Bed As Key Trigger

[arfie]

In addition to having a problem with beds, I also have a hard time sleeping in the same spot too many nights in a row. During my biology studies I read a theory than many species of wild animals change sleeping spots frequently in order to avoid predator traps. The theory resonates with my own sleep patterns.

Except for periods when my husband was taking it personally, I have never seen it as much of a problem. Weird, maybe, but not much of a problem by itself.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

I sleep in a wide sleeping bag (so I can still roll around and not get either trapped or rolled up in the fabric) on the floor, no mattress, but a few spare covers underneath me to soften the floor. I also sleep in a corner so I have an element of protection around me and facing the door. At my friends (the only other place I've slept in recent years) that was ok was again facing the door in a corner.)

I also have consistent daily meds as well as PRNs which I try to avoid taking. I also have only fairy lights (and often not them) and fish tank light and laptop on low brightness in the evening, no caffeine.

Still have a lot of sleeping issues but this are the things that have helped that I'd pass on. Good luck.

 

[Deleted member 20280]

@Echo have you tried a weighted blanket?

Now theres something, I slept really well last night as I had a very heavy extra blanket on to cover me due to the cold. Simply that not intentional at all. Hmmmmm now I think I may well use this technique again tonight and hope for 2 nights really good sleep. The meds will help no doubt too but when I only have light blankets I still wake many a time in the night.

Thanks @Lucycat.

 

[Deleted member 20280]

wild animals change sleeping spots frequently in order to avoid predator traps. The theory resonates with my own sleep patterns.

Very true @arfie, I too change my sleep position regularly throughout the week so as not to be left vulnerable to attack, this brings me some form of security and even in the middle of the night when I wake I change position to find my "safe spot"

 

[Echo]

@Kas_Can_Fly - ever since I had CFS, I have had low lighting in my home, preferably candles (and the laptop!) in the evening. It does make a difference. Actually bright light in the evening makes me feel very vulnerable for some reason. My back wouldn't let me sleep on the floor, but your idea, @arfie, of changing spots is definitely worth a try since we are dealing with our reptile brain! Oh to be a gekko who can sleep half-way up a wall!

 

[Nonexistent]

Wow it sucks to not be able to sleep... I will probably not be much of a help, however, sorry... I have a sleep problem, too. I distract myself with mental stimulation till I'm knocked out, only then, wobbly, I fall into bed, only when there's nothing else left to do. I suspect it's a part of my PTSD, so it should go away when you deal with that, right? But there's one interesting thing: I can fall asleep quite easily if I'm not ready for a long night's sleep, like on a couch, dressed up, for a "quick" nap. Have you tried that? It may be temporary, but still... (Because your methods didn't work for me either... )

So this, and also you can try talking to your subconscious mind (the real bigger part of you) and ask what it's trying to tell you. That also gave a result, just so you don't think I'm pulling stuff out of my ### :)

Hope that helps... Be strong.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

bright light in the evening makes me feel very vulnerable

Exposed.

of changing spots is definitely worth a try

I had a kingsize bed before and would sleep in an L position across the bed, straight across, diagonally, north facing, south facing, in a ball stretched out. I think I'd move through all of those every other week and several per night too ;P

I decided to go to the floor also because of issues with dissociation/derealisation and dizziness, the world seems like it's moving, rippling or swelling closer etc when it's bad. I had the feeling that at least on the floor, I could fall off and if the world suddenly did sink into the abyss it wouldn't matter where I was - also for nightmares - can't roll off the bed!

I distract myself with mental stimulation till I'm knocked out, only then, wobbly, I fall into bed

This is the only way I can get to sleep and this isn't too much of an issue, it's actually staying asleep for me. *Sigh*

Good post by the way :)

 

[Echo]

@BrokenGlass - thanks, yes, I do sleep on the sofa under a heap of cats during the day, but I get very frustrated about it because I need to be working and available to my clients at that time. Grrr. The cats like it though. I find if I go for mental stimulation it just wires me up further, like too much caffeine, and my brain, I suppose, must be on hyperalert then.

My therapist says I need to identify the different parts of me and ask them if they would mind waiting until a suitable time, such as when I see my therapist, to have their voices heard. A bit of Gestalt work really. I'm fine with that, though I find they just as quickly want to tell their story, if I'm not careful (I'm extremely familiar with visualisation and meditation, so that is not hard for me), I can get retraumatised too easily by what they have to say, and there we go again: full circle. Aaaargh!! I just hope there are not too many small scared parts of me who keep shouting, "alarm, alarm, alarm!!". My therapist says it is a bit like a smoke alarm with a burnt bit of toast. All a bit overdone. Still totally natural at that.

Thanks everyone for all your comments; I'm very grateful. I'm going to see if cuddling a pillow tonight will work, maybe dowsed with lavender essential oil, which has knocked me out in the past.

I might try some very low level music, too.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

Tibetan singing bowl music or binaural beats or chanting

low level music

I love the sound of heavy rain, if you have a smartphone there's an app called ambiance, it is paid (I think there's a free version) for but it's totally worth it, there's loads of sounds and variations including binaural sounds and chanting, but also wind chimes, nature sounds and all sorts. For me also the sound of a tumble dryer and dishwasher helped me sleep, it reminded me of my mum's.

... edited to add: and also the wii background noise

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[Nonexistent]

Aahh, cats. Yes BTW, you reminded me, I do fall asleep better when my cat's waiting for me. So cats help too. Also, a human :( ... I remembered another technique I used to do - think of something pleasant in bed, fantasize of lovely things... It really worked then (damn, I should try it again).

Oh, and another - a thought that I have to get up at six in the morning!

Yeah... I wish I could use this advice myself because I avoid sleep like hell... Till I become a zombie.

 

[Echo]

@Kas_Can_Fly - the sound of rain has me running to the loo!! And we only have to open our windows this winter here - sigh! But there are three-hour recordings on Youtube. If only they didn't so often have loud ads at the end!!

When my flashbacks are really bad, one of my two cats knows immediately and he rushes to me insisting on pressing himself right up against my heart. He has been patting me on the face this evening (and doing that cat thing of looking above your head at something we can't see!). It is very comforting, except for the occasional stray claw or raspy lick in the wrong place! Sometimes, though, their demand for an early breakfast is a sleep disturbance in its own right. Hmmm, you can't have everything!

@BrokenGlass - yes, a gorgeous cuddly man would help, but unfortunately the last one of those ran away recently, and I don't feel I've got anything to offer anyone at the moment .... still, one can but dream (perchance).

 

[Bedbug]

a weighted blanket

Have a look at this article by Temple Grandin on the calming affects of deep touch pressure: http://www.grandin.com/inc/squeeze.html