Why You Can’t Sleep: A Trauma Therapist Atlanta Explains the Hidden Impact of Trauma
It’s the end of the day. You’re tired. Maybe even exhausted. But as soon as your head hits the pillow, your brain kicks into high gear. Thoughts race. Your chest tightens. You toss, turn, stare at the ceiling. You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. And you’re definitely not alone.
As a trauma therapist in Atlanta, I often work with people who feel frustrated and defeated by their sleep struggles. They’ve tried cutting caffeine, limiting screens, using white noise, and sticking to a bedtime routine. And still, sleep doesn’t come easily. If you’ve been battling insomnia or restless nights, especially in the aftermath of trauma or chronic stress, the issue might not be your habits. It might be your nervous system trying to protect you.
Let’s talk about why sleep can feel so impossible and what trauma therapy can do to help you rest again.
The Link Between Trauma and Sleep Disruption
Sleep is one of the first things trauma disrupts. That’s because trauma doesn’t just live in your mind, it settles into your body, and your sleep cycles. If you’ve ever felt tired but wired, there’s a reason. When your nervous system has learned that the world isn’t safe, it stays on high alert even when you’re exhausted. This survival state, known as hypervigilance, can make it nearly impossible to wind down, fall asleep, or stay asleep.
Trauma can also bring:
Nightmares that wake you in a panic.
Restlessness or muscle tension that keeps your body activated.
Early morning waking, as if your body doesn’t trust deep sleep.
Fear of falling asleep, especially if nighttime was unsafe in the past.
Your body is doing what it was trained to do: protect you. But in the absence of danger, that protection turns into exhaustion.
When Your Mind Won’t Turn Off
It’s not just your body keeping you awake; your thoughts can feel relentless at night. You may start rehashing the day, planning for future conversations, worrying about what might go wrong, or spiraling through painful memories.
This pattern is especially common in trauma survivors. During the day, many people stay busy to distract themselves from difficult emotions. But at night, when everything quiets down, those unprocessed feelings come rushing in.
You might lie in bed thinking:
“I should’ve done more today.”
“Why did I say that?”
“What if something bad happens tomorrow?”
“Why do I feel this way every night?”
These aren’t random worries. They’re emotional echoes of past experiences that haven’t yet had space to heal. And they’re loudest when you’re trying to rest.
How the Body Holds Trauma
Sleep isn’t just a mental process; it’s a physiological one. Your body needs to feel safe in order to let go. But if trauma has taught your nervous system to be constantly braced for danger, relaxation can feel foreign or even threatening.
You might notice:
Tension in your jaw, shoulders, or chest
Restless legs or inability to lie still
A racing heart when you lie down
A feeling of unease, even when you’re safe at home
This isn’t in your head. It’s in your body. And trauma therapy can help you reconnect with your body in ways that create true, sustainable safety.
The Emotional Weight You’re Carrying to Bed
Many people carry invisible burdens to bed every night—guilt, grief, fear, anger. These emotions don’t just “go away” when we’re tired. In fact, for trauma survivors, nighttime can be when these feelings feel the most overwhelming.
Sleep exposes us to vulnerability. We have to let go. But if letting go has never felt safe, your body might resist even when you desperately want rest.
You might find yourself lying awake, with feelings you can’t quite name. Or waking in the middle of the night with your heart pounding and tears in your eyes. This doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means there’s still trauma you are carrying that needs to be healed.
Is It Better to Cry or Hold It In?
Many clients ask this, especially when nighttime emotions rise like a wave. The short answer? Let it come. Crying is your nervous system’s way of releasing built-up stress. It’s a sign your body is trying to move toward healing, not weakness.
When you hold back tears or push away sadness, it doesn’t disappear; it just settles deeper into your body. Over time, this emotional suppression can make it harder to sleep, increase anxiety, and lead to a feeling of inner numbness.
So if you cry before bed, that’s not failure. That’s release. That’s you trying to let go.
The Social and Psychological Impact of Holding It All In
Many of us learned to hide our struggles. Maybe you were praised for being the “easy one,” or told to “be strong” no matter how bad things felt. Maybe sleep became the only quiet space where your emotions had room to breathe.
But the pressure to hold it all together—day after day—comes at a cost. Over time, it builds into exhaustion and sleep disruption. When no one sees your pain, it often gets louder at night.
You deserve more than just surviving the day and collapsing at night.
Gentle Tips to Support Better Sleep
Healing takes time, but small steps matter. Here are a few ways to support your body and mind at bedtime:
Create a nightly transition ritual—Try stretching, deep breathing, or journaling to shift from alertness to calm.
Identify what you are feeling—When thoughts spiral, notice them, and ask yourself, “What emotion am I feeling right now?” and “What led up to this feeling?”
Speak compassionately to yourself—Ask yourself, “What would you say to a friend if they were in your shoes?”
Avoid emotional avoidance—If tears come, let them. Let yourself feel what needs to be felt.
Use grounding techniques—Notice five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste to remind your nervous system you’re okay.
Seek support – Sleep isn’t just about routines. It’s about regulation. And trauma therapy can help.
You Deserve Rest, Not Just Sleep
If sleep feels like a nightly battle, know that there is nothing weak or broken about you. Your body was designed to stay awake to protect you when you’re in danger. But it often doesn’t recognize when the danger has passed.
As a trauma therapist in Atlanta, I believe healing starts when we stop blaming ourselves and begin listening with compassion to what our bodies are trying to say.
There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re not too sensitive. You’re carrying pain that deserves care.
Let’s help your body learn that the night doesn’t have to be scary. That rest doesn’t have to feel unsafe. And that healing is possible.
Looking for a trauma therapist in Atlanta, Georgia?
Let’s talk. You don’t have to battle sleepless nights alone. I’d be honored to walk with you as you reclaim rest, one gentle night at a time.
Kristy Brewer is a therapist Atlanta offering online therapy in Georgia helping people find peace amidst the chaos. Her specialties include trauma therapy, attachment therapy for trauma within toxic relationships, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, and parents raising a traumatized child.
Request a free 15-minute phone consultation today by clicking here.
