I Am Now Scared Of My Bed.

[Olivia Felton]

I have had insomnia for the last two days. I tried my darndest to go to sleep, but this cycle I am in hoovers big time. It has gotten so the thought of trying to lie down brings instant panic. I tried the spare bedroom, but the same thing happened.

 

[Maggiemay]

*hugs *

Try and catch sleep whenever you can. Xxx

 

[Bosco2153]

I often wake early in the mornings after just a couple or three hours sleep, and then of course my brain races to bad places. I HAVE to get up out of a 'bed', and ground myself with games on my laptop or Facebook. or whatever...or, in today's case, coming to this site for comfort. I make coffee and go about things as though I've had a great night's sleep, Invariably, I get very sleepy again and lay down on the sofa for a little snooze....which sometimes lasts several hours. For me, something about not being in a 'bed' helps me feel safer. The back of the sofa is behind me, and I keep a little lap blanket there to toss over myself...or just clutch close to my face.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

I haven't been able to sleep in a bed for nearly two months now, I don't really know why - I have some idea, but that's my assumption. I felt uneasy sleeping on the sofa as well. So for all of this time I've been sleeping on the floor and I can't see that changing any time in the distant future. My problem is with the bed in particular. But if yours is with lying down, try sleeping in an armchair or sitting in some way?

 

[Leah123]

I'm sorry you're having such trouble sleeping. I struggle with this too. I'm not comfortable going to bed alone so much anymore, often wake up many times, and panic upon waking, have to get out of bed or it escalates quickly.

I try catching naps in my safer-feeling office, warm tea, taking music to bed with me, etc. Nothing's perfect, but I keep hoping/believing things will improve over time.

Have you tried maybe sleeping sitting up on the couch or maybe with the ty on for some distracting noise? I bought something called "knock out" tea from a local herbal shop recently, am hoping that will help.

 

[ashdawn8287]

I use to have the same sleep issues. I guess use to isn't really fair to say because im waiting for it to happen again. My psychiatrist gave me quetiapine to help sleep. It knocks me out. The only problem is it takes me a few hours to wake up. I find myself going to bed at 8pm and waking up at 5am lately. I can't get moving until around 10am though.


I sleep on the floor when I am depressed. Also, sometimes I sleep at the opposite end of the bed. I find comfort in that and im not sure why.

 

[Abstract]

The only times I have slept in a bed in the last year or more has been if I am visiting others or someone visiting me. I sleep on the sofa with the television and the lights on. Be + me = big problems.

atching naps in my safer-feeling office

And I started doing this eventually and it really saved me.

the thought of trying to lie down

It doesn't sound like it is to do with this but if part of it is anticipation of not being able to sleep then I have found radical acceptance and doing something else rather than putting pressure on myself really helpful. Not in getting more sleep but rather making things more tolerable.

I hope it gets better soon for you and everyone else who struggles.

 

[Olivia Felton]

Thanks all for sharing what works for you. I do try to get up and either knit or read ( or lately surf the forum). I don't (and won't) have a tv in my bedroom. My husband and I decided a long time ago that the bedroom was for two things only. We both had parents that disconnected from each other, with one watching in the den and one watching tv in the bedroom.

Anyway, I got a small nap in whilst I was knitting. Also got a crick in my neck.

I haven't tried quetiapine...How does that work?

 

[BloomInWinter]

I finally started being able to establish some good regular sleep when I asked my physician for help. She gave me Ambien. I took that for over a year, I think, and worked on the sleep-related fears in just about every session with my therapist.

I also downloaded a mediation app for sleep and relaxation. Whenever rest was eluding me, I would listen to it over and over until it worked. Now, I only have to hear the first few minutes and I go to sleep. I think the apps I picked were Andrew Johnson's Sleep & Relax apps.

I did get switched to Trazodone, because I was still waking up and not being able to go back to sleep.

My best suggestion is to find a mediation for relaxation or sleep which you can feel comfortable with the voice. Then, practice it several times a day for at least three weeks.

The fear of the bed is part of the constriction of PTSD. We begin to generalize out a specific fear to begin to fear anything associated with it. It's a struggle but I know now that I must resist allowing my wounded psyche to make me afraid of things in my own home. The only way I conquer these things is by confronting them. It sucks, but it does get better.

 

[graceandhope1241]

I had the same problem for the first three months. I ended up moving and sold the bed which turned out to be a great decision.

I use a vanilla/lavender candle, classical music and blackout curtains to get to bed. Some night's if I feel nightmares coming on I'll take an ambien.

 

[mamachick]

I feel panic when lying down too.