Why Can’t I Sleep? When Anxiety, Trauma, and Insomnia Strike
It seems like all you’ve been able to think about all day is just how tired you are. No one gets it. You’re exhausted, but the moment your head hits the pillow your mind won’t stop racing. Maybe you wake up over and over through the night, or your body jolts awake at 3 a.m. with no explanation. By morning, you feel drained, foggy, and frustrated. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — anxiety, stress, and trauma are some of the most common hidden causes of insomnia.
When anxiety takes hold, sleep is often the first thing to suffer. Your brain stays in “alert mode,” making it nearly impossible to wind down. Even when you’re exhausted, anxiety can show up in a variety of ways.
Do you experience insomnia? Keep reading below to learn more about the link between insomnia, anxiety, and trauma.
Anxiety and insomnia can look like:
Restless tossing and turning
Racing thoughts at bedtime
Waking up in the middle of the night with your mind spinning
Worrying about just how tired you’re going to be in the morning
Anxiety-related insomnia isn’t just frustrating, it fuels a cycle where lack of rest can make your anxiety even worse.
Trauma and Sleep Disruptions
For many people, trouble sleeping isn’t just about anxiety — it’s also connected to trauma. Trauma can keep the nervous system stuck in “fight or flight,” making it hard for your body to feel safe enough to rest. This can show up as:
Nightmares or vivid dreams
Startling awake at night, listening for any sound that is out of place
Difficulty staying asleep despite feeling exhausted
Feeling as if you can’t let your guard down enough to fully rest, much less actually fall asleep
Feeling tense or on-edge, even in bed
If you’ve experienced trauma, you may notice your nights don’t feel restful, no matter how much you try. Rationally, you know that your trauma was in the past, but it can still show up in your present as ongoing sleep disturbances.
The Vicious Cycle of Insomnia
Insomnia feeds into every part of life. When you’re not sleeping well, you may notice:
Irritability and mood swings
Difficulty concentrating at work
Feeling disconnected from relationships
Increased anxiety, depression, or health issues
Over time, poor sleep can feel like something you’ll never escape, but with the right kind of therapy, things can change.
Sleep struggles tied to anxiety and trauma are not “all in your head.” They’re real, and they’re treatable. Approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are evidence-based therapies proven to help heal and improve sleep.
Solutions & Strategies
CBT-I for Insomnia
CBT-I is considered the gold standard for treating insomnia. Instead of relying on sleep medication, CBT-I helps retrain your brain and body to fall asleep naturally. It addresses:
Negative thought patterns around sleep
Habits that unknowingly keep insomnia going
Tools for managing racing thoughts at bedtime
EMDR Therapy for Trauma-Related Sleep Problems
If your sleep difficulties are rooted in trauma, EMDR therapy can help. By processing unresolved memories and reducing the body’s fight-or-flight response, EMDR helps your nervous system relax, making it easier to finally rest.
When combined, CBT-I and EMDR can address both the symptoms (sleepless nights) and the root causes (anxiety, trauma).
Hi, I’m Amanda Parmley, MA, LCMHC
I’m Amanda Parmley, MA, LCMHC, a licensed therapist offering online counseling across North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, and South Carolina. I specialize in anxiety, trauma recovery, self-esteem building, and insomnia using evidence-based tools like EMDR, CBT-I and mindfulness.
If you’ve been lying awake wondering, “Why can’t I sleep?”, you don’t have to keep struggling. With the right kind of support, it’s possible to quiet your mind, release the tension in your body, and finally get the rest you deserve. Click the button below to get started in therapy with me:
Start Counseling with Amanda Parmley
I specialize in helping clients break free from anxiety, trauma, and insomnia using CBT-I and EMDR therapy. Whether you’re located in Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Florida, we can work together online to help you get back to sleeping and living better.
How to Start Therapy with Amanda Parmley, MA, LCMHC:
1. Click the button below to request a free 15-minute consultation.
2. Complete
the required screener
& take the phone call from Amanda Parmley at the prearranged & agreed-upon time.
3. Start your journey
to feeling better.
Additional Services Offered by Amanda Parmley, MA, LCMHC:
In addition to supporting stress and burnout recovery, I specialize in:
Anxiety and panic
Trauma and PTSD
Low self-esteem and perfectionism
Insomnia and stress-related sleep issues
Interested in attending therapy from the comfort of your own home?
I offer online therapy in Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida, and South Carolina.