The Healing Power of sleep after trauma

Do you know that sleep is one of the best ways to manage anxiety and stress, yet people today still do not take there sleep seriously.  I found sleep to be the best medicine after my trauma.

Sleep is the elixir of life and holds remarkable potential in promoting mental and emotional well-being. Apart from merely rejuvenating our bodies, sleep plays a crucial role in managing anxiety and stress, particularly after trauma. When Matthew died, sleep for both David and I was a challenge – because of the shock our bodies were running on masses of adrenalin and that made us extremely hyped/manic/fearful ok, we were flipping no where!!. Throw in a lot of visitors, a lot of emotions and too much coffee and alcohol – we were complete Zombies and a good nights sleep was no where to be seen………….for weeks! I think we became too exhausted to sleep.

Sleep deprivation has a chronic impact on the brain. Studies reveal that sleep deprivation can lead to up to 40% reduction in the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for memory consolidation and emotional regulation. With a compromised hippocampus, managing anxiety and stress becomes increasingly challenging. Because one cannot catch up on sleep – we were getting more and more exhausted as the days went on. If I look back at the time from when Matt died and the 6 months that followed– everything is a bit if a haze, and that was due to my hippocampus being compromised.

Melatonin known as the “hormone of darkness” is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pineal gland in response to the dark. This hormone regulates our circadian rhythm, the internal clock that governs our sleep/wake cycle.

So in order to us to start healing from the suicide of Matthew, we had to make sleep a non-negotiable aspect of our mental well-being. When we finally got to Cape Town 6 weeks after Matt had died – part of our therapy regime we implemented was to sleep. David and I found much comfort in sleeping for up to 10/11 hours a night WITHOUT GUILT …and I can safely say it was extremely healing.

Do you know that shift work – such as Doctors and nurses doing more than 20-hour shifts at a time, is extremely viscous to our health, in fact the WHO has declared shift work as carcinogenic!

Sleep is not a luxury, sleep is an absolute necessity for our physical, mental and emotional well-being. Embracing the healing power of sleep can help us effectively manage anxiety and stress, particularly after experiencing trauma.

By embracing the gift of sleep, we can embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, unlocking our true potential. Sleep – the beautiful bridge between darkness and dawn, holds the key to a healthier and happier life!

Sleep tight………every night!