Sufferer CPTSD is like a cheesy and horrifying carnival ride with bad calliope music

[Donna]

Hello all. I stumbled across this forum as I endure another night sleepless with insomnia. I am happy to have found y'all. I fear sleep more and more, as what I suppress during the day visits me in the form of nightmares. My family has abandoned me because they are tired of my emotional dysregulation and they are not at all understanding of what is going on with me. I don't even know much of the time. I have resorted to isolating from the world. I do have a huge dog and he is my everything. Anyone find anything useful for insomnia and nightmares?

 

[Sideways]

Welcome to the community!

Anyone find anything useful for insomnia and nightmares?

My insomnia periods, I crank up the cardio exercise during the day. It helps reset all sorts of physiological stuff, but it also just plain helps to be physically exhausted.

In the middle of the night when I can’t sleep? I stop trying to sleep. Even worse than being awake at 3am is stressing about how I should be asleep at 3am. I usually read for a while (my go-to is fiction, anything engaging and easy to read). Passes the time, helps me relax, and sometimes even helps me get to sleep again.

 

[Teasel]

Welcome to the forum Donna
Sleep hygiene helped me a lot. Have you ever looked into nightmare rescripting? I didn't get to have it but think it helps some

 

[Lost in the Woods]

Physical exercise helps but several hours before bed time. I take the max dose of Lunesta, 12mg Melatonin and a 40mg thc gummy. Generally I have been sleeping well lately so it is time to try scaling back a bit on the above. Yes, it is a lot.

 

[arfie]

hello donna. welcome to the forum. sorry for what brings you here, but glad you are here.

your colorful description of ptsd is not too awful far from my own. i call it, "the not-so-merry-go-round." round and around and around it goes. where it stops, nobody knows.

journaling and restful activities are my go-to tools for nightmares and insomnia. in my journal i confront and process the yaddah blahs that keep feeding my nightmares. the restful activities -crafts, puzzles, etc- help me while away the insomnia hours with something more productive than agonizing over the next spin of the not-so-merry-go-round. i am relieved to report that these days a bit of journaling is typically enough to calm my mind enough to allow for restorative sleep. is it ironic that i often miss all the extra hours i used to gain from the insomnia?

making posts such as this one is also a good option. post freely. post often.

welcome aboard.

 

[Susan Jane]

Hello all. I stumbled across this forum as I endure another night sleepless with insomnia. I am happy to have found y'all. I fear sleep more and more, as what I suppress during the day visits me in the form of nightmares. My family has abandoned me because they are tired of my emotional dysregulation and they are not at all understanding of what is going on with me. I don't even know much of the time. I have resorted to isolating from the world. I do have a huge dog and he is my everything. Anyone find anything useful for insomnia and nightmares?

Welcome to the forum Donna, I understand you, the forum has been an absolute positive for me. I felt completely alone in this struggle before I found it. Yes I have therapists, but finding people who understand is different.

I have had insomnia for 40 years. The stage of it results in different methods. When I am unable to sleep for days, I take Quetiapin 50 or 100 mg. When I am sleeping better 25 mg. I have now gotten to the stage of Melatonin ...after 2 years of weaning off of the other meds. I also go to bed at the same time, as interruptions to my sleep rhythm cause set backs. I do not read or watch upsetting things (news) before bed, and I stopped coffee. It is really a trial and error thing for me. I walk everyday and eat things that are easy to digest. Have you tried sleeping close to your dog? It might sound funny but well, it might comfort you. I sleep better when, someone is in the next room. As this is seldom the case, I repeat the mantra I am safe, my son is safe and all is well and I can sleep now. I also listen to a water sounds or a audio book with a voice that sooths me. I hope this forum helps you as well....Susan

 

[Friday]

Anyone find anything useful for insomnia and nightmares?

1. The sleep hygiene stuff that most people recommend only makes my insomnia worse. So, over the decades, I’ve found things that actually help ME (like sleeping in the daytime, and having my bed in the center of my most used living space …so it’s not something I go “to” but is always right there, and a couple dozen other things). AKA if it looks stupid but it works? It ain’t stupid.

2. My fave nightmare trick is the 30-90second wake up, strip the first layer of sheets & mattress covers (I have 3 layers), drop in front of washing machine on way to shower (also strip nekkid, if I’m not already, in front of the machine), step into shower to rinse off the sweat & fear/rage pheromones, dry off on my way to my bed, and fall into blissfully clean/dry sheets. <<< Getting rid of those fight/flight pheromones so I’m not triggering myself with my own scent??? On my body or my bed??? Has meant sooooooo much better sleep. So, so, so much. >>> I have 3 layers of sheets/protectors because I rarely wake up (bolt up) more than twice a night if I’ve rinsed me’own self off, and have a clean place to land. It can be dozens of times a night, or never getting back to sleep at all, without that little trick.