By: Sophia O’Rourke

Have you ever woken up out of a nightmare and wondered why?  Sleep disturbance is something we have all experienced, but studies suggest that sleep disturbance is much higher in those that suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). “Changes in sleep, and particularly REM sleep, are symptoms of psychiatric disorders, especially PTSD.” When we are asleep, we enter a phase of REM or Rapid Eye Movement sleep which is associated with vivid dreams. During this sleep cycle, our body attempts to sort and reprocess memories and emotions in order to move on and be able to absorb more. When a traumatized individual enters REM sleep, the brain can struggle to calm itself during sleep which may explain why nightmares and frequent waking are so common. Evidence shows that those who suffer from PTSD have a higher heart rate on average which could be caused by the increased sense of fight or flight which is also associated with higher levels of norepinephrine. Disruptions during REM sleep may suggest that the trauma cannot be processed effectively and might explain why PTSD symptoms can become more persistent with time, especially without treatment.

People with PTSD also report often having nightmares which may be reoccurring, this leads to the fear of falling asleep for some and can lead to insomnia. Lack of sleep can interfere with your daytime feelings, attitude and productivity which can make matters worse. Research indicates that those who suffer from PTSD are more likely to turn to substances and alcohol in order to cope with the trauma. These substances further stress your body and can lead to more fragmented REM sleep. If you find yourself sleepless and feel the need to rely on certain substances to aid in sleep, seek help from your doctor as soon as possible. 

When discussing REM sleep, it is also important to discuss the ways that it is related to EMDR Therapy. In this kind of therapy, the client is told to follow a moving object which is most often the therapist’s finger and recount/think about their trauma or traumatic event. The role that eye movements play in this kind of therapy is pivotal in reprocessing traumatizing memories without re-traumatizing the patient. Patients say that they do not feel the emotions as intensely as usual when participating in this kind of therapy and report lower trauma scores afterward. If sleep disruption or trauma symptoms are affecting your quality of life, trauma-informed therapies like EMDR can help restore both emotional balance and restful sleep.

If you or someone you know may be struggling with loneliness, or their mental health, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/ .

                                                                   

 Sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7170365/

https://www.jneurosci.org/content/43/3/433