Posted on April 7, 2010 - by Kate
Why You Wake Up At The Same Time Every Night (Pt 1)
Have you ever wondered why you always seem to wake up during the night at particular times?
And it’s not just an odd night here and there. After a while you begin to realise you’re waking up again and again, the nights of sleeping through a distant memory. So you start to look at the clock and find it’s always at the same time – 2:55am or between certain hours like 4am to 5am. You’re not drinking coffee late in the afternoon, you’ve cut down on your much loved sugars and you’re fairly active during the day (incidentally if you are drinking coffee all afternoon and you’re dipping into refined sugars, consider stopping and then see how you sleep!). Sure, life’s a bit stressful but how is it that it’s always 2:55am?!
Those who use Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) would tell you “that’s easy – look at the Chinese Medicine ‘Meridian Clock’”. It’s one of my favourite tools to use in Kinesiology. The great thing about the Meridian Clock is you don’t have to be a Kinesiologist or a Doctor of TCM to understand it or gain insight from it. So here’s a basic explanation to get you started.
Chinese Medicine ‘Meridian Clock'
What’s your time?
First, have a look at the clock above and find the time you’re waking up. Take note of the name that sits directly beneath it. For example, if you’re waking between 1am and 3am then you would look at the information about the Liver meridian. Don’t freak out – it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with your Liver, it’s just the way they’re named in English.
14 major meridians – our electrical system
There are 14 major meridians or flows of an energy substance (you may have heard of Qi/Ch’i which sustains life) with 12 of them sitting within the 24 hour clock. All are constantly flowing with energy from our environment and penetrating our bodies through our skin. These portals on the skin are what acupuncture and acupressure use. Each has a two hour period where they are the primary meridian. Each meridian is linked to particular parts of the body, mechanisms of the body, other meridians, thoughts and emotions, colour, sound, seasons and other spiritual aspects. They’re also partnered together as Yin (receiving energy) and Yang (expressing energy) of an element – Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, and Fire.
Think of it like electrical circuits – when the energy of a meridian is not flowing well due to a block (like stress), you’ll find that you’ll experience a sign or symptom from the meridian(s) involved. This block will also cause an imbalance in the flows between meridians. So when waking up in the night at the same time, or becoming exhausted with 3:30-itis in the afternoon, you can look at the meridian at work and what may be happening with you. Here’s a list of the basic emotions of each element (the ring below the meridians).
- Earth – Empathy, sympathy, balanced giving and receiving
- Metal – Grief and loss
- Water – Fear and anxiety
- Wood – Anger, frustration and resentment
- Fire – Love, hate and joy
What now?
Self reflection people! It’s really not that hard. Your body is trying to tell you something by waking you up at the same time. Back to our previous example, if your time is the Liver meridian and the Wood element – ask yourself “What am I angry or frustrated at?” Or think of the Liver organ and apply this to your life “What is toxic in my life that I need to get rid of?” Perhaps you have symptoms that your digestive system is not working so well?
I’ll leave you with this as food for thought. Spend some time to reflect on your life and what’s keeping you awake based on the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine. I will cover this in more detail in the next post Why You Wake Up At The Same Time Every Night (Part II)
If you’d like to read more about Traditional Chinese Medicine start with ‘The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine’ by Ted Kaptchuk.
This post is the first installment of a series I’ll be writing on Traditional Chinese Medicine and how you can use it to help you in daily life. Easy!
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About Kate
Kate is a fully qualified Holistic Kinesiologist. She trained at The Australian College of Complementary Medicine (ACCM) in Melbourne, Australia. ACCM created the first integrated Kinesiology Diploma course in the world and has been at the forefront of Kinesiology training ever since.Before becoming a Kinesiologist, Kate worked with people with disabilities (mental and physical) and underprivileged groups in Australia, Ireland and the United States of America. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology where she focused on women, cultures, family and research.
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October 11, 2012
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Natalie said:
Hi Kate. I’ve been quite aware of my body for at least a year now. I am realizing how sensitive I am and have had a few spiritual experiences. I’m just curious about waking up between 3 and 3:30. I’ve been getting up to go to the toilet a lot. I’m not religious and I don’t want to think it’s anything paranormal. I am more looking into the physical body, emotional state, body function etc. I was a little afraid as the time for three nights was 3:27. What are your thoughts? You say for metal grief and loss… but I can’t think of grieving or loss? Maybe spirit world is checking up on me?
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October 24, 2012
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nay said:
Hi I wake up every nite 04:10am what could it be I’m curious and scared aswell,its going on for almost a month now!
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October 24, 2012
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Ash said:
Hi I’m ash I’m 14. I’ve been waking up at 2am sometimes 3 and sometimes 4 every night. This has been happening for about 2weeks. I’m getting very scared. I mean all I’m doing is waking up at 2am or 3am and I look at my clock and I get scared so I sleep in my mothers bed. Can someone help me. Is it because I’m growing and maturing?
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October 24, 2012
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Peggy said:
No matter what I wake up at 4 am should I get up and inbrace the moment and do yoga and meditation than nap at 4pm after work OR do I fight it and toss and turn till I have to get up at 5
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October 25, 2012
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Dottie said:
Almost every night since our dog passed away in September, I wake up at exactly 3:11 a.m.
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October 29, 2012
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Arttu Stachon said:
I allways wake up 4.30am. That clock is absolutely right, I have took loss and im grief :O unbelieveble
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November 26, 2012
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Ryan said:
I wake up always at 2am without any reason . Just wondering what’s the reason behind I don’t even have any problem with my body not even stress.
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December 2, 2012
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Roger said:
Im 18 and always wake at 1 30 in the morning, why is that ? What can i do to stop that? Please help its making me crazy and i gpt dark circles because of it.
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December 22, 2012
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Cam said:
What about the second half of the clock in which I do not sleep? How does this apply?
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December 31, 2012
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frank said:
Everyday for the past three weeks I been waking up from 1:30 to 2:00… N its getting creepy I don’t think its normal…what sucks about it is that sometimes on awake during most of the night n have a hard time to get up in the morning. So how can I stop this from keep happening.
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December 31, 2012
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JDUBYA said:
I have been waking up for the past 7 years at specific times: 3:45 am 4:45 am 5:45 am. 3′s, 4′s and 5′s are consistent. My niece has the exact same issue. We text each other when we wake up during the night and she wakes up at the exact same time as well….very creepy.
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January 6, 2013
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Tyler said:
Hi Kate, I’m a 15 year old kid, lately I’ve been going to bed about 8 in the afternoon. For the last 3 days, I have been woken up, at 1:21 a.m . I’m not entirely to sure what’s going on. But if there is anything you know or anything that would help. I would appreciate it very much.
-Sincerely Tyler(:
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January 7, 2013
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Jess said:
I wake up at 4:07.
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January 14, 2013
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dharma said:
i have been waking up @4am-430 the last couple of mornings. last night i took stuff for my adrenals, didnt help. i see in your clock you have lungs. what should i do?
thanks
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January 14, 2013
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mary said:
This is incredible!! Mine said liver, I wake up every night @ 2:15. I just went to my doctor last week do to my digestive problems & I do need to get rid of all the toxic food I eat. I was scared & was thinking the worst but reading this has given me peace of mind & the opportunity to change what really has me scared, my horrible eating habits. Thank you for this gift!
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January 18, 2013
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Laine said:
I know it says I’m feeling frustrated but I wake up at 2:31 all the time ever since I had a nightmare I think what I’m feeling is love cuz I kinda have a crush on someone and its weird becuz every time I’m about to dream about him I wake up-ps I’m using my friends email
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February 1, 2013
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Brianna said:
For the past 2 weeks, i have been waking up at 2:17am. I am flying back from a trip on 2/17/13. Could it be related?
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February 3, 2013
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Louise said:
Kate, this is a very interesting article and I am glad I have come across it to give me some insights as to my physical and emotional issues of waking up at varying times in the morning…
It used to be between 5 – 5.30 am and I read that this was due to change was happening in your life… and it was so I sat with it, and went to bed at 10pm so that I was rested for the change to some… it is cyclical…
At the moment it is between 3 and 4.30 am.. which reflects the lungs and the emotions of the lungs such as anger, frustration, which prevent us from breathing properly… So I will now look for some options to resolve this…
Thanks again…
Louise
Coach and NLP Practitioner (UK)
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February 10, 2013
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J said:
Thank you for this. I have been waking up at 5am for months now, and it has almost been 6 months since my brother passed. On this chart it lands in metal – grief and loss, and water – fear and anxiety. I feel more settled just knowing why it is that I am waking at this time, and can be more gentle and compassionate about it. So thank you.
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February 10, 2013
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Brian said:
Hi, im Broan and i dont like why i wake up like at 2am everynight from a nightmare(most of the time) is it the house im living in? Cause i just moved to this home a few months ago and is now screwing with my sleep, and constantly always waking up at 2.. With the eating scene it mentioned.liver, i dont really drink but do eat alot due to my fast metabolism.. But it seems like im being haunted. how can i get rid of this??
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February 11, 2013
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Red said:
I mostly wake up around 3:30.
Several times 3:33
Last night I woke at 4:44
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February 22, 2013
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Marina said:
Hi, Ive been waking up at a 3:30am everyday for like 8 or 9 months now, ive sometimes taken sleeping pills so i can sleep straight through or even put the alarm at 5:30am when i wake up for work so I can sleep through and no matter what I try I still wake up at 3:30am everyday, Do you think its something bad?
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March 1, 2013
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Mahra said:
I’ve been waking up at 4:30am every night for the past few days and couldn’t think of an explanation. The medicine chart says Lungs and Metal. I did have breathing problems earlier this month but I got anti biotics and am breathing normally now. Grief and loss….I’m not sure.. This has given me much to think about, thank you.
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March 26, 2013
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Jo said:
Hi my disabled daughter always wakes up at 4-5 am,any ideas why,she can’t tell me how she feels,I would appreciate any ideas,thankyou
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March 27, 2013
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Elaine said:
interesting, i wake up at 3.30 every night, intersting because i have no large bowel.
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March 27, 2013
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Amiria said:
I used to wake up randomly at 2:22 for a long time and was desperate to know how on earth I could wake at the exact minute. Many other times I would look at the clock to see 3:33 or 4:44 and 5:55. It was positive though most cunfusing.
Kate, I hope you don’t mind me saying that I was overjoyed to find a book by Doreen Virtue explaining meanigns of number messages. For those of you who instinctively feel a connection beyond the number, you might enjoy checking out ‘Angel Numbers’.
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March 29, 2013
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Taylor said:
My boyfriend and I were staying together for two weeks straight after u had a surgery done and once we stopped we started waking up at night at the same time as each other every night what could this mean
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March 30, 2013
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Christine said:
ive been waking up at around 4:00 which is loss and grief and now i understand why i have been waking up at this time now. i recently just started yr7 in highschool but i lost all of my friends because they all go to different schools. i then started to think about how i was going to be alone for the rest of my life and sometimes cryed. but now that i know why ive been waking up randomly all the time, i decided to find the contacts of my friends and talk to them everyday. im glad i found this website