In the US, almost 8% of the population will have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) at some point in their lives. About 1 in every 10 women will develop PTSD compared with 1 in 25 men, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Although hallucinations are not a medical criteria for PTSD, they are increasingly noted by clinicians helping patients. Read on to learn more about these disturbing occurrences.
Can PTSD Cause Hallucinations?
Yes. In rare cases of PTSD, people can have auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) and paranoid thoughts similar to psychosis. Hallucinations are different from flashbacks which are episodes when the person feels they are reliving the trauma. Psychosis is the brain’s inability to distinguish between what’s real and what isn’t. Although a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia might better account for hallucinations, none of the typical aspects of psychosis are present. [1].
Those who do experience auditory hallucinations may also have tinnitus, a constant ringing in the ears. Or, they may hear a voice or set of voices that are not present. The person is typically highly guarded and constantly suspicious of being harmed or harassed by those around them. [2]
One limited study showed that auditory hallucinations among those with PTSD and psychosis were commonly associated with sexual abuse [3] which is mainly experienced by women.
Understanding Sleep Disturbances in PTSD
Sleep problems have an impact on the severity of PTSD and on the quality of life of those suffering from it. From 70-91% of people with PTSD have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. And 19-71% of people report having nightmares, depending on the severity of their PTSD and exposure to physical aggression.
Studies also suggest that sleep disordered breathing (sleep apnea) and sleep movement disorders are more common in those with PTSD. This may contribute to the brief awakenings, insomnia and daytime fatigue in those with PTSD. [4]
Nightmares and insomnia are symptoms of PTSD. Often nightmares are a replay of the traumatic event. They can also make it difficult to fall back asleep. Insomnia is when someone has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at least three nights a week. If this persists it can cause problems at work and at home.
The National Center for PTSD identified several ways poor sleep can impact someone: [5]:
- Slow reaction time
- Trouble with learning and memory
- Feeling irritable and having mood problems
- Trouble with thinking and concentration
- Thinking about suicide or acting in ways that self-harm
To cope with their sleep issues, many people resort to herbal remedies or over-the-counter sleep aids. These can help in the short term but should not be relied on for the long term due to potential addiction issues with some medications. They can be helpful for 2-4 weeks but should not be continued after that.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) has proven to be the most effective treatment for PTSD-related sleep disorders. It improves sleep in 7 out of 10 people who complete it and is more effective than medication.
PTSD Effects on the Brain
Symptoms of PTSD are a result of stress-induced changes in brain structure and function. Trauma makes the nervous system and brain become overly sensitive and trigger easily as it engages the amygdala, responsible for survival, to become hyper-reactive.
At the same time, the prefrontal cortex responsible for thinking and memory and the hippocampus, responsible for memory and learning, become less active. This makes it difficult to separate safe events happening now from dangerous ones that happened in the past. In addition, neurochemical systems including cortisol and norepinephrine also play a critical role in the brain’s stress response. [6] [7].
An overactive amygdala and underactive prefrontal cortex, characteristic of PTSD, explains why some suffering from trauma might:
- Feel anxious around anything even slightly related to the original trauma
- Have strong physical reactions to situations that shouldn’t provoke a fear
- Avoid situations that might trigger such intense emotions and reactions
Can PTSD Cause Comorbid Disorders?
It’s common for PTSD to occur alongside other mental health conditions such as:
- Depressive disorders, especially Major Depressive Disorder
- Anxiety disorder
- Substance use disorders
It’s difficult to know in some cases which came first—PTSD or the co-occurring disorders as each can lead or contribute to the other. PTSD often leads to substance use disorders as people try to self-soothe with alcohol or drugs to cope with the pain of their trauma.
Those with anxiety, or another mental health condition before a traumatic experience, may have an increased risk of experiencing PTSD. Sometimes the stress of coping with a mental health condition can contribute to developing PTSD. However, successful treatment is possible with certain medications including some antidepressants when combined with trauma-informed therapy.
PTSD Treatment in Utah
Treatment is available in Utah. Are you or a loved one looking for a compassionate space to heal from Complex PTSD, other mental health issues or addictions? Our licensed trauma-informed professional therapists and counselors at Corner Canyon Health Centers can provide compassionate help using a range of therapeutic and holistic techniques.
Reach out to our Admissions team now at Corner Canyon. We’re in a peaceful setting bordered by the beautiful Wasatch Mountains.
Sources
[1] Lyndon S, Corlett PR. Hallucinations in posttraumatic stress disorder: Insights from predictive coding. J Abnorm Psychol. 2020 Aug;129(6):534-543
[B] Center for the Study of Anxiety. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Perelman School of Medicine. University of Pennsylvania.
[C] Kilcommons, A. and A. Morrison. 2005. Relationships between trauma and psychosis: an exploration of cognitive and dissociative factors. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
First published: 15 September 2005 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00623.x
[D] Maher MJ, Rego SA, Asnis GM. Sleep disturbances in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: epidemiology, impact and approaches to management. CNS Drugs. 2006;20(7):567-90
[E] US Department of Veterans Affairs. National Center for PTSD. Sleep Problems and PTSD.
[F] Bremner JD. Traumatic stress: effects on the brain. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2006;8(4):445-61
[G] Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. How PTSD Affects The Brain. Brainline.org
