One Thing That Isn't Better

Taking up jogging has greatly improved so many areas in my life. I feel physically stronger, have a better self-image, eat less while still feeling satisfied, and am losing weight. But there is one area of life that has actually gotten worse since I started exercising, and I am quite surprised about it. I'm talking about sleep. I figured exercise would improve my sleep, but so far that has not been the case. I am finding it more difficult to fall asleep to begin with, and I often wake in the night and have trouble returning to sleep. Most disturbing is the increase in nightmares.

I am not the kind to regularly have nightmares, but in the past 3 or so weeks I have had lots of vivid, terrifying dreams. The dreams are all over the map as far as circumstances and characters involved, but they have all been extremely upsetting. Several times I have been unable to go back to sleep because a dream unsettled me so completely.

I have no idea why this is happening, or even if it is 100% tied to my new running routine. I do run late evenings many times, which might make going to bed at 10 PM difficult for my body. I wonder if this is a common complaint for people who begin exercising regularly or if I am just plain strange.