11/24/2025
Why does sleep feel so hard after experiencing trauma?
Research shows the brain actually changes the way it sleeps.
After trauma, the body often stays on high alert, even in calm moments.
That constant readiness for danger makes it difficult to truly rest, because your nervous system still doesn’t trust safety.
Studies show disrupted sleep, especially REM sleep, can make it harder to regulate fear and process emotional memories. It’s not “just insomnia.” It’s your body trying to protect you from the inside out.
But there’s hope.
When trauma therapy helps restore a sense of safety, sleep often begins to heal too.
And with better sleep comes calmer emotions, stronger resilience, and a body that finally feels safe enough to rest.
💛 Save this if you’ve been wondering why rest feels impossible lately.
💛 Share it with someone who might need to hear that their sleepless nights make sense.
📖 Research: Socci, V. et al. (2020). Sleep, Stress, and Trauma. Journal of Psychopathology, 26:92–98. https://doi.org/10.36148/2284-0249-375
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