I Can't Sleep, Its Making Me Worse, Help Please?

[texaskitty]

Its all in the post title. Its gotten to where I sleep maybe two hours and then I'm up the rest of the night. Two nights out of the last week I was still awake when the sun came up. Its making me crazier than normal. Its like when I try to sleep my brain doesn't want to. It goes and goes like the freaking Energizer Bunny.

I know part of this is because of a lack of insurance med change, but thats not all, its like every year for the past 6 or 7 I have this same problem. It was impossible when I was working, I was falling asleep at my desk. Its still bad, but since I'm on disability and don't have a job that helps.

But my brain keeps on going, dark fantasies of revenge, reliving the abuse, hearing things, and its terrible. Sometimes I just want to sit and bang my head against the wall, to try to make it shut up.

Anyone have similar experiences, have any advice?

Thanks, Texas Kitty

 

[Luthien]

I've been there. I had it bad this winter. I went 8 days without one minute of sleep and started hallucinating. It got to the point I though I would die.

For me, when I realized what it was that was bothering me so much, I was able to get a little more rest. (an hour or two per day at the time)

This reoccurs for me, and is worse around anniversaries, or conditions of deep stress. I find that having a warm bath with lavender EO helps some. It is so hard to turn off the brain when it kicks into overdrive like that.

I too relive abuse, hear and see things, have flashes of being back there. I also have extremely intrusive thoughts that seem to come from nowhere, and be unrelated to my trauma. It is so hard, and hard to find ways of coping, and getting through it.

For me, imagining something comforting (now I imagine my love's arms around me holding me safe, as I know he wants to) helps me to relax and fall into sleep. It still happens slowly, but if I keep that focus of comfort, eventually I'll drift off.

Doing things like having a lavender scented bath, following a strict bedtime routine of combing and braiding my long hair, washing my face, moisturising, and teeth brushing helps my brain get into sleep mode.

Also, though I know it isn't the best thing to do, sometimes carb loading before bed knocks me out. Toast and jam is good for this purpose..lol.

I hope you find a way to sleep, as it is so important.

Take care.

 

[Surviving]

I have that problem too. My life sucks because of it. When I do go to bed at a decent hour I wake up within 4 hours and that's all I get for the day. Usually tho, I don't go to bed till early morning. My doctors give me sleep meds but they don't work. I found the best medication is anti-anxiety medication because it's those thoughts you talked about that keep me up, or I'll have bad dreams. The anxiety meds help with that.

Something else that worked for me before was turning on the light and writing in my journal what was bothering me. If I'm angry I write angrily, if I'm sad I cry while I write but either way it helps to get it off your mind so you can rest easier.

I also use soft sleep music on nights when I know my mind will be running circles. It helps because I can focus on that instead of my own thoughts. I particularly like the ocean sounds and whale calls with piano but there are many many cd's out there to choose from. I suggest you try a few b/c after a while the same music gets more annoying than soothing. Harp music with nature sounds is also very relaxing. If you have a smart phone with unlimited data usage, try pandora.com. It's a radio that plays only what you want with no commercials. My phone plays it out of it's little speakers and that's enough when I want to go to bed. You'll have to set up a Pandora account if you don't have one then tell it what type of music to play. I just typed in "ocean tranquility" and got all kinds of sleepy music.

My advice, try all three of these if you can. I told my therapist who suggested writing at night that when I'm in the covers with the lights off I don't want to get up and write about these unpleasant thoughts. Her response: "Well, you're already awake thinking about it and if you write it down, your mind will relax." So I keep a bedside table with a small lamp, a journal, and a pen by my bed at all times. That way I just have to sit up then easily go back to bed. Sometimes just the task of writing vigorously is enough to make me sleepy. I hope this helps you!

 

[Irton Pike]

I think survivings post is very good with some excellent advice. I can't sleep when my symptoms are up. It is the hyperarrousal that does me. I have to take measures to deliberately relax. Therefore I try to do nothing for an hour before going to bed. Except relaxing.
I do deep relaxiation exercises, lying on the floor and working through different muscle groups clenching tight and letting go, feeling the tension leave me,concentrating on the one muscle group relaxing. I do visualisation while i do this, so i start with some music (KLF Chillout-very cool)and some deep breathing, and I visualise myself lying on a hillside of on a rock up a mountain on a bright clear spring day with intense sunlight and a cold breeze so their is a contrast between the heat of the suns rays and the cold snap of the breeze on my cheeks. I visualise the red orange colour you get from looking at the sun with your eyes closed. Then as I breathe i imagine the cool air coming into me and through me and when i breathe out i release a little more tension in the form of condensation or sometimes smoke.

 

[ISupportHer]

Guided Imagery

Wife has used an iPod with CD by Bella Naprasek or something like that, Several "topics" but pretty sure one is PTSD. She uses it every night and it helps. If interested, let me know and I'll find the link. I know it's not in the iTunes store. This person, Bella, has a website with lots of books and CD's, which can be ordered as a traditional CD or as a download.

Some of these were first introduced to her by her Therapist, by the way.

Actually, I'll find the link later tonight and respond in case anyone is interested. I work late today and it will be this evening after 9 PM EST.

I used one for quite a while and should probably follow my own advice and start again!

 

[ISupportHer]

The CD's are by Belleruth Naparstek. Sorry I had it wrong the first time. Can't really post a link but you can do a search or even try Amazon where there are customer feedback comments to read. There is one entitled "Healing Trauma (PTSD)".

Hope this helps for you!

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

I also listen to light music at night - classical - but not violins (that tends - for me- to get old very fast). I also agree about just getting up and writing down everything that is rolling through your head - hopefully it will release it.

Sleep problems are a difficult part of PSTD to be sure, and I go through waves as well - I know you mentioned insurance issues - but if your sleep doesn't improve - is there a clinic near you that accepts patients on a sliding scale?

 

[texaskitty]

Thank You

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I do have dvds of ocean scenes and waves, I have several. I can set the TV to play them as long as I like. I had forgotten about them. I'll find them this afternoon.

I never thought about journaling. I'll get the stuff together and put by bed for tonight.

Pdoc is giving me some sleep med for a few days (they don't have many days worth) tomorrow. My application to the drug company for patient assistance is in the works.

I'll just do what I can until I get this under control.

TexasKitty

 

[ISupportHer]

Just to be clear, the CD's I mentioned have soothing vocal affirmations that guide you through positive feelings and then into soothing music. The affirmations help direct you and promote your relaxation.

 

[Gunchief]

I know from my own experience that lack of sleep is a vicious circle. No answers just I hope you work through it soon.
Dave

 

[jefferylee]

I think I've tried every sleep med on the market over the years,even in combinations and/or 2-3 times the usuall dosage and still I'd be up all night.The only thing that works for me is to smoke a bowl of pot just before I lay down.

I used to be a regular user,during the day or whenever,but now I limit myself to only indulging at bedtime.I have come to see it just as any other medicine I take on a daily basis and I guess I'm just lucky to live in Northern California where there's always a steady suppy :)' Thank god that the "War on Drugs" is almost a thing of the past!!

JOKE...What's the difference between the War on Drugs and a real war ???
Real wars eventually come to an end !!

Peace and Hope...jefferylee

 

[pandora]

What about an over the counter medication that has the side effect of drowsiness..like gravol or benadryl. Just for a few days until things settle down..it can be a viscous cycle and no sleep is awful..