Tag: hypervigilance

How Hypervigilance Causes Sleep Problems and Insomnia

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 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 threat. This can lead to […]

Why Trauma Survivors Often Struggle With Sleep and Insomnia

Trauma survivor speaking with a therapist in a calm office, representing trauma-related insomnia, hypervigilance, and sleep recovery

Why Trauma Survivors Often Struggle With Sleep and Insomnia By Dr. Charles R. Freeman, Ph.D. Trauma survivors often struggle with sleep because the nervous system may stay alert long after the danger has passed. Bedtime can feel unsafe when the brain connects stillness, darkness, or loss of control with threat. This is not weakness. It […]