Can Anxiety Cause Chronic Insomnia?
Can Anxiety Cause Chronic Insomnia? By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Yes, anxiety can absolutely cause chronic insomnia. It can also maintain it long after the original stressor has passed. In my clinical work, I often see that people are not just struggling with sleep. They are struggling with a nervous system that has learned […]
Sleep Hypnosis vs CBT-I: What’s the Difference?
Sleep Hypnosis vs CBT-I: What’s the Difference? By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Sleep hypnosis vs CBT-I is a common question for people who want help with insomnia without relying only on medication. Sleep hypnosis and CBT-I can both help with insomnia, but they are not the same treatment. Sleep hypnosis is usually used to […]
Cognitive Distortions: How Unhelpful Thinking Affects Sleep, Anxiety, PTSD, and Recovery
Cognitive Distortions: How Unhelpful Thinking Affects Sleep, Anxiety, PTSD, and Recovery By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Yes, the way you think can make sleep, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, and emotional distress worse. That does not mean your symptoms are your fault. It means that thoughts, emotions, physical symptoms, and behavior influence one another. When the […]
Why Trauma Affects Sleep for Years
Why Trauma Affects Sleep for Years By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Trauma affects sleep for years because the body may continue operating as if danger is still nearby, even when the traumatic event is over. That is why trauma affects sleep long after the event has ended. A person may intellectually know, “I am […]
What Is Sleep Hypnosis?
What Is Sleep Hypnosis? By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Sleep hypnosis is a focused, guided therapeutic process that helps the mind and body move out of alertness and toward a calmer state that is more compatible with sleep. It is not magic, mind control, or stage entertainment. In clinical practice, sleep hypnosis is best […]
How EMDR Works
How EMDR Works By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. EMDR works by helping the brain reprocess disturbing memories so they no longer feel as emotionally intense, threatening, or present in daily life. The memory is not erased. The goal is that the nervous system no longer reacts to the memory as if the danger is […]
Sleep Anxiety and Insomnia: Why Fear of Not Sleeping Keeps You Awake
Sleep Anxiety and Insomnia: Why Fear of Not Sleeping Keeps You Awake By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Sleep anxiety can keep insomnia going because the fear of not sleeping activates the same nervous system response that prevents sleep. The person may be exhausted, but the mind starts monitoring, calculating, predicting failure, and worrying about […]
Why You Can’t Sleep Even When You’re Exhausted
Why You Can’t Sleep Even When You’re Exhausted By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. If you are tired but can’t sleep, the problem is usually not a lack of exhaustion. It is often a state of nervous-system activation. Your body may be worn down, your eyes may feel heavy, and you may be desperate for […]
Can Gut Health Affect Anxiety, Inflammation, and Sleep?
Can Gut Health Affect Anxiety, Inflammation, and Sleep? By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Gut health and sleep are connected, but not in the simple way often promoted online. Food does not cure chronic insomnia, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, or depression. Nutrition can support the body’s biological systems, including gut health, inflammation, blood sugar stability, immune […]
ADHD and Sleep: Why Children Have Sleep Problems and Bedtime Battles
ADHD and Sleep: Why Children Have Sleep Problems and Bedtime Battles By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Children with ADHD often have sleep problems because the same nervous system difficulties that affect attention, impulse control, emotional regulation, and hyperactivity can also interfere with sleep. Some children cannot slow their minds down at night. Others have […]