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When Trauma Strikes and Sleep is Lost

Summary & Participants

The tragedy of life-altering events can turn your world upside down. It can have a tremendous emotional impact as well as the potential for causing the loss of good sleep. While time can heal, experts suggest there are a variety of positive steps people can take to tackle poor sleep. Seeking support by talking to friends and family may lessen trauma's effects on sleep. Paying attention to sleep habits is suggested while there are also medications that will help get sleep back on track.

Medically Reviewed On: July 17, 2008

Webcast Transcript

THOMAS A. MELLMAN, MD: Keeping a diary might render a person more attentive to their habits about sleep, and may become obvious to them what some of the maladaptive habits are. Staying awake for prolonged periods in bed and just getting frustrated, as opposed to leaving the bedroom if sleep is not forthcoming.

ANNOUNCER: Doctors also suggest avoiding things like coffee, exercise or alcohol before bedtime. Relaxation techniques can be helpful. There are also over-the-counter as well as prescription medications that can get the problem sleeper back on track.

CHARLES F. REYNOLDS, MD: For folks who are suffering from an acute or short-term sleep disturbance in the wake of a traumatic or threatening life event, very often the short-term use of sleeping pills can be a real help.

ANNOUNCER: Prescription medications fall into two classes benzodiazepines and non- benzodiazepines. Experts feel that such medication needs to be accompanied by real efforts to deal with the trauma.

CHARLES F. REYNOLDS, MD: It's important to help the bereaved person who may be having trouble sleeping get a better night's sleep, but also to re-establish social connections in their lives, not to withdraw, and to re-establish a stable routine of both physical and social activities.

ANNOUNCER: While it may be difficult to deal with trauma there can be consequences of not addressing the event.

CHARLES F. REYNOLDS, MD: Perhaps 10 to 20 percent of older Americans who experience the loss of a spouse will also develop clinically significant depression. Very often, those are folks who have severe sleep disturbance in the wake of a bereavement.

THOMAS A. MELLMAN, MD: There certainly are hints that prolonged stress reactions may be translated into increased rates of cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension; problems with headaches; chronic pain syndromes some of which may be engendered by chronic disruption to sleep.

ANNOUNCER: Experts urge that it's always best to seek professional help if problems persist.

CHARLES F. REYNOLDS, MD: My advice both to patients and family members would be seek help, reach out, don't suffer in silence.

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