SLEEP IT'S IMPORTANT
A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book. - IRISH PROVERBS
Why aren't veterans sleeping?
Veterans experience problems with sleep due to traumatic experiences while being at war.
The following are common problems of why veterans aren't sleeping:
There are multiple symptoms and disorders associated with sleeping problems. On some occasions, veterans may suffer from more than one disorder.
Common symptoms and disorders reported by veterans due to past traumatic experiences.
Finding the right treatment for your sleeping problem is important. Not only does increased sleep helps improve your overall health and wellness but sleep also helps maintain healthy relationships.
The following are common treatments methods used by veterans who have sleeping disorders:
Veterans experience problems with sleep due to traumatic experiences while being at war.
The following are common problems of why veterans aren't sleeping:
- PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is associated with numerous symptoms occurring after a person has been through traumatic experiences.
- Pain and hearing problems. Pain hinders sleep, especially when it's chronic pain.
- TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) is a strong external force, blow or injury to the head which occurred and causes head trauma. (sleeplineteam, 2019).
- Abuse of and withdrawal from psychoactive substances. This includes illegal drugs as well as alcohol and nicotine (sleeplineteam, 2019).
There are multiple symptoms and disorders associated with sleeping problems. On some occasions, veterans may suffer from more than one disorder.
Common symptoms and disorders reported by veterans due to past traumatic experiences.
- Insomnia is the inability to maintain healthy sleeping habits.
- Circadian rhythm disorders occur when you constantly change your sleep wake schedule. This is usually fueled by stress.
- Sleep Apnea disorder is when a person's displays the inability to breathe during sleep due to upper airway becoming obstructed or closed. (sleeplineteam, 2019)
- Nightmares and night terrors. Nightmares are associated with awful dreams. Night terrors are different from nightmares due to symptoms of loud crying, moving around and being seemingly awake and inconsolable. Nightmares are also more memorable than a night terror.
- Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) is repetitive movements of limbs through every stage of sleep, except for the REM stage. Within the REM stage your body is paralyzed which prevents increased movement during vivid dreams. (sleeplineteam, 2019)
Finding the right treatment for your sleeping problem is important. Not only does increased sleep helps improve your overall health and wellness but sleep also helps maintain healthy relationships.
The following are common treatments methods used by veterans who have sleeping disorders:
- Continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) machine (Proven effective treatment for sleep apnea and with decreasing nightmares)
- Significant lifestyle changes such as diet, sleep hygiene and physical exercise.
- Light Therapy
- Psychotherapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Relaxation
- Therapy dog use
- Medications (sleeplineteam, 2019)
Boston V.A. Hospital
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