How Do You Deal With Nightmares And Sleeplessness?

[Grainne]

Well - I haven't slept well in ages. I'm so tired. I have nightmares constantly now - every time I sleep, they come back. It used to be that I would have one or two a month; in bad times, one or two a week. Now, they come every time I close my eyes.

My nightmares are strange. Because they come from many traumas (I think - as they started at age five and have not stopped). They are always different. I have built an entire town to house all of the memories that I have...one building for each instance. When dreaming in this place, I remember all of the other dreams I have had...like memories. I have various jobs in my dreams...sometimes I spend the whole night working. Those are good, calm nights. I'll be at work, and I'll hear a buzzer going off in the distance...I'll try to locate the source of the noise, and will realize it's my alarm. After working what feels like a full day (in my 'dream job') I'll wake, get up, shower and dress and head out to my real job. Yawn! Exhausting...but still better than the nightmares.

I have insomnia - always have. I've taken many different rx sleeping aides, and they don't sit well with me. They make me sleep, sure, but I still dream and find I can't wake up when I take the drugs. I get very dopey and it tends to increase the number of moments I 'lose' in a week. Those moments scare the pants of me. I feel so ... disconnected, when I can remember a part of my day.

Anyway - any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Deleted member 541]

One problem with insomnia......When we don't get the required amount of sleep, it can actually cause more nightmares....Then we get anxious about going to sleep, because we can't tolerate the nightmares. This causes anxiety.....VICIOUS cycle!!!!!

I suggest that you talk to your Dr about trying a different class of meds for sleep. I take Trazadone for sleep issues, and it works great. I have tried all kinds of sleeping pills and they did NOT work. Each person is different....

Make your bedroom a calm, safe, zone. A place that feels and looks relaxing. Anything tranquil.......Maybe try taking a warm bath before bed, and setting a routine before bed helps too.....

Good luck...

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

I have horrible sleep issues, which then naturally affects my mood and ability to handle stress the next day (horrible cycle).

Some things that sometimes help me are:
1. Sleep with classical music (if I wake up and the CD is over, I start it again)
2. Keeping my bedroom cool (you don't sleep as well if you are warm)
3. Taking long baths with no lights on - only candles (I have to lock the bathroom door....) before bed.
4. No caffeine or sugar anytime around or after dinner (in fact, I have cut them out as much as possible completely).
5. I do not watch the nightly news or discuss anything I can perceive as stressful, etc. anytime near bedtime.

I have also tried several sleep meds - they don't work for me either (but everyone is different) - my T - says that I'm not her only patient like that.

 

[kers]

I've tried tons of things, with varied success. Getting a good workout a few hours before I want to sleep is helpful, and so is beginning to dim the lights in the house at dusk and turning off the tv and computer (on the other hand, then I hear noises and panic, so it's not always helpful!). Creating a bedtime routine can help.

Honestly, though, the only thing that has made a significant difference for me is medication. I take Trazodone every night. I had a hangover effect the first few weeks, but now I have no problems.

 

[Ursa]

I tried to hold as much as I could without meds. I got to the point I wasn't functioning for simple things... even on vacation. I went to the doctor and she prescribed something and after a month things are starting to clear out. I was just VERY tired.

 

[sigh]

There's good sleep hygiene (some of it already mentioned, sorry if I repeat)
Using the bed only for sleep and sex.
Dimming the lights.
Exercising and taking a shower in the afternoon so as not to stimulate oneself
Eating small meals throughout the day and not one big one before bed
Relaxing with candles or music—something that your senses like.
Reading

This being said—it is 1:25 AM and I haven't gone to sleep. I have tried, but alas, once again, sleep defeats me. So maybe what I said is bull. :(

Nightmares I deal with by having pen and paper right by my bed and writing down the nightmare, no matter how horrible, upon waking. I will notice patterns in my nightmares that make them easier to deal with. I can bring them to t and discuss them. This often deflates their energy for me. Usually. Not always.

 

[Grainne]

Oh thanks everyone!! Great advice here. I've tried some of these things, but it's all worth trying again.

I have an autistic 5-year-old and as I read through all of your suggestions, i'm thinking...ohhh..that would be GREAT for him (ie dimming the lights in the house at dusk, etc). I already try to wind the day down gently for him...I wonder why i've never thought to do that for myself.

So glad I asked. !!