Understanding How PTSD Could Be Affecting Your Sleep and Health

If you find yourself waking up frequently during the night or never feeling fully rested, despite your best efforts with nutrition and lifestyle, it might be worth exploring whether post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could be impacting your well-being.

While PTSD is often associated with military veterans, research indicates that civilian women experience PTSD at higher rates than men. Factors such as biological predisposition and higher rates of sexual trauma in women contribute to this increased prevalence. Sexual trauma, in particular, has been shown to cause significant emotional suffering and a higher likelihood of developing PTSD compared to other types of trauma.

PTSD can disrupt the body’s ability to regulate cortisol, our primary stress hormone, which is crucial for both mental and physical health. Studies show that PTSD can lead to abnormal cortisol levels:

Low Cortisol: May cause difficulty coping with stress, low blood sugar, and heightened sensitivity.
High Cortisol: Can result in insomnia, anxiety, and weight gain.

If you’re feeling persistently unwell and have a history of trauma, it’s important to assess your cortisol levels and overall hormone balance to better understand the root cause of your health issues. Understanding how trauma affects your hormones is a powerful step toward healing. Schedule a consultation to learn more about testing and natural approaches to restore healthy cortisol balance.