People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often experiencenightmaresin which they re-experience the trauma they went through.
The prevalence of PTSD nightmares seems to be higher among people with a coexisting anxiety or panic disorder.
This article will go over how PTSD can causesleep disturbancessuch as nightmares, and what treatment options are available.
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How PTSD Affects Sleep
PTSD is a combination of symptoms that occur as a result of trauma.
It is characterized by intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and flashbacks of past traumatic events.
If you suffer from PTSD, you may often re-experience the trauma that you endured.
This may occur during the day or at night.
Nighttime memories often manifest as distressing dreams or nightmares in which the event is relived.
Additionally, intrusive daytime memories, called flashbacks, may occur.
This may be associated with significantanxiety.
These symptoms may lead to difficulties falling or staying asleep, which is characteristic ofinsomnia.
It is estimated that nightmares occur in 5% of all people.
In a study of combat veterans, 88% reported nightmares that occurred at least once per week.
Researchers have also found that PTSD, nightmares and suicidal thoughts are closely linked.
Why PTSD Affects Sleep
The disorder itself seems to result from gene-environment interaction.
Serotonin, in addition, has important effects on modulating emotions and sleep.
There are multiple sub-types of CBT available, including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).
Cognitive Processing Therapy helps to train you to replace these negative thoughts with more accurate and less distressing thoughts.
With exposure therapy, you will learn to have less fear about your memories.
Any associated thoughts, feelings, or situations that remind you of the trauma will become less distressing.
This is accomplished in part through desensitization.
This helps you to address upsetting thoughts and defuse bad memories by dealing with them incrementally.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
This therapy helps you to change how you react to traumatic memories.
While thinking or talking about these recollections, you focus your mind on other stimuli.
These may include eye movements, hand taps, or even repetitive sounds.
The therapist may wave a hand in front of you and you simply follow the movements with your eyes.
Medications
Beyond these therapies, medications also may have a role in treating PTSD symptoms.
There are some that are directed toward the specific symptoms.
In the case of nightmares, a medication calledprazosinhas been found to be effective.
Its side effects include drops in blood pressure, headache, and lethargy.
There are many other psychiatric medications that can be effective in treating the symptoms associated with PTSD.
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