Dr. Freeman's Blog Posts

Hypervigilance and sleep problems shown by an anxious woman scanning a dim hallway, representing trauma-related insomnia and nighttime alertness

How Hypervigilance Causes Sleep Problems and Insomnia

How Hypervigilance Causes Sleep Problems and Insomnia By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Hypervigilance can cause sleep problems and insomnia because the nervous system stays on alert when it should be resting. A person may be physically safe in bed, but the brain and body may still be scanning for

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A tired adult sitting calmly in a softly lit bedroom at night, reflecting on chronic insomnia and sleep anxiety

What Causes Chronic Insomnia?

What Causes Chronic Insomnia? By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Chronic insomnia is usually caused by more than one issue. Anxiety, trauma, PTSD, chronic pain, depression, grief, stress, medication dependence, alcohol use, medical symptoms, and learned patterns of nighttime alertness can all keep the brain and body awake. In many

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How to help insomnia through practical questions and solutions written on a napkin beside a coffee mug

How to Help Insomnia: Focus on Solutions, Not Causes

How to Help Insomnia: Focus on Solutions, Not Causes By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. How to help insomnia is one of the most common questions I hear from patients. Many people spend years searching for reasons they cannot sleep, hoping that understanding the cause will solve the problem. While

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Dr. Freeman's Articles on Sleep, Trauma, and Behavioral Medicine