Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can significantly alter your sleep habits. After experiencing a TBI, you may notice changes in how you fall asleep, how long you sleep, and the overall quality of your rest. Difficulties with sleep are a common consequence of brain injuries.
Changes in sleep quality
Following a TBI, your sleep may become fragmented and less restorative. Frequent awakenings throughout the night disrupt the natural sleep cycle, preventing you from reaching deep, restorative stages of sleep. This disruption can leave you feeling exhausted during the day despite spending enough time in bed.
Why TBIs disrupt sleep
TBIs often affect regions of the brain responsible for regulating sleep-wake cycles. Damage to these areas can disturb your circadian rhythm, the internal biological clock that governs when you feel awake or sleepy. As a result, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule becomes challenging.
Common sleep problems after TBI
Insomnia and sleep apnea are prevalent among individuals with TBIs. Insomnia manifests as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, while sleep apnea involves repeated pauses in breathing during sleep that fragment rest and reduce oxygen levels.
What to expect and manage
Monitoring your sleep patterns through a sleep diary or tracker can help identify specific issues. Modifying your sleep environment—such as ensuring darkness, quietness, and limiting screen exposure before bed—can support better sleep. Establishing consistent bedtime and wake-up times helps reinforce your circadian rhythm.
Avoid caffeine and heavy meals close to bedtime to further enhance sleep quality.
Support for better sleep
Behavioral therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), can effectively address maladaptive sleep habits and thoughts. In cases of sleep apnea, medical devices like CPAP machines or other treatments may be necessary.
Addressing sleep disturbances is an important part of brain injury recovery. While adjusting to these changes can be difficult, many people experience gradual improvement in their sleep with appropriate strategies.