We all know that sleep is essential to staying healthy. Yet for a child who has been traumatized, especially one whose trauma occurred at night, sleep can be seriously affected. Not only can the child have a difficult time getting to sleep and staying asleep, but they may experience nightmares also.
The best way to help a child recover from trauma that has disturbed sleep patterns, is to work on consistent sleep hygiene. This involves things like establishing a routine each night: brushing teeth, turning off electronics, reading a story, listening to music. Getting to bed at the same time each night is also essential.
I have found that even as an adult, when I follow healthy sleep hygiene patterns, my sleep is affected in a positive way. For example, I go to bed early, at the same time each night. I also try to read for a half hour in bed, filling my mind with a good story. When I follow this routine each night, it doesn’t always prevent nightmares, but it does minimize them. If I do wake up during the night, I no longer am filled with fear, but am able to take a few deep breaths, turn over, and go back to sleep.
Any one who is a parent knows that a child with adequate sleep is a much happier child. As a mother of two teenagers, this rings true even with them. Sleep very well may be the most important and essential treatment that a child needs in the healing process to combat their trauma.