How does trauma impact sleep?

Psychology

Trauma can significantly disrupt sleep, leading to issues such as insomnia, nightmares, and restless sleep. Individuals who have experienced trauma often struggle with falling asleep or staying asleep due to heightened anxiety and hyperarousal, where the body remains in a state of alertness even when there is no immediate threat. Nightmares or flashbacks can also occur during sleep, causing individuals to wake up frequently and feel unrested.

These sleep disturbances can have a cascading effect on overall health, exacerbating symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and impairing daily functioning. Lack of restorative sleep can also reduce the body’s ability to heal and recover, further complicating the effects of trauma.

Effective trauma therapy often includes strategies to improve sleep. At Human Integrated Performance, we incorporate techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to help individuals manage their trauma-related sleep issues. These approaches can help reduce anxiety, calm the mind, and establish healthier sleep patterns.

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