
Today, we live in a world where air, light, and even our emotions are conditioned. Many professionals in Hyderabad, Telangana, or anywhere in the world spend long hours inside air-conditioned rooms, under fluorescent or LED lights, without even realizing whether it’s morning or midnight. When we finally step outside, the body is startled by reality — the night sky feels like an afterthought.
This disconnect has psychological consequences. When the brain doesn’t receive natural light and darkness cues, it stops producing melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep. And that’s when insomnia, anxiety, and mental restlessness begin to take root.
🧍♂️ The Comfort Trap: Why Our Bodies No Longer Tire Naturally
A century ago, people moved more. Walking, farming, manual work — life itself demanded activity. Today, comfort has become our default setting. We don’t need to get up to switch on a light, change the TV channel, or even open a door. We are eating more calories than ever, but spending less energy than ever.
The body, deprived of movement, doesn’t send the “I’m tired” signal to the brain. It’s ironic — we feel mentally exhausted yet physically under-worked. Without genuine physical tiredness, the mind doesn’t receive a cue to rest, and lying on the bed doesn’t automatically bring sleep.
⚖️ The Other Extreme: Overexertion and Restless Recovery
Of course, there’s another side to this. People who perform hard physical labor — coal mine workers, sportspersons, construction workers — often push their bodies to limits where fatigue becomes pain. In such cases, the body’s overstimulation and pain can prevent the mind from calming down enough to enter deep sleep.
Balance, not exhaustion, is the secret to rest.
💭 The Emotional Weight We Carry into Bed
Many sleepless nights aren’t caused by noise or caffeine, but by emotional arousal. When we’re frustrated with a spouse, colleague, or friend, or worrying about finances, debts, or responsibilities, the mind stays in overdrive. The body may lie down, but the mind is still arguing, planning, or regretting.
In therapy, I often remind clients that restlessness at night is usually unfinished emotional business. The body can’t rest when the mind hasn’t found peace.
🎯 Missing Joy, Passion, and Intimacy
Modern life has reduced space for recreation. People work endlessly, chase success, but rarely do what gives them joy. Hobbies, laughter, intimacy, and simple pleasures activate endorphins and serotonin — chemicals that naturally calm the brain. When these are absent, even the body forgets how to feel safe enough to rest.
🩺 Ignoring the Medical Side of Sleep
Another common mistake is assuming sleep issues are “normal.” Many people blame the bed, noise, or work stress — but never seek medical evaluation. It’s important to remember: sometimes thyroid issues, hormonal imbalances, vitamin deficiencies, or sleep apnea can masquerade as psychological sleeplessness.
Preventive health check-ups every six months can rule out these causes. Good sleep starts with good awareness.
🍽️ The Role of Food, Screens, and Digestion
Eating late at night — say, a plate of biryani at 11 p.m. — keeps the digestive system working overtime. When digestion is active, rest is delayed. Combine that with screen exposure, blue light, and constant notifications, and the brain simply never enters rest mode.
A simple rule for better sleep: finish dinner early, avoid heavy meals at night, and give your body time for autophagy — its natural process of cell repair and detoxification during fasting hours.
🧘 Finding Balance: The Mind–Body Connection
Healthy sleep is not about switching off — it’s about alignment. When body movement, emotional peace, diet, and environment come together, sleep happens naturally. Therapy helps you identify what’s blocking that balance — whether it’s anxiety, lifestyle, or unprocessed emotions.
💬 A Message from Psychologist Goutham
If you’re struggling with insomnia, stress, or mental unrest, don’t normalize it. Reach out.Therapy isn’t about pills or quick fixes — it’s about understanding the root of what keeps you awake.
You can book an online counseling session with me at www.psychologistgoutham.com.It’s a safe, confidential space to explore what’s really bothering you — and to rediscover the art of rest.
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