
Q I don't want to lie down because I'm afraid to fall asleep. I feel like a nightmare will start the moment I drift off. Is there a way to improve my sleep?
A Creating a safe environment and establishing a regular bedtime routine before sleep are important. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-I) methods such as sleep restriction therapy and stimulus control techniques are effective, and utilizing relaxation breathing and acupressure on the Baihui and Neiguan points before bed can also be helpful.
Detailed Answer
Sleep problems in PTSD patients are a complex interplay of anticipatory anxiety about nightmares, hyperarousal, and arousal responses during sleep. Stimulus control techniques in CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) involve conditioning the bed to be a space solely for sleep, while sleep restriction therapy involves adjusting the time spent lying in bed to actual sleep time. The basics involve turning off smartphones and news for an hour before bed, dimming indoor lights, and maintaining a regular rhythm of lying down and waking up at the same time. Dongjedang recommends applying pressure to the Heart and Pericardium meridian acupoints on the inside of the wrist for 3 to 5 minutes daily before sleep. Drinking wild jujube seed tea, which has calming properties, one hour before bedtime also helps improve sleep quality. If nightmares occur very frequently, we advise combining this with professional psychotherapy (Image Rehearsal Therapy/IRT).
Related FAQs
-
Q
I've struggled with PTSD for over three years—can Korean medicine treatment still help now? I wonder if it's too late.
#Possibility / Realistic Goals
-
Q
I've been diagnosed with PTSD but I also have depression and panic symptoms. Can all of these be treated at once?
#Comorbidities
-
Q
Since my PTSD started, I've developed unexplained headaches and pain all over my body. Can a psychological problem show up as physical symptoms?
#Comorbidities
-
Q
Is there a way to come back to reality when a flashback hits? In that moment it feels like nothing works.
#Lifestyle Management
-
Q
I keep having thoughts that I want to die. I'm not sure if it's because of PTSD, but it's just too hard.
#Safety
