If meditation and breathwork aren't stopping your racing mind at night, it's because they can't fix what's really going on. There are hidden physical imbalances in your body that are chemically forcing your brain to stay awake when you want to be sleeping.

I'm breaking down the three most common underlying health issues that cause racing thoughts, why your annual blood work never catches them, and how to identify which one is keeping your mind racing so you can actually fix it.

It's Not Just Stress (Even When Your Life Is Crazy)

I'm working with a client right now—let's call him AJ. He's 36, has a high-pressure sales job he loves, two young kids, and he's traveling constantly. He's working until 11 PM most nights, and he was terrified he'd have to quit his job or completely overhaul his life to sleep better.

When we got his test results back, he was relieved. We could see clear imbalances in his body affecting his sleep—it wasn't just his busy lifestyle. Yes, we're working on stress management and boundaries, but he doesn't need to quit his job or slow down right now. By addressing the physical imbalances, he's already sleeping better without major lifestyle changes.

The 3 Hidden Causes of Racing Thoughts at Night

1. High Cortisol in the Middle of the Night

This one won't surprise you if you've been following me, but cortisol literally makes your mind race. It's supposed to give you energy during the day—not keep you wired at 3 AM.

Here's the problem: your annual blood work might show normal cortisol levels. But that's because they only test once, usually in the morning. What we need to see is your cortisol pattern throughout the entire day, especially at night.

I use a test called the Hormone Zoomer where you take four samples in 24 hours. This shows me exactly what's happening when you're trying to sleep. And what I see constantly—like with AJ—is cortisol spiking in the middle of the night. No wonder you can't sleep.

But here's the key: I don't just recommend a supplement to lower cortisol. That's a band-aid. We need to find out WHY cortisol is high at night. That's what the other tests in my programs look for.

2. Toxic Creatures Living in Your Gut

This might gross you out, but it's one of the most common things I see. My clients often have some kind of pathogen living in their gut—parasites, H. pylori, bacterial overgrowth, or candida (a type of yeast).

AJ has a parasite, H. pylori, AND bacterial overgrowth. So no wonder he can't sleep.

These pathogens are most active in the middle of the night. They release toxins that cause inflammation, and your body responds by releasing cortisol (because it's an anti-inflammatory hormone). This is such a common reason for waking up at 3-4 AM.

This was my issue too—I had a parasite I'd probably picked up 13 years earlier from traveling in Nepal and India.

AJ also had copper toxicity. We need copper, but when it's too high, it becomes toxic and causes symptoms like racing thoughts and insomnia. Plus, he had high markers for neuroinflammation and gut inflammation.

The gut test I use (the Gut Zoomer) looks for dozens of pathogens—not just the nine things your doctor's standard stool test checks for. It also shows me how well you're digesting food, your good bacteria levels, and overall gut inflammation.

3. Missing Your Anti-Anxiety Brain Chemical

The third thing I see constantly in people with racing minds: they're low in GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps with relaxation.

GABA is your anti-anxiety neurotransmitter. Studies show that 90% of GABA (plus serotonin and melatonin) are made in the gut by good bacteria. So again, gut health matters.

But GABA can also become depleted when you're stressed long-term, or there can be genetic reasons your body isn't making enough. Hormones affect GABA too.

I love testing for neurotransmitters because when I see low GABA, serotonin, or dopamine and recommend specific supplements, people's sleep improves really quickly. Of course, we address the root cause long-term, but this can help in the short term.

I use a urine test that looks at about 30 different neurotransmitters—both relaxing and stimulating ones that affect sleep.

Can You Just Try GABA Without Testing?

GABA is generally safe to try without testing (though always talk to your doctor before starting supplements). I love Quicksilver's Liposomal GABA + L-Theanine supplement.

Even when someone's GABA levels look decent on tests, trying this at night before bed often helps their brain calm down and stop racing.

But I always believe in testing instead of guessing so we know exactly what your body needs.

Why Meditation and Breathwork Aren't Enough

This is why meditation and breathwork alone won't fix chronic racing thoughts. Yes, they're helpful. They can lower cortisol temporarily. But they aren't addressing:

- Why cortisol is high in the first place

- The pathogen releasing toxins in your gut

- Your depleted GABA levels

- The inflammation keeping you wired

You need to find and fix the root causes.

One Hack That Actually Works for Cortisol

I have found one technique that really helps lower cortisol at night: tapping, also called EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique).

This has been a game-changer for me. When I'm stressed and having trouble sleeping, tapping helps me fall asleep quickly. My clients swear by it too.

If you're interested in learning this five-minute technique to stop racing thoughts, I have a full video interview with Julie Schiffman where she explains how tapping works and gives specific sequences for sleep.

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Ready to find out what's really keeping you awake? If you want to use functional lab testing to identify the imbalances affecting your sleep and get a customized plan to fix them naturally, sign up for a free consultation by clicking the button below to learn about my Complete Sleep Solution Program.