Am I Pushing Things Too Fast

[sassyfras]

I bought some 5thp (it also contains niacinamide, Valerian root, magnesium, and B6) along with some melatonin and GABA. I took the GABA a few days prior because my friend gave me some and they seemed to work. Anyway, I went to sleep last night feeling pretty good (although I didn't fall asleep until almost 2am) and I ended up having the worst nightmare of my life. Ever. It was so bad and it was this huge entire storyline. My psyche was deeply affected and I didn't even know what to do. The worst part is that I awoke at 3:30..GRRR! Only a small amount of sleep. :(

The thing is, I couldn't wake up quickly from this horrible nightmare. It was like I had to try very very hard to wake up from it because of the melatonin. But of course whenever I do actually wake up, I shoot straight up in my bed like a nut job :(

I am wondering if taking the 5thp GABA and melatonin was too much?

I am just in the beginning stages of healing and am afraid I am trying too hard to heal. It's like I feel I am stronger than I am sometimes, and weaker than I am at other times. The thing is, I try a lot of different ways of "healing" or "processing" or whatever, but then when things get really bad I can't discern what it was I was pushing.

Has anyone had any experience with these supplements? I don't want to give up on them just yet. At the same time I am afraid of the nightmares. Perhaps my anxiety lessened and my brain thought I could handle it, but then my body and my psyche was like nope!! Any help out there??

 

[seedling]

sassyfras

So sorry to hear about your terrible nightmare.

I like to try different things too and sometimes they really help a lot. I would suggest trying only one new thing at a time and giving it some time to see if what you feel when you are on it is consistent and seems to be from that one thing.

I know what you mean about feeling stronger/weaker than you are at times. I feel exactly the same way. You put it very well. I feel like I can take it all on and then it slaps me down again. Seemingly for no reason.

I have been diagnosed and in therapy only since May and I find that my experience of this is always changing and morphing. I think it makes it harder to tell what's from the PTSD and what's from something I take. I do take a good mineral supplement and Emergen-C vitamin packets. Thinking of trying some valerian. I've thought about taking melatonin, but read online that, since it's a hormone, it can worsen depression in some people.

I haven't had any nightmares close to yours but I did have one where I was convinced I was going to die, knew I was going to die, so I was just frozen waiting for it to happen. I found that when I woke up, smelling some essential oil helped me to feel back in the real world. A grounding thing. Also holding ice, or putting something frozen on the inside of your wrists. This can help you get back to reality in the short term. Then you are left trying to sort it out, it really rocks your world.

Take care

 

[sassyfras]

Hey Seedling, thanks for all of the wonderful advice, I was starting to feel quite alone inside myself. I just woke up from a nap though where I didn't remember my dream :)

I am going to try the Emergen-C packets for sure! One step at a time is what seems to be the best case scenario for me right now (or, one cigarette at a time lol). I bought lavender/chamomile lotion for stress and i love it!

I was starting to feel disheartened, like maybe I'm not doing something right on this forum because of the lack of responses to my posts. I think what it is though, is I feel almost ashamed when I see hundreds of people reading my posts and then only like...one response...lol. I do realize that a lot of viewers aren't members though, but it makes me nervous and I start to think that somehow the perp is on here reading everything. A perspective change is what I would like to start to see real soon for me.

Best Wishes to You Seedling, and Thank You for your support!

 

[James B.]

For me, sassyfras, I simply expect symptoms or things that are symptomatic when doing healing work. I had a dream/nightmare part way through my diary, probably the worst ever - just chalked it up to my brain processing old files, that type of thing. But that's just me. The 5htp sounds interesting. I may try it myself. I still have to re-do some of my diary and write about the past, and I figure there'll be symptoms or uncomfortable stuff that might come up. Wishing you much strength and good luck on your path...

James B.

 

[sassyfras]

Thank you James, that definitely makes sense. I'm still just getting used to everything I think though, but I was actually able to keep myself from dissociating one time today. Yes, the 5thp is supposed to be excellent, I've only seen good reviews. It's a precursor to serotonin and is something I am going to stick with to see if there's results.

Thank you for the warm wishes, I wish you peace as well!

 

[seedling]

sassyfras,

Thanks for letting me know you got something out of my reply. Sometimes I don't post just because I'm new and not sure if what I say is the right thing. It's scary! Harder than I thought it would be.

Before I had PTSD I noticed that if I took too much B vitamin that it would be hard to go to sleep. That's why I don't take the Emergen -C every day, or a multiple vitamin with the Bs every day. About 3-4 times a week or when I think I need it.

The lotion sounds great!

seedling

 

[sassyfras]

Thanks! I'm new here too. I've been on other forums for alternative news and stuff so I guess I'm somewhat accustomed to it lol. Thank you for responding...everything you have said has been GREAT so far!! I figured out the melatonin is what was causing the nightmares (unfortunately I found out after I took one last night, it wasn't a good night again) because I did some research and a lot of PTSD'ers are saying NO to melatonin!

Thanks for the tip on the B vitamins, I wouldn't have thought of that. Oh ya, and the lotion is wonderful :)

Hope your day is well Seedling <3hugs<3

 

[Artista]

This subject tapped on my shoulder! I often feel this way. I will be feeling so much like a soldier and head on in... then only to get smacked down as said above. I am trying to get used to the seeming pattern of this. I think it really has to sink in to be accepted or to be dealt with on the levels it truly affects us.

Dreams and nightmares have plagued me most when I am really exhausted or fall asleep deeply. (must be why melatonin may be linked?) For a bad period, i tried to stay awake and then sleep for only 3-4 hours at a times and it seemed to work to not have nightmares. Maybe i didn't slip quite into the deep dream state in that time, but it was a vicious cycle of trying not to rest well and that is the last thing we need.

Even though it can be hard to want to sleep, we must to be in fighting shape. When a new nightmare hits, I get really anxious for a while at night and I often do laundry at night or something busy so i can finally just lay down. I do find if I tackle more things head-on while awake in my day, the nightmares are less.

Good to hear about the supplements. i am always into more info about them!

 

[seedling]

I am aware of all my bad dreams/nightmares in the early morning. At first I just wouldn't sleep during this time so I didn't think I was having any nightmares etc. The first part of the night was just like dropping into a black hole. Now that I sleep longer, or go back to sleep, I remember my dreams and quickly realized that they were all bad.

For some reason I (almost) always go to sleep quickly even if I don't think I am going to. It's the early mornings that are rough.

Artista - are you still taking the valerian? If so, how is it working/what's it like?

 

[Artista]

I do take it as needed. I hadn't found it to cause dreams or nightmares to be more frequent in my case! It helps to just ease into sleep. I recommend trying it. I take two about an hour before i hope to fall asleep but sometimes it is faster. Some only need one... I tried one first but it didn't work.

I get up early some mornings to run so, the early mornings serve me well (hate to run in heat!)... that is if I get to sleep at a decent hour! Maybe try to sleep earlier and have a routine and then use the early wake up for something good for you??? Sounds nuts. Especially if you aren't usually a morning person, but I must say... I never was!!! I am a night owl artist for heaven's sake!!! Now i find it benefits me. Still have moments I don't wanna sleep but the cycles are manageable right now. Hard to find a balance in this.... I just try and be as healthy as i can. It really is like battle.