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The Overlooked Link Between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD and Sleep Disorders
- Lovelyne A Ngeche PMHNP-BC
- Oct 6, 2025
- 3 min read
Sleep is meant to be a refuge — a time for the body and mind to restore. But for many veterans and military retirees living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep is anything but peaceful. Nightmares, racing thoughts, and restless nights often become part of daily life. Understanding the deep connection between PTSD and sleep disorders can be the first step toward healing.
page Contents:
How PTSD Affects the Mind and Body
PTSD is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It often involves reliving that trauma through flashbacks, intrusive memories, and nightmares. While it's commonly associated with combat veterans, PTSD can result from a wide range of distressing experiences, including accidents, assault, or natural disasters.
At its core, PTSD keeps the brain in a constant state of high alert. This heightened state of arousal, also known as hypervigilance, can interfere with almost every part of daily life — especially sleep.
Common PTSD Symptoms That Disrupt Sleep
Nightmares or distressing dreams about the trauma
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
Waking up feeling panicked or alert
Fear of sleeping or being vulnerable at night
Heightened startle response
These symptoms often lead to insomnia, one of the most common sleep disorders seen in veterans with PTSD.
What Is Insomnia and Why Does It Matter?
Insomnia is more than an occasional sleepless night. It’s a chronic condition marked by trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early — often with a feeling of fatigue the next day.
At Loving Minds Psychiatry Services, we treat both short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) insomnia. Left unaddressed, chronic insomnia can worsen other conditions, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD itself. It's a cycle — PTSD makes it hard to sleep, and poor sleep makes PTSD symptoms worse.
Why Sleep Disorders Are So Common in PTSD
The brain regions that manage fear and stress, like the amygdala, are overactive in people with PTSD. This means the body stays in "fight or flight" mode, even during rest. The natural sleep cycle is disrupted, especially the REM phase, which is critical for emotional processing and memory consolidation.
In addition, traumatic memories often resurface at night when the mind is quiet. For many veterans, nighttime becomes the most difficult part of the day.
Real Help Is Available
Breaking the cycle of PTSD and sleep disorders starts with the right support. At Loving Minds Psychiatry Services in Downers Grove, IL, we provide compassionate, expert care through telehealth for veterans and military retirees across Illinois.
Our Approach to Trauma-Related Disorders
We offer evidence-based treatments that include:
Medication Management: When appropriate, medications can help reduce hyperarousal, ease nightmares, and support better sleep.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Especially helpful for PTSD and insomnia, CBT addresses harmful thought patterns and teaches practical tools for coping.
Trauma-Focused Therapy: These sessions are designed to help veterans process and reframe traumatic memories in a safe, supportive environment.
How We Treat Insomnia
Effective insomnia treatment at our clinic includes:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I): This gold-standard therapy helps retrain your sleep habits and change the way you think about sleep.
Lifestyle and Sleep Hygiene Coaching: We work with you to create routines that promote restful sleep, including limiting screen time, adjusting bedtime rituals, and managing caffeine or alcohol use.
Relaxation Techniques: Breathing exercises, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation can ease nighttime anxiety.
Our goal is not just to treat symptoms, but to restore your sense of peace and daily function.
You Are Not Alone
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, between 11 and 20 percent of veterans from recent conflicts experience PTSD each year. Many also suffer from insomnia, sleep apnea, or other sleep disorders — often silently. But sleep issues are not just “part of the job” or something to push through.
Healing is possible, and it begins with recognition and support.
Take the Next Step Toward Better Rest
If you’re a veteran or military retiree struggling with sleep problems linked to trauma, we see you — and we’re here to help. Our telehealth psychiatry services make it easy to get expert care without leaving home.
At Loving Minds Psychiatry Services, we offer personalized, compassionate treatment to help you regain control of your nights — and your life.
Reach out today to learn more or schedule an appointment. Let us help you find your way back to restful sleep.
