Can't Get Rid Of Distressing Dreams

[shelbidanielle]

I've been searching this forum to find something that matches my situation and haven't found anything yet.
I have been experiencing nightmares/high-stress dreams nearly every night for the last 2 years, post-trauma. Many of my dreams are flashbacks--replays of the trauma that occurred--but many of them are variations on this trauma or just other distressing subjects in general, such as serial killers murdering all of my family and friends.
The difference is, I never wake up in the middle of the night. By the time my alarm goes off in the morning, it's clear I've moved around a lot in my sleep (and friends who have occasionally stayed the night say the same thing), but I don't wake up from my dreams. When I awaken in the morning, I'm often either crying or very distressed, and these feelings typically last throughout the day. I rarely feel rested, and usually have to nap in the afternoon (which results in more distressing dreams--not what I need!!).
I have spoken with both my therapist and my med doctor--my doc tried to give me a sleep aid but those make me nervous. Plus, I don't have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, so I doubt if it would even help. I did up my Lexapro dose to see if that would help, but no such luck yet.
Anyone have similar experiences or anything that helps??

thanks in advance :)

 

[Gadgie]

Welcome to the site, you said ......."but I don't wake upfrom my dreams. When I awaken in the morning, I'm often either crying"

I suppose in a way you are lucky in a way, because your nightmares don't wake you up, my nightmares are also about real past events, and they are so vivid and real, it's like going through the whole terrible thing all over again!

Then I wake up screaming, soaking in sweat yet shivering with the cold, my nightmares are so bad that I'm too scared to go back to sleep again, in case I have another one, and that has happened in the past!

I hope you manage to cope with your dreams, have you tried any way of controlling your sleep pattern?

 

[Sam Underwood]

I've suffered from nightmares and night terrors for most of my life, as well as sleep paralysis, but it greatly increased following the trauma that led to my diagnosis. It often takes me up to two hours to feel 'released' from the dreams in the mornings, and I'm frequently more exhausted after sleep than before. Anyway, one of the symptoms that let to my PTSD diagnosis was tinnitus, and it was suggested I treat it by listening to white or pink noise at night (pink noise is for lower frequencies I believe). It helped sooth the tinnitus, but it also began to help a little with my nightmares. I've no explanation for this, it doesn't work all the time, it might not work for you at all and without the tinnitus element you might just find it annoying (my husband used to hate it but now he can't sleep well without it!) However, possibly worth a try... I'm speculating but I think what might happen is that when your dreams disturb your sleep and you're in a lighter state, the sound creeps in and reminds you that you're only dreaming and you're safe in your bed with your white noise playing. But that's just me being an armchair psychologist. :-)

 

[Shelbidanielle]

Welcome to the site, you said ......."but I don't wake upfrom my dreams. When I awaken in the morning, I'...

thank you for your helpful words! I am glad that I don't wake up...just wish I could get more restful sleep.
I have not tried controlling my sleep patterns--do you have tips for this??

I've suffered from nightmares and night terrors for most of my life, as well as sleep paralysis, b...

thank you for your kind words! I do fall to sleep to a fan/white noise on my phone, but it turns off once I'm asleep. I've never tried sleeping with a noise machine all night (other than the fan), but I feel like it's worth a shot!

 

[Ocean5]

I sleep with white noise (loud fan) all night for as long as I can remember. It helps. But once you awake from nightmare / terror so hard to go back to sleep. If I go back to sleep too soon - they restart.

On clonazepam, and retrying prazosin for nightmares. Not sure a good combination for me. Maybe once I am off clonazepam. Right now making me stay in bed way too long, or maybe my body is just glad to sleep...

Once off clonazepam I think I will retry prazosin. It's rather nice to wake up, and your bed not look like a "tornado" hit it.

 

[Gadgie]

Quote......."I have not tried controlling my sleep patterns--do you have tips for this??"

When I was caring for my late wife, there used to be a lot of nights when I would go without much sleep at all.

So, I used to take a nap during the day, on the sofa, if my wife was asleep. For me to get a nightmare, I would have to be in a "deep sleep" and for the last few months I've been fitted with a kidney drain, which. I have to get up and empty twice a night?

So, Ive never gone into a deep sleep during all that time?

Basically, what I do is, sleep when I need to,.....so if I feel tired during the day, I take a nap, even if it's only for an hour, it makes a lot of difference, worth a try, (only if your home all day obviously) good luck.

 

[ChristineJensen]

Hey, do you think these things every time or do you watch these types of movies or serials and all? If yes then stop watching it or stop thinking it, just makes you mind calm and rule the mind by yourself. And if no then start yoga, it will help to improve your mind and will keep your mind under your self. Yoga is the best way to live life in positive manner, these stupid and horrible dreams makes a person full of negativity.
Take care

 

[Unknown Victim]

When I was a kid and I was going through the nightmare phase. I would have the same kind of dreams and I tried to stop them. What happens to me, I started to have uncontrollable daydreams that I couldn't get out of my head. Interesting, there are so many people like me in this forum.

 

[Tinyflame]

I find stressful issues or situations seem to coincide with night terrors every night, until or if or unless something gets resolved. Relief seems to help.

 

[theshadowoftheliving]

My sleep is similar, except that I do wake up every night. As soon as I fall asleep I start dreaming. Invariably, I'll wake up covered in sweat and shaking, but be unable to rouse myself enough to get up. So, I fall back asleep and just keep dreaming. I do this all night.

I'm still figuring it out. But, I also know that a side effect of a lot of the antidepressants are vivid dreams - I've found whatever daytime benefits I get from meds to be less helpful than the possibility of sleeping a little better without them in my system. I know Lexapro can increase dreaming and make dreams more vivid, so it might be worth exploring with your doctor.