Some experts believe nightmares in PTSD are the sleeping version of “re-experiencing,” or reliving a traumatic event. When you're awake, reexperiencing may occur in the form of a flashback. These intrusive symptoms have to do with how PTSD changes brain regions involved in fear response and memory recall.
Impact on PTSD
A nightmare usually involves replaying the traumatic event, feeling like they are right back there again. For veterans, this might mean re-witnessing horrific events or even deaths of people they witnessed while on combat missions.
Chronic nightmares in PTSD are associated with adverse consequences and decreased psychological and physiological functioning as well as disturbed sleep. 8 PTSD and nightmares are intertwined in such a manner that nightmares strengthen PTSD symptoms, and PTSD in turn causes nightmares.
Nightmares, dreams and other sleep disturbances are a common symptom of complex trauma with nightmares recognised as a principal feature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The treatment of nightmares not only alleviates those symptoms but is shown to help reduce PTSD symptoms in general.
Nightmares associated with PTSD may occur not only during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep but also at sleep onset, leading to insomnia and severe sleep disruption [8-10].
People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often experience nightmares in which they re-experience the trauma they went through. The prevalence of PTSD nightmares seems to be higher among people with a coexisting anxiety or panic disorder.
A combination of late-night arousal and prolonged sleep-onset latency increased the risk for post-trauma nightmares in young women who had experienced sexual assault.
intrusive thoughts or images. nightmares. intense distress at real or symbolic reminders of the trauma. physical sensations such as pain, sweating, nausea or trembling.
DON'T force them to socialize or do things they're not ready for. Forcing our loved ones to do things they are not ready for may often cause more damage, and worse, trigger PTSD symptoms. It's important to continue to include them in activities and allow them to decide what they are up for.
People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experience that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may feel detached or estranged from other people.
During a flashback, you may: See complete or partial images of the traumatic incident. Hear sounds or words associated with the event. Experience physical sensations, such as pain or like you're being touched.
Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast. Trouble sleeping. Trouble concentrating. Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behavior.
Can you get traumatised from dreams? Absolutely, it can be extremely traumatising when those dreams/nightmares are so vivid and real and take you back to a place in time that was incredibly painful, terrifying and where you were completely helpless for example.
Indeed, studies suggest that nightmares are often linked to unmet psychological needs and/or frustration with life experiences. Yet those links aren't always easy to make—except in cases of trauma (discussed below), our nightmares tend to reflect our troubles through metaphor rather than literal representation.
Triggers can include sights, sounds, smells, or thoughts that remind you of the traumatic event in some way. Some PTSD triggers are obvious, such as seeing a news report of an assault. Others are less clear. For example, if you were attacked on a sunny day, seeing a bright blue sky might make you upset.
1. Being chased. Being chased is one of the most common nightmares. If you dream that you're being chased by something, whether it's an 8-foot-tall rabbit or a shrouded figure, then it's an indicator that you're running away from something or someone in real life.
The main symptoms and behaviours associated with PTSD and complex PTSD include: Reliving the experience through flashbacks, intrusive memories, or nightmares. Overwhelming emotions with the flashbacks, memories, or nightmares. Not being able to feel emotions or feeling “numb”
A PTSD episode is characterized by feelings of fear and panic, along with flashbacks and sudden, vivid memories of an intense, traumatic event in your past.
Feeling jittery, nervous or tense.
Women experiencing PTSD are more likely to exhibit the following symptoms: Become easily startled. Have more trouble feeling emotions, experience numbness. Avoid trauma reminders.
Symptoms of complex PTSD
avoiding situations that remind a person of the trauma. dizziness or nausea when remembering the trauma. hyperarousal, which means being in a continual state of high alert. the belief that the world is a dangerous place.
Your brain is equipped with an alarm system that normally helps ensure your survival. With PTSD, this system becomes overly sensitive and triggers easily. In turn, the parts of your brain responsible for thinking and memory stop functioning properly.