Feeling like a prisoner in my own body

[DarkOne35]

I wish that I didn't have this damned PTSD. All of a sudden my mood just plummeted, and I am feeling really, really down. I don't feel like I have low self esteem, it is just my mood, and I literally cannot sleep at night because of anxiety and the fear of nightmares. Does anyone here have any advice on what works for them to help them go to sleep and stay asleep through the night?

 

[Deleted member 37474]

Do you take any medication? Until you process your trauma fully, nightmares tend to be part of the package, but medicine and animals (I have a dog and cat) help to calm the system. The thing that I find mostly odd about dreams is that mine aren’t about the trauma event, they are current events and people applied to the horrendous emotions and themes I am working on such as fear or trust and betrayal.

 

[DarkOne35]

Do you take any medication? Until you process your trauma fully, nightmares tend to be part of the pack...

I have processed all my traumas already. There is no getting rid of PTSD or its symptoms. I will have to take the meds that I am taking for the rest of my life....smh



By the way, your theory sucks. And none of it is true, as far as the nightmares are concerned.

 

[Deleted member 37474]

I have processed all my traumas already. There is no getting rid of PTSD or its symptoms. I will ha...

Lol. My theory seems to be true to me and my perception of my own nightmares. Doesn’t mean it is true to everyone, I was just voicing my thoughts.

 

[Suzetig]

There is no getting rid of PTSD or its symptoms.

For many people here that’s simply not the case, I know that’s how it feels for you just now and that’s a horrible place to be.

What works for me is to be very attentive to my sleep routines, so going to bed and getting up in the morning at the same time regardless of what happens through the night. If I wake during the night and take more than 10 mins to go back to sleep I get out of bed and do something (usually some journaling or colouring in). No screens at all for at least an hour before bed, don’t watch tv in bed, read actual paper books if reading is your thing don’t use a kindle, don’t eat fir an hour or so before bed either. Follow the same routine, eg bath, read for a while, lights off and go to sleep. Only use your bed for sleep or sex, make it feel like a relaxing restful place. Keep the same routine at weekdays and weekends.

I know it’s not flashy advice, or anything magic but good sleep routines help a lot over a period of time.

 

[blackemerald1]

it is just my mood, and I literally cannot sleep at night because of anxiety and the fear of nightmares.

Maybe this is causing your mood fluctuations? Sleep is extremely important to keep everything evenly tuned.

@Suzetig you beat me to the finish line....so @DarkOne35 everything that Suz just said. Old fashioned rules seems to work depending on how your symptoms are.

I have just finished a marathon sleep deprivation period...talking months and it has just suddenly stopped but not the nightmares. But at least I have something to wake up from... rather than going completely crazy and losing myself whilst awake..

 

[DarkOne35]

For many people here that’s simply not the case, I know that’s how it feels for you just now and th...

This is actually great advice. I actually feel like I can try this and see how it works out for me. Thank you!

 

[DarkOne35]

Maybe this is causing your mood fluctuations? Sleep is extremely important to keep everything even...

And you are definitely right. I noticed that when I was able to get enough sleep yesterday (Wednesday), my mood is a lot better now.