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. The nightmares may occur multiple times per week and can be very distressing and disruptive to the sleep of the affected person and others in the household.
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
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.
You will likely notice that you also have increased arousal, meaning that you are more reactive to your environment. 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. Some research suggests that genetic factors affecting the transport of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that transmits signals, may play a role. Serotonin, in addition, has important effects on modulating emotions and sleep.
Understanding Nightmare Disorder
Treatments
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.
CPT may aid you in coping with feelings of anger, guilt, and fear associated with the prior trauma. A therapist can help you to process the event, learn not to blame yourself, and discover that the incident was not your fault.
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.
By thinking about the trauma in a controlled, safe environment, you will gradually be less stressed or anxious about the event.
In addition, relaxation techniques such asbreathingor progressive muscle relaxation can be integrated to help relieve anxiety when reviewing a stressful memory.
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.
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. These include the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) used to treat anxiety and depression, such as:
In many cases, a combination of appropriate medication and therapy can be highly effective to improve or resolve the condition.
A Word From Verywell
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.National Institute of Mental Health.El-Solh AA.Management of nightmares in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder: current perspectives.Nat Sci Sleep. 2018;10:409–420. doi:10.2147/NSS.S166089Norrholm SD, Ressler KJ. Genetics of anxiety and trauma-related disorders.Neuroscience. 2009;164(1):272–287. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.06.036Kar N.Cognitive behavioral therapy for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: a review.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2011;7:167–181. doi:10.2147/NDT.S10389Kung S, Espinel Z, Lapid MI.Treatment of nightmares with prazosin: a systematic review.Mayo Clin Proc. 2012;87(9):890–900. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2012.05.015
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Kung S, Espinel Z, Lapid MI.Treatment of nightmares with prazosin: a systematic review.Mayo Clin Proc. 2012;87(9):890–900. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2012.05.015
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