Hey guys, I've been having a lot of trouble sleeping recently--more than usual. It's been about eight years since I've gotten a good nights sleep, but I go through periods where it gets a little better or worse. Sometimes I'm so tired that I easily fall asleep during the day, to the point that a couple of people have thought that I'm narcoleptic (I'm not). I have nightmares and a lot of times it's really hard to convince myself to go to sleep. A therapist I saw a few times said that they'd never completely go away, but my current psychiatrist says they will and I don't know what to believe. Anyway, I've fallen into the terrible habit of watching videos to fall asleep, but seriously nothing else seems to work. I keep the brightness and volume down and I set it turn off quickly if/when I do fall asleep, but I know I still shouldn't do it. I need enough distraction to not think about sleep or at least not let my mind wander because that never ends well. I've tried like everything else I can think of, music, podcasts, a couple sound apps, but they don't really work. Anyway, does anyone else have a similar problem/any suggestions?
-
We are a multilingual website again. Read the notice about this.
-
Understand AI use at MyPTSD: all AI use is explained in our AI help page. AI use is by choice here. It exists if you want it, but does nothing unless you choose to use it.
I don't know how to sleep anymorei'
- Post starter LoveTea
- Start date
- Status
I feel your pain. I can't fall asleep and have to take melatonin and xanax (which has stopped working past few weeks). The trouble with this is that my body wants to increase the xanax for the same effect. However once I do fall asleep, I can sleep for 15 hours straight and miss the entire day. Its when I start to fall asleep that I usually have nightmares or thoughts that jar me wide awake. Its been years for me also and a constant battle. I leave boring tv on to help as distraction from own anxieties. My life is officially unproductive.
- Moderator
- #3
Sideways
VIP Member
If you're sleep deprived to the point where you drop asleep during the day, and you're finding movies help get you to sleep? Keep using movies.
Working on nightmares can be a slow process, and movies are a pretty harmless quick fix.
But keep experimenting with good sleep hygiene stuff. Things like looking at your diet (including smoking, caffiene, alcohol, as well as good nutrition - perhaps see a nutritionist), exercise, routines in the couple of hours before bed, the amount of natural light you get during the day, whether you're working shifts that don't mesh with your body clock, weighted blankets, pillow setup, not taking work or food to bed, etc etc. There's a whole range of lifestyle stuff that goes into good sleep hygiene, and if you already have ptsd making sleep difficult, it can require getting really finicky about sleep hygiene.
Have you spoken to a doctor to rule out things like sleep apnoea (which can be quite subtle in some people)?
Working on nightmares can be a slow process, and movies are a pretty harmless quick fix.
But keep experimenting with good sleep hygiene stuff. Things like looking at your diet (including smoking, caffiene, alcohol, as well as good nutrition - perhaps see a nutritionist), exercise, routines in the couple of hours before bed, the amount of natural light you get during the day, whether you're working shifts that don't mesh with your body clock, weighted blankets, pillow setup, not taking work or food to bed, etc etc. There's a whole range of lifestyle stuff that goes into good sleep hygiene, and if you already have ptsd making sleep difficult, it can require getting really finicky about sleep hygiene.
Have you spoken to a doctor to rule out things like sleep apnoea (which can be quite subtle in some people)?
- Post starter
- #4
Thanks for the support guys! I have done a sleep study, which basically did nothing but rule out sleep apnea and narcolepsy (it somehow didn't catcha nightmare though?) But I do tend to down at least 3 cups of tea a day (which my T isn't thrilled about but I kinda have to do it in order to be awake and marginally functional). My T just seems aprehensive about me watching anything to fall asleep because she thinks it might be too engaging and keep me from falling asleep. I have a weighted blanket which I love. I have never really taken any medication to help me sleep. I took melatonin a few times maybe 6 years ago, but that actually made me more awake (which confused my doctor greatly). I think part of my problem is that I'm awful a keeping to routines, the moment I mess up I get frustrated and stop trying all together.
- Post starter
- #6
I have heard about Prazosin, a friend of mine used to take it for anziety nightmares. My main problem with getting a perscription for anything is my mother/insurance. I'm still on hers and she doesn't know anything about the PTSD or anything and she is very against any mental health anything (and with me physical health sometimes too). Even if I found a way to get them without her finding out I'm very apprehensive about meds (I'm getting a little better about it since a lot of my friends take stuff for anxiety/depression). But, my mother has told me my whole life how horrible they are and even though I don't want to believe her that has kind of sunk in. A good friend of mine, who is pretty well versed in mental health meds has been urging me to get on some kind of meds. For now though that seems kind of impossible since I'm still depentent on my mother in many aspects (mostly financial) since I'm in college and as much as I don't want to be, I also know that It's just a reality right now and I just kind of have to deal with that.
joeylittle
Sponsor
Prazosin is actually a blood pressure medication (when prescribed for PTSD it's at a lower dose, and only take 1x a day). Your mother wouldn't necessarily know it was anything other than for high blood pressure.
- Post starter
- #8
Well that makes my life a little easier I think. I don't know why, but with me in particular, she doesn't want to deal with any of my health stuff. I've probably had a hyperthyroid for the past 10 years or so (which she is aware of since it's hereditay but hasn't bothered getting me diagnosed), but one of the treatments is high blood pressure meds so that may work. I will look into it thanks!
Praz is much much safer then taking the anti-anxiety meds (benzos) and you don't go crazy tapering off, and it's easy to find a Dr. who will prescribe it, unlike the benzos.
I am wondering if there is not some help available to you through your school, etc. ? ie student health services, or county mental health. It is worth knocking on doors and making calls.
It's amazing how many other symptoms are reduced or go away....when one suddenly starts getting good sleep !!!
Your Mom is not completely wrong. Many of the meds for anxiety and depression have big drawbacks. Praz is the most benign, in my opinion.
I think most anti depressants require a slow taper when one stops taking them ; a couple of them are noted for serious withdrawals.
I am wondering if there is not some help available to you through your school, etc. ? ie student health services, or county mental health. It is worth knocking on doors and making calls.
It's amazing how many other symptoms are reduced or go away....when one suddenly starts getting good sleep !!!
Your Mom is not completely wrong. Many of the meds for anxiety and depression have big drawbacks. Praz is the most benign, in my opinion.
I think most anti depressants require a slow taper when one stops taking them ; a couple of them are noted for serious withdrawals.
- Post starter
- #10
I actually have used my school health services before, and it kind of went horribly. They really aren't equiped to handle PTSD so they actually did give me some benzos (somewhat irresponsibly in my opinion considering they didn't really tell me what I was taking, and I was in the midst of a panic attack so it's not like I was really going to ask), then they blew off 3 appointments with me. I may have to look into other resources in my area. I'm just very nervous to tell a doctor anything, since my mother has gotten into my medical records in the past, plus her insurance reports to her (they have to get a reason something is being perscribed).
I have actually taken a couple meds for anxiety/depression in the past (they were perscribed for ADHD which I'm wondering if I actually have it or they were just symptoms of PTSD), both of which went pretty badly and I ended up stopping after 3 tries. I guess that is why I am personally apprehensive.
Right now, I just keep flip flopping from wanting to sleep better and being too scared to. I have a couple friends who are very supportive, but they don't quite understand why I don't always want to sleep. I have talked about it with my T a little, but then that goes into why I'm afraid and I shut down. Thanks for the help/support.
- Status
Similar posts
Donation drives
Trending content
-
-
What Are You Feeling Today? Not Thinking, Rather Feeling! Can You Identify Yours?
- goingonhope
Comments: 34K -
-
-
-
