13/06/2026
🌙 Why do nightmares and night terrors happen?
Many people experience disturbed sleep during times of anxiety, PTSD, stress, grief, trauma, or major life change.
First of all apologies to the people I spoked on mb photo yesterday! Today I have gone for lighter cloudy pinks !
Anyway , getting back to my post !
These are not random.
🧠 It is the nervous system doing its job, trying to protect you as always !
When we experience overwhelming or unresolved emotional experiences, the brain can remain in a heightened state of alert.
Even during sleep.
😟 Nightmares often occur during dreaming sleep (REM), when the mind is processing emotional material.
😱 Night terrors usually occur during deeper sleep, when the body reacts before the conscious mind is fully online.
In both cases, the system is not unrepairable! People tell me Jac I feel f**kes - I know how this feels but you are not ! .
It is activated - read that again 🎉
It is responding to perceived threat.
💖 The key thing to understand:
Your brain is not trying to harm you.
It is trying to keep you safe , even when there is no longer danger present.
Sometimes the system simply needs support to come out of protection mode.
Tomorrow I’ll talk about how hypnotherapy may help calm this response and support more restful sleep.
💬 Have you noticed sleep being worse during stressful periods in your life? I know I have and many of my past clients have.
www.anxiety-ptsd.co.uk
