Understanding the Link Between PTSD and Sleep

It is estimated that one in eleven people will be diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder sometime in their lifetime. Whether a traumatic event was experienced recently, or even decades ago, the effects linger on in the minds of PTSD sufferers.

For those impacted by trauma, the upsetting visual images and event flashbacks can worsen in sleep—a time where we can’t control thoughts or stimuli. In order to bring back the peace and restoration sleep is intended for; we need to understand the symptoms of PTSD as well as how strategic sleep can alleviate them.

PTSD and Sleep

According to the Mayo Clinic, PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) symptoms can include recurrent and intrusive memories, avoidance of places or things tied to a traumatic event, negative changes in thinking or mood, and changes in physical or emotional reactions.

While the intensity of these symptoms varies by person and situation, the overarching problem is a lack of feeling safe in daily situations. So, what happens when bedtime and the opportunity for respite from the outside world bring insomnia and/or intense and disruptive dreams?

Study: Sleep Disturbance and PTSD [1]

And because PTSD is already associated with increased disruptions during sleep, many people find themselves trapped in a cycle of sleeplessness. Not only does this rob the body’s opportunity to rest and repair, but it also hinders the chemical processes that those with PTSD need most.

One of the most impacted processes is the body’s growth hormone production—a huge contributor to body and brain function.

Particularly in veterans who experienced combat-related PTSD, research is now finding their lower GH production leads to impaired memory consolidation. [2] This isn’t completely unique to veterans as we know that memory consolidation is a massive part of slow-wave sleep; however, veterans’ studies are completed more consistently and are therefore easier to find and track trends.

This is important for anyone struggling with PTSD as the broader implication of memory loss and memory consolidation disruption is alarming.

Prioritizing Deep Sleep

Slow-wave sleep or the deepest phase of Non-REM sleep is a staple in quality sleep. Our brain waves are determined by our thoughts and feelings, and during this phase of sleep slow brain waves or “delta activity” are most prominent. These waves represent a deep, meditative state considered the deepest sleep phase.

The job of delta activity is to “suspend external awareness” and allow the stimulation of regeneration in the body. “That is why deep restorative sleep is so essential to the healing process,” according to the Brainworks Neurotherapy Clinic.

It’s easy to feel the effects of deep sleep or lack thereof. We feel sluggish, struggle to work as efficiently, and often act irritable. But for PTSD sufferers, achieving sleep, specifically deep sleep is imperative to allow the brain to process difficult memories.

Read More: How Much Deep Sleep Do You Need?

Not only will slow-wave sleep help brain function but it also “induces the secretion of growth hormone release in the hypothalamus”, a specific concern for PTSD sufferers. Recent studies show that growth hormone is significantly lower in PTSD sufferers than the average person. [3]

Improving these growth hormone levels will lead to better amino acid uptake, protein synthesis, and metabolism function. It provides neuroprotection and increased neurogenesis (stem cell production) for those that need it most.

Your Sleep Recipe

Once we start to understand the importance and benefits of deep sleep, it’s often hard to know where to begin making changes. Especially for those with overwhelming PTSD, the thought of adding tasks to a full mental load seems daunting. The best, first step is always just to begin. Don’t feel like you need to make multiple changes in one day.

Simple Sleep Changes

Look at your current schedule and find ways to remove variables that could contribute to poor sleep habits. For example, consuming alcohol, raising your heart rate close to bedtime, or anything that raises your core body temperature are recipes for disruptive sleep.

Your body is relying on your habits to trigger and accommodate its natural need to sleep when it is cool, dark, and safe. If you focus on these three aspects alone, you’re already on the right track.

Simple Cooler at Night

Dimming the lights and building a cozy environment can be done fairly quickly, but ensuring your core body temperature is lowered takes some navigating. While many of us feel inclined to simply lower the A/C, this isn't enough to actually alter our body temperature.

Alternative, faster-acting solutions include: taking a warm bath which then leads to a body temperature drop after or utilizing a cooling solution directly under your bedsheets. Night sweats can decrease sleep quality and make it difficult to fall asleep.

Sleep Hygiene

Sleep hygiene is the combination of influences of your daily routine, bedroom environment, and bed on your quality of sleep. It also includes maintaining regular times for going to bed and getting up, making your bedroom more comfortable, and more. It's about removing obstacles within the sleep environment.

For example, make sure your room is dark, you're sleeping on a comfortable mattress, and the room is at the right temperature. Good sleep hygiene will not fix your sleeping troubles but will ensure you maximize your sleep conditions.

Regular Exercise

By performing moderate to strenuous exercises throughout the day not only helps you burn excess energy, but it can help you become more relaxed leading up to bedtime. Exercise has proven to help improve sleep. A study found that those who exercised regularly reported better sleep, less pain, and reduced overall PTSD symptoms than individuals who did less exercise.

Sleep Study: The Effects of Physical Activity on PTSD [4]

We specialize in lowering core body temperature. We encourage you to compare different bed cooling system options to see what works best for you. These small steps will lead you to more restful sleep, stay asleep, and aid in restoring precious brain connections and optimal performance.

Finding Hope, and Sleep After Trauma

For trauma survivors, the world becomes a different, less safe space. Each day presents unique challenges and opportunities for triggers that many could never understand. Sleeplessness on top of an already chaotic mindset only adds to this stress.

While science is still only scratching the surface of how to help those with PTSD, there is hope in knowing there are tools like temperature-controlled weighted blankets and cooling mattress toppers to promote better sleep, and a better quality of life.

Trauma continues to be a part of so many lives. It leaves scars in the heart and mind that make self-care even more challenging. But by protecting your mind and body; building a safe space that you can revisit whenever the world seems like too much, you will feel better prepared for each new challenge.

You Are Not Alone

For information and help coping with PTSD, please consult the following resources:

If this safe space in your bedroom, remember to keep it cool, dark, and safe so your parasympathetic nervous system knows you are protected. By building this safe, sacred space, you can take back your sleep and then begin to tackle even more areas of daily life.

Create a safe space. Protect your body and mind. Prioritize a steady sleep schedule. Then, you can continue working on other self-care habits that will only deepen the relationship with your body and mind that PTSD so often works to destroy.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): (800) 950-NAMI (6264). Available Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST, hotline staff are prepared to answer any mental health questions you may have. If you prefer, you can also text NAMI to 741741 for free support.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): (800) 662-HELP (4357). Available 24/7, 365 days a year, the professionals on the phone can provide treatment information and referrals in English and Spanish to people who have questions about mental health or substance abuse disorders.
• Mentalhealth.gov: (877) 726?4727. This hotline is available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST to provide mental health information and treatment referrals.
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): 1-866-615-6464(toll-free), 1-301-443-8431 (TTY), or 1-866-415-8051 (TTY toll-free). Available between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST, professionals can answer any mental health-related question in English or Spanish and attend to requests for copies of NIMH brochures.