CPTSD: Breaking the Social Anxiety Cycle
C-PTSD: Let's Make Sense Of This Sh*t3 Nov 2025

CPTSD: Breaking the Social Anxiety Cycle

In this episode, Gregory tackles the complex relationship between trauma and insomnia, exploring why traditional sleep advice often fails trauma survivors. Through personal experiences, listener stories, and research-backed insights, he explains how trauma rewires the brain's sleep mechanisms and creates a "paradoxical vigilance" where the body is exhausted but the nervous system remains on high alert. Most importantly, Gregory offers practical, trauma-informed strategies that work with—rather than against—your hypervigilant nervous system.

Key Takeaways
  • 70-90% of people with PTSD report sleep disturbances—it's a core symptom, not a side effect
  • Trauma creates "paradoxical vigilance" where your body is tired but your nervous system stays alert
  • Many trauma survivors experience worst sleep difficulties between 2-4 AM when cortisol naturally dips
  • Addressing sleep disturbances can significantly improve overall trauma healing
  • Insomnia isn't a personal failure—it's your body trying to protect you


What You'll Discover
  • Why traditional sleep hygiene advice often falls short for trauma survivors
  • How neuroimaging shows trauma changes brain activity during sleep transitions
  • Creative adaptations other survivors have developed for better rest
  • Practical tools for grounding yourself during middle-of-the-night panic
  • How to create a buffer zone between daytime activation and sleep


Resources Mentioned
  • Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine study on paradoxical vigilance in trauma survivors
  • UC Berkeley Sleep and Neuroimaging Laboratory research on trauma and REM sleep
  • 2019 meta-analysis in Journal of Traumatic Stress on cognitive-behavioral approaches for trauma-related sleep
  • University of Arizona's Sleep Research Laboratory findings on targeted sleep interventions
  • National Center for PTSD research on sleep disturbances following trauma exposure


Next Episode Preview Next week, we'll build on this foundation with "Building a Night Routine for Better Sleep with CPTSD," where we'll explore how to create consistent, trauma-informed bedtime rituals that signal safety to your nervous system.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at cptsd@senseofthisshit.com.
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