How you sleep at the full moon

A lot is said about how full moon can or could influence the sleep of people. And like so often, opinions differ on this subject. Some are certain that they sleep poorly or have a restless sleep around the time of full moon and are not able to fall asleep for a long time. Others sleep like a log … in between there are many who are not aware of any of this and not able to  determine by their sleep patterns whether it is full moon or not.

Before you continue, we would like you to please take part in our survey and simply click on how you sleep at full moon.

[poll id=”2″]

The day-night rhythm of people is controlled, amongst others,  by the hormone melatonin. In darkness, the melatonin levels rise and the body ensures that we are feeling tired. This shows in winter, for example, where due to the less amount of daylight, more sleep hormones are being produced. Now one could get the idea to argue, because of full moon the night is brighter and therefore less sleep hormones are distributed. This assumption is relativized immediately, if you look at the brightness of the full moon light (max. 1 lux) in comparison to the sun light (up to and over 100,000 lux). The moon light should effectively not play a large part for the melatonin. Also, most of us nowadays, change night into day and generally have the possibility to darken their bedrooms. So there have to be other reasons if someone does not sleep well at full moon.

To get to the bottom of this, a series of researches have been conducted, where sleep behaviour of participants has been observed during the moon cycle phases. Miscellaneous universities and sleep laboratories tried to shed light into dark. But over and over again, you can read the same results: no measurable connection between the full moon and the sleep quality or duration!

We were merely able to find a Swiss study from 2006 that was able to assess a connection:

»…  Subjective sleep duration varied with the lunar cycle, from 6 h 41 min at full moon to 7 h 00 min at new moon (P < 0.001). […] There was also evidence that rating of fatigue in the morning was associated with moon phase, with more tiredness (P = 0.027) at full moon. …«

Röösli M, Jüni P et al.
J Sleep Res. 2006 Jun;15(2):149-53
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

This study is insofar interesting, because the focus of the research had originally other contents. The test subjects were actually not aware of the connection to the moon activities. However, the result is rather insignificant in comparison to all those many studies that do not establish any connection at all.

Now that looks a proper mess: Many sleep poorly and nobody can prove it? Everything just imagination or the famous »self-fulfilling prophecy«? It appears to turn into one of these full moon subjects again that move between scepticism and mysticism, between feelings and mind. A lot more time may pass by, until more clarity can be obtained as how you sleep at full moon.

Until then, we would like to wish all our readers: Sleep well!

124 Comments

  1. Moongazer | 9 February 2017

    As a teenager I used to keep moving my pillow so I could watch the moon through the window. I didn’t know it would inhibit sleep! My grandma would say I’d go mad if the moon light shone on me when I slept!

  2. Jenn | 1 February 2017

    For years I thought I was losing my mind when I would lay awake at night for hours, not tired and unable to sleep. I started to track these events and when they would occur. The only thing ever in common I discovered was it happened during moon phases, mostly a Full Moon. It would start about two nights prior to the Full Moon and subside a night or two after. For several days I would not get any rest. I knew it had something to do with it. Then last year I finally looked it up and found that there were others who were going through the same thing. I found relief in knowing I wasn’t crazy but I don’t have a fix for my sleepless nights. Even last month, I had two nights where I was not able to sleep and mentioned to my husband a Full Moon must be lurking and I went outside and sure enough, there it was. My body somehow knows when it is coming.

    • Ivette | 6 September 2017

      Glad to hear that there are others! It’s 2,15 a.m. in Kent,UK and I have been tossing and turning in bed since 23 p.m.and unable to fall asleep…finally gave up,got the book and went downstairs. Just out of curiosity went to garden to check out the MOON !!! Full Moon,again and again finding myself unable to sleep on a full Moon or one day prior to it! And it’s been forever I can remember (I am in my 50!) I am extremely sensitive to it! What can I do?!

  3. Coty nicely | 13 December 2016

    Yup it’s 2:30 in the am here in .U. S. A Ohio and ilitterally cannot sleep at all I’ve been trying to sleep since about 23:00 and I’ve given up I’m not even tired at all and just on a whim I said ya know I bet it’s a full moon out tonight or either tomorow night and I checked the lunar calendar and sure enough I have never ever been able to sleep on a full moon some times even on a new moon

    • Anonymous | 15 December 2016

      3:38 am and have yet to think about sleep and I have not had a nap or been sleep since yesterday. Something told me to check and see what phase the mom is in, due enough it is indeed full tonight. I never get sleep at these times. Been that way for so many years now smh

  4. Parasites | 26 October 2016

    Parasites are most active on a new or full moon. It’s the parasites that are preventing us from sleeping on those nights.

  5. JAVIER PEDRAZA | 22 February 2016

    Tomorrow is full moon. And Im here, awake, just at midnight. 🙁 …but it worst the fact that the moon looks espectacular!! 🙂

  6. Lisa | 20 February 2016

    I find I sleep better when moonlight is shining through my window and my bed is facing east. Where I live now, in an apt with trees blocking the view and the head of my bed faces north, my sleep cn be disturbed.

    I miss my sister moonlight……

  7. akw | 4 February 2015

    I’m 13 I will wake up and not be able to go back I’ll sleep for a min or two but then I wake up I fall asleep fast and wake at 3:00a.m. or 2:00 a.m. and won’t go back to sleep and this morning I notice that there’s a full moon

  8. Anonymous | 7 October 2014

    If I can’t sleep I look up the moon phase and it is ALWAYS the night preceding the full moon. I plan to start watching the calendar and planning ahead with spiritual or reflective activities, or planning an art project to take advantage of my wakefulness. I am often up till 3or 4 am and I wake at the usual time feeling fine. I didn’t know anyone else this happened to!! We should have full moon parties. I wonder why it’s always the eve of the full moon.

  9. loopylynds! | 13 May 2014

    Full moon tomorrow and I’m already unable to sleep, drives me crazy 🙁

  10. Ben | 4 February 2014

    My sleep/Body becomes more relaxed on the few days leading to the full moon, my muscles and body are more at ease, I have very clear dreams and sometimes am woken up when I feel the moon comming over the horizon (not for sure this is a fact though).

    Although these types of things don’t happen when I am long distances away from water, I spent alot of time inland and on the coast, most of my dreams and relaxation comes when I am near the water.

    I don’t think it is particulaly connected to the full moon, but also the moons location in the sky, I always look forward to the full moon comming around, always somthing interesting going on.

    • Crystal | 15 May 2014

      Well, my being up once a month for a 3 or 4 night span with my toddler is making sense now. We moved into a home next to a river a few months ago. Before this time, he slept fine.

  11. Strawb | 18 January 2014

    I can never sleep when it’s a full moon. No matter what i do sleep is the last thing that is happening. It drives me up the wall but i’m now used to it. But it always happens when there is a full moon. Does this happen to anyone else?

    • Shaii | 19 January 2014

      Thank Gosh, someone else. I’ve been experiencing the same thing!

      • Anonymous | 31 March 2014

        me too

        • Lynda | 8 September 2014

          I get very tired but go to sleep and then wake up in the night and cant sleep and generally feel exhausted. I am born under the sign of Cancer which is a sign that is ruled by the moon

          • Kay | 4 December 2014

            Same here. If earlier I had trouble sleeping during full moon then now I’m awake all night. And not just one night but few nights before full moon and few after. I’m cancer also. I guess that’s why it makes it even worth.

          • Anonymous | 9 March 2015

            I am cancerian too and being a water sign it really makes sense to me that tbe moon.could exert this pull on the fluid in the body just as it pulls the water on earth in and out

    • chantal | 10 February 2014

      I know when the Full moon is coming by the lack of sleep I get. I’ll be up for hours and hours and it can last from 4-7 days of almost no sleep. Nothing works (melatonin, camomile tea…). I know lots of people who suffer from this but I was able to associate it with the Full moon. I hate it.

    • Cathy | 14 March 2014

      I am sitting here at 4:42 a.m. on March 14, 2014. I haven’t slept well in three nights and not at all tonight. This happens every full moon. If I take a sleep aid during this time it has the opposite affect on me.

      • Jim | 20 March 2014

        Have you been to a doctor? I’ve always had the same problem, doctoe looks at me like I’m nuts when I told him it was the moon. But if I take prescription Lunesta I can sleep 5 or more hours.

    • Anonymous | 12 May 2014

      Same for me here…it is 220 am and I can’t sleep been up since 1230am…the few days before a full moon I can never get a good nights rest….

      • Anonymous | 13 May 2014

        The last few nights i go to sleep for an hr and wake up and it taked me hours to get back to sleep. Only picked it tonight when i woke up and my legs are in so much pain. Haha noticed when we had the eclipses last month that my legs were in pain so just checked the moon cycle and am spot on.

    • Anonymous | 9 March 2015

      Yes I experience the same. It is accompanied by a churning uncomfortable sensation. I feel tbe moon draws out energies analogous to the ebb and flow of tide.

  12. Christina | 16 January 2014

    My son was diagnosed with late onset bi polar in October Three days before full moon and the full moon night itself he has had mania. Thoughts start to race which turns into insomnia which turns into mania. Fortunately each month that goes by it is less. Last night he took his sleep aid and takes melatonin if that does not work. Every night before full moon his sleep aid and melatonin worked but last night he woke at 3pm and was up an hour or less. So far no mania.

  13. Jenna | 16 January 2014

    Night #2 of no sleep. I fall asleep quickly during the full moon, sleep for an average of 3 hours, then wake up and remain awake for anywhere from 3-5 hours during the full moon. It’s currently 0410 and I’ve been awake since 0020. Ughhhhh

    • chantal | 10 February 2014

      Same thing for me. I’ll fall asleep real fast but am totally awake at 2:00 am and can’t fall back to sleep until 5:00 am (then it’s broken sleep until I have to get up for the kids at 6:30am).

  14. Cathy | 15 January 2014

    I have had problems sleeping for as long as I can. remember but when there is a full moon I dream the craziest and very vivid dreams. Also my girls go days beeing cranky. I believe the full moon changes a lot of things. We all know it changes the tides. Think about it!

  15. Jim, Palm Springs, CA | 14 January 2014

    Last Aprils full moon effected me like no other, it actually made me physically and mentally ill to the point I had to go to the Dr. to get tranquilizers to knock myself out because I was going out of my mind! Those helped but, now I am terrified of full moons as they seem to be getting stronger the older I get. The full moons in the summer months? Are heavenly because i have people attracted to me like glue!!! But when the moons over, its back to normal, NOTHING. Is there anyone else out there like this?

    • Jim, Palm Springs, CA | 14 January 2014

      P.S, the full moons effect me for 3 days before and, 3 days after, that’s allot of nights with NO sleep.

    • Brenda, Florid | 15 January 2014

      While my “full moon insomnia” isn’t nearly as long or intense as yours, I is undeniable: As a 50 year old mom/wife, I am almost at 24 hours of being awake…wondered if it was the moon but it’s been behind the rain clouds so definitely not the brightness. Then I checked my calendar and Yep! Full Moon! I truly thought that after my total hysterectomy the full moon would no longer affect my sleep.
      There *must* be some scientific explanation…I’m usually a sound sleeper, like clockwork every night. Hmmmmmmm

  16. Kathy | 14 January 2014

    I get very restless around full moon. I have always been like this. I long for a crazy adventure or a long night of love making. I want to howl at the moon so to speak. I have never known why I feel like this. I do know I have a very hard time resting.

  17. Anonymous | 14 January 2014

    Awake since 2:00;) . Not sure if it’s moon . I’ll have to be more aware. I get insomnia sometimes usually lasts 3 to 5 days.not sure if it’s always on full moon. I wake up a
    Lot between 2-4 but normally go right back to sleep. Except on insomnia. Nights

  18. Wanda | 19 December 2013

    It’s the MOON!

  19. Rob | 16 December 2013

    I got 3 hrs of sleep last night. Have been up since 6am. Yet here I am wide awake and cannot sleep took two doses of nyquil and not the slightest effect. For me it is usually the night before a full moon. It is currently 4:32 am here.

  20. Romeo | 16 December 2013

    Dec 15, 2013. Not sure when the full moon is exactly but I can feel the phase coming and it peaks on the night of the full moon most certainly. Extremely restless, body is tired but sleep is very poor and difficult. Intense bad and graphic dreams. My dogs dream more as well. Has nothing to do with melatonin and light.

  21. Fiona | 17 November 2013

    Awake since 2.00am .. Now it’s 4.49 … Full moon in London!

    • Barbara | 19 November 2013

      Awake since 3:00 a.m. Tired but can’t sleep. This happens every single month in the full moon and the new moon phase. Moon can affect the tides when it’s full. We are mostly water. Why not us. Right now it’s 4:01. Want to sleep so much.

  22. Martyn | 16 October 2013

    Has anyone managed to find a cure and ensure we CAN we get a good night’s sleep when it is a full moon?

    • Angie | 19 November 2013

      Vodka 2 shots. Slept hard. But don’t want to make that a habit.

      • Wanda | 19 December 2013

        LOL

    • NM | 15 December 2016

      I noticed that every so often I just CAN NOT sleep. I mean like not be able to fall asleep till 6-7 AM. I don’t even drink coffee or any other stimulants. It is currently 5:12 AM and it took me so many years until now to actually link not being able to sleep with a full moon! Woow witchy or what lol. I also get restless and my dreams are just plain creepyly vivid.

  23. Anonymous | 22 August 2013

    Wow and I thought I was the only one that can’t sleep on a full Moon.I take a sleeping aid plus Melatonin and that puts me to sleep normally but not on a full Moon. This is too strange.

    • Suzie | 20 September 2013

      Dito – EXACTLY what happens to Anonymous, also happens to me!!! Taking my normal Melatonin, plus other herbs (Zyzyphus/Lactium/Chamomile) always works on other nights, but NOT on full moons.
      Hate it … Is it “Tidal”… ie pulling water out of our brains/bodies or something, as I also have to get up a lot to go to the toilet during the night on full moons.
      Nothing we can do.

  24. Mom of two little ones in northern Sweden | 21 August 2013

    Full Moon yesterday, and I could not sleep! I fell asleep at 10:30 pm until my boy wanted diaper change at 2:45. it is now 5 am and I am sick of this impossibility to go back to sleep, despite reading, drinking warm, exercising in the day, etc. It feels like my brain just cannot power down, not until the sun goes up…. Well I finally made the connection when I noticed a huge full Moon yesterday. I cant see anything else, no unusual worries or so.

    Why is it this way?Will tomorrow be better? Did God have a purpose for this somehow?? Good morning!

  25. Spot | 22 July 2013

    I’m glad I’m not the only one! Full moon tonight and I’m awake – again – this is something that happens far too often and too regularly to be a coincidence. Noticed a long time ago that I struggle with sleep at full moon.

    • Anonymous | 23 July 2013

      Awake here also. This supermoon is going to make us super tired. Do you also usually have a strong connection to other environmental affects?

  26. Sis | 21 July 2013

    I have been sleepless at the time of the Full Moon for most of my adult life. Even if I do sleep, I am exhausted the next day so, it never feels as if I have slept. So happy I found these comments. People have looked at me funny if I mention this!

    • Jim, Palm Springs, CA | 14 January 2014

      Hi, I read your comments posted on your sleep loss during the full moon, you sound allot like me but, last Aprils full moon effected me like no other, it actually made me physically and mentally ill to the point I had to go to t he Dr. to get tranquilizers to knock myself out. To say the least those helped, now I am terrified of full moons as they seem to be getting stronger the older I get.

  27. Stephanie | 19 July 2013

    ugh can’t sleep right now, and the moon is almost full! I made the connection between bad or no sleep a couple of years ago. I’m soooo tired, I really want to sleep! but my brain is very active. at least I don’t have restless legs tonight! it’s almost 3… I’m going to try to sleep again. wish me luck!

  28. Anonymous | 24 June 2013

    I literally do not sleep on nights which have a full moon. I feel more energetic too, no sense of fatigue, even after a long day.

    • Anonymous | 25 June 2013

      I feel like I can’t breathe and I am am also awake but tired at the same time do u know why please reply I also have nightmares when I am awake

  29. Lisa | 24 June 2013

    When I went to bed last night I wasn’t tired
    Even after playing sports and resting after the game during the day which any other time in the month would encourage a good nights sleep.
    I don’t take sleeping pills as such but on occasion I will have two herbal calming tablets which I new I needed last night but woke at 3am and that’s been it! It’s now 6:45 am and I’ve had chamomile tea again which is my per bedtime drink every night!
    Still no sleep so I just checked for the first time on full moon calendar and as usual realised last night was a full moon.
    It’s been the same for years and nothing I do seems to induce a normal sleep , yes my eyes are tired but not my body or my brain. I eat well exercise regularly try not to drink alcohol before bed and have one coffee in the morning and no other caffeine so I know it’s more than the obvious. I’m awestruck with the beauty of the moon and stars and totally agree that there must be some influence from the moon as the atmosphere feels different to me. I’ve rambled a bit but am fascinated by it all

  30. Amelya | 24 June 2013

    Full moon tonight, restless and can’t sleep…

  31. Jo, Queensland Australia | 22 June 2013

    Full moon tonight. I didn’t realise until I could not sleep. This always happens for a few nights around full moon for me

  32. Natalie | 19 June 2013

    I used to work in a solicitors and domestic violence and anti social behaviour nearly always increased during a full moon. I also find I wake up feeling tired because my dreams are random and strange during the week before a full moon. I feel this even when I am not aware it is a full moon or the night sky isn’t clear and I am unable to see the moonlight. I believe 100% in its effects but wish I experienced sound sleep and an abundance of energy like others do!

  33. SEER | 30 May 2013

    In the bible there are many interesting things about why God created the Sun and Moon & Stars. I recommend some Books to Read.
    1st the Bible.
    2nd the Evidence Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell.
    3rd Cracking the Hidden Bible Code by Jeffrey Satinover.
    4th I would goto http://www.kanaanministries.org/downloads & download free PDFs about Warfare in the Heavenlies & many other topics. You will find many answers there.

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