In "Fresh Complaint," Jeffrey Eugenides explores the idea that the fears we experience during the night are often deceptive. He suggests that, during the late hours, our minds are in a vulnerable state, making it easy for anxiety and despair to distort our reality. What may feel like profound truths in these moments are actually the result of mental exhaustion and not genuine insights.

Eugenides encourages readers to recognize these nighttime terrors for what they truly are: illusions created by a fatigued psyche. Instead of succumbing to the despair that seems overwhelming, he advocates for dismissing these thoughts, highlighting the importance of understanding that they do not reflect reality.