When Trauma Strikes and Sleep... Video Transcript

Webcast Transcript

ANNOUNCER: Prescription medications fall into two classes benzodiazepines and non- benzodiazepines. Experts feel that such medication needs to be accompanied by real efforts to deal with the trauma.

CHARLES F. REYNOLDS, MD: It's important to help the bereaved person who may be having trouble sleeping get a better night's sleep, but also to re-establish social connections in their lives, not to withdraw, and to re-establish a stable routine of both physical and social activities.

ANNOUNCER: While it may be difficult to deal with trauma there can be consequences of not addressing the event.

CHARLES F. REYNOLDS, MD: Perhaps 10 to 20 percent of older Americans who experience the loss of a spouse will also develop clinically significant depression. Very often, those are folks who have severe sleep disturbance in the wake of a bereavement.

THOMAS A. MELLMAN, MD: There certainly are hints that prolonged stress reactions may be translated into increased rates of cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension; problems with headaches; chronic pain syndromes some of which may be engendered by chronic disruption to sleep.

ANNOUNCER: Experts urge that it's always best to seek professional help if problems persist.

CHARLES F. REYNOLDS, MD: My advice both to patients and family members would be seek help, reach out, don't suffer in silence.

Related Videos

When Worries Surface at Night: Sleep and Anxiety
Gaining Control Over Sleep Problems
Taking An Inventory of Your Sleep Habits
Late-life Sleep Problems: What's Normal?
Effects of Menopause on Sleep
Discussing Sleep Problems With Your Doctor
Paying the Price of a Poor Night's Sleep
Why Can't You Sleep?: Understanding Sleep Problems