Stress from any traumatic event can cause different problems associated with sleep. When your body is being overstimulated, the brain is flooded with neurochemicals like adrenaline which will constantly try to keep you awake at night. This can interfere with your normal cycle of sleep which can lead to insomnia, daytime fatigue, and bad dreams. 

Common Traumas That Affect Sleeping Patterns. 

Issues with sleeping are a common symptom of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This is normally experienced by those people who are in one or more unwanted situations, which can cause numerous events. 

Consider the following traumas which are responsible for sleeplessness.

  • Troubling thoughts and flashbacks
  • People who feel a need to maintain a great vigilance level
  • People who have already experienced violent situations, leading to restlessness and anxiety. 
  • Irregular sleeping patterns, i.e. waking up/staying up late or taking naps in the middle of the day
  • Nightmares can be responsible for frightening survivors, which will also interfere with the efforts associated with falling asleep. 

Coping

For people who are responsible for experiencing sleep problems, several recommendations are given to those with ongoing sleeping problems, 

Sleep experts and GPs offer patients several different ways to reduce the feelings associated with stress before going to bed. 

For instance, you should avoid watching the news before going to sleep, make sure that you are avoiding coffee both in the afternoon as well as evening, take a bath before bedtime, and avoid daytime naps if they are interfering with your regular sleep cycle. 

If you find out that your problems persist, do not forget to see the doctors. 

Tips

Given below is a list of tips that will help you to avoid the effects of trauma on sleep

  • Make sure you are sleeping in locations that make you feel safe and rested. 
  • Ensure that you are creating an environment that is ideal for sleeping. 
  • You should engage in some activity that is relaxing and non-alerting. For instance, reading a book or listening to your relaxing music. 
  • Avoid eating or drinking too much before going to bed. Drinking alcohol before bedtime can harm sleep. 
  • Increase your sleep time is an obvious but effective way to combat a lack of sleep. If it takes you awhile to get to sleep when you are in your bed, going to bed earlier may help solve the problem

Conclusion

Although bad sleeping patterns is only one of the many symptoms of those who suffer from trauma, it is very easy for bad sleeping habits to affect other aspects of your life. Changing your sleeping habits is also one symptom that you can actively change on your own. That being said, if none of these tips work we recommend you seek out your local GP for further advice.

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