“When I see an anxious person, I ask myself, what do they want? For if a person wasn’t wanting something outside of their own control, why would they be stricken by anxiety?”
Epictetus, Discourses.

 

If you find yourself waking in the middle of the night, unable to get back to sleep, try asking yourself what it is you want from the situation that is troubling you? Then ask how much is in your control. There’s an odd kind of catharthis to be had by laying things out in perspective and realising where you have power to change things, no matter how little, and where control is not in your gift. Better still if you can share those thoughts with someone else, who can help bring greater clarity to them.