Trouble Sleeping?

Having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or just not feeling rested in the morning? You’re not alone! Sleep difficulties are common when people are under stress, especially after a trauma. Stress releases chemicals in the body and brain (such as adrenaline) that keep us wound up, even when it is time for bed.

Have you been struggling with any of these common sleep problems since your trauma?

• Troubling thoughts and images that make falling asleep difficult
• Feeling more vigilant or alert than usual, making it tough to calm down enough to sleep
• Once asleep, you wake up from nightmares… which make getting back to sleep really hard
• Nighttime and darkness, in and of themselves, bring on added anxiety and restlessness, making sleep more difficult than normal
• You take a lot of naps lately, so at bedtime you aren’t tired or can’t sleep through the night
• You’ve been using alcohol or drugs to help deal with your trauma which seem to be making sleep problems worse