Dr. Freeman's Blog Posts

Mountain sunrise above a sea of clouds representing anxiety-related chronic insomnia, emotional recovery, and the return of restorative sleep

Can Anxiety Cause Chronic Insomnia?

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 to stay alert, a mind that

Read More »
Soft ripples on calm water at dusk representing sleep hypnosis for insomnia and relaxation before restorative sleep

Can Sleep Hypnosis Help Insomnia?

Yes, sleep hypnosis may help some people sleep better if they have insomnia, especially when anxiety, tension, racing thoughts, or sleep effort are keeping the mind and body activated at night. In my previous article, “What Is Sleep Hypnosis?” I discussed at length how this treatment works and what it

Read More »
Dr. Charles R. Freeman standing against a purple background with the words Why Trauma Causes Insomnia, explaining how trauma affects sleep

Why Trauma Affects Sleep for Years

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 safe now,” while the nervous system still

Read More »
A purple sleep hypnosis graphic showing a person holding a pendulum with the words Sleep Hypnosis

What Is Sleep Hypnosis?

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 understood as one possible tool

Read More »
Gut health and sleep support through fermented foods and calm evening nutrition

Can Gut Health Affect Anxiety, Inflammation, and Sleep?

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 function, and sleep regulation. Lasting improvement often requires treatment

Read More »
Sleep therapist in San Diego office for Dr. Charles R. Freeman, The San Diego Sleep Doctor in Mission Valley

Finding a Sleep Therapist in San Diego

Finding a Sleep Therapist in San Diego By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. If you are looking for a sleep therapist in San Diego, Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D., is known as The San Diego Sleep Doctor for his extensive work treating chronic insomnia, nightmares, PTSD, trauma, anxiety, and sleep

Read More »

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