Trauma Talk Ep. 2: Childhood Trauma's Effect on Sleep | A Multi-Case Analysis of Sleep Disruption

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https://reactionindex.com

Trauma Talk Ep2: Childhood Trauma's Effect on Sleep | A Multi-Case Analysis of Sleep Disruption

In this episode, we explore how childhood trauma fundamentally disrupts sleep—and why sleep disturbance is not a side effect, but a core feature of post-traumatic stress in children and adolescents. Trauma does not stop when the day ends. For many youth, nighttime is when hyperarousal, intrusive thoughts, and fear intensify, preventing the brain and body from entering restorative sleep.
Drawing on multiple peer-reviewed studies, including longitudinal research following children exposed to hurricanes and other traumatic events, we examine how post-traumatic stress symptoms predict later sleep problems, how specific PTSD symptom clusters map to specific sleep disruptions, and how poor sleep can act as a catalyst for behavioral and emotional difficulties. The discussion highlights why sleep must be treated as a vital sign in trauma-exposed youth and why early, precision-based assessment is essential for identifying risk and guiding intervention before problems escalate.

Our Mission
To give voice to the millions of children suffering in silence by promoting the widespread adoption of precision assessment and evidence-based, compassionate trauma treatment. We advocate for tools that reveal what the human eye often misses—so every traumatized youth receives the specific care needed to reclaim their childhood.

Our Vision
A world where no child’s trauma is overlooked, and every advance in assessment leads to lifelong resilience.

Assessment Tool Referenced
UCLA PTSD Reaction Index https://reactionindex.com

Studies Referenced
Lai et al. (2020)
Lai, B. S., La Greca, A. M., Colgan, C. A., Herge, W., Chan, S., Medzhitova, J., Short, M., & Auslander, B. (2020). Sleep problems and posttraumatic stress: Children exposed to a natural disaster. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 45(9), 1016–1026.

Palmer et al. (2023)
Palmer, C. A., Bahn, A., Deutchman, D., Bower, J. L., Weems, C. F., & Alfano, C. A. (2023). Sleep disturbances and delayed sleep timing are associated with greater post-traumatic stress symptoms in youth following Hurricane Harvey. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 54(6), 1534–1545.

Mesman et al. (2020)
Mesman, G. R., John, S. G., Dougherty, E. H., Edge, N. A., Pemberton, J. L., Vanderzee, K. L., & McKelvey, L. M. (2020). Sleep as a moderator of young children’s traumatic stress and behavior problems: A treatment-referred sample. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 14(3), 311–319.

Hall Brown et al. (2015)
Hall Brown, T. S., Akeeb, A., & Mellman, T. A. (2015). The role of trauma type in the risk for insomnia. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 11(7), 735–739.

Questions or Collaboration
Email: [email protected]

Keywords: childhood trauma, trauma and sleep, PTSD and sleep disorders, insomnia in children, hyperarousal, trauma recovery, trauma-informed care, PTSD assessment, child mental health, UCLA PTSD Reaction Index