Night Time Seems To Be The Hardest?

[rightkindofme]

Nights used to be the worst. Then I trained myself to go to sleep at 7:30/8:00pm. Just doing that eliminated a lot of my symptoms. Now my peak symptoms are at 4am when I wake up. It's a lot less extreme than the peaks I had in the middle of the night but it isn't easy starting out my day this way.

 

[Smile]

Yup, nights are the worst for me as well. I've had insomnia for 2 1/2 years now and can't sleep for more than an hour if I haven't taken my sleeping pills.

I also need to take xanax before bed because as the evening progresses, my anxiety gets so bad that I feel like I'm climbing out I my skin. It doesn't matter how tired I am... Anxiety is my alarm clock :confused:

@franciemarnie, love what you said about our bodies remembering... I must try to remember that one :)

 

[Seasounds]

Therapy and groups really helped my nightly flashbacks that surfaced when I slept.

I slept well until memories started to pop, once I started to approach sex. After having sex, then they came on full bore. Nightly, flashbacks, waking up crying, not being able to breath, feeling diembodied and afraid to go to sleep. As I chipped away at processing the trauma, the nightmares revealed more layers, and gradually settled down, over a decade.

Now, as I'm engaged in the world- get triggered, sleep is a challenge. I work on winding down my flight or fight response before sleeping; take hot showers, no TV, no phone calls, do meditation, poetry helps, etc. If I don't get good sleep, I'll use a medication, since lack of sleep increases my depression.

 

[therisa]

Nighttime has always been my hardest time of the day, despite the fact, my abuse, whether by a family member or a "friend" happened during the day. Guess, being an "night owl", it has worsen the impact of the physical and psychological abuse, I have faced for most of my life. Over the past seven years, sleep has become a gateway for my flashbacks, and have tried various medical solutions, which had limited success, for me. What has succeed for me, is an hour before bedtime, I eliminate all electronic simulus and turn to my cats, to ground me, to the point, I can sleep.

 

[DianaRoth]

My nights are exactly like that. I've always had trouble sleeping since I was a kid, could never close my eyes without my mind going crazy.

After my accident it's worsened and I live alone so every noise keeps me awake and alert and I can't really relax. I usually put on a series or movie, that usually helps me, blocks out the noise. Sleeping pills don't help me, I'm not sure if the same is with everyone but my body likes fighting them.

I usually make something warm to drink, it helps sometimes. I don't think it ever goes away, the dread for night time, but everyone has their own way of dealing with it and when there's a routine it helps As well.

 

[Notsowild]

@DianaRoth

Sleeping pills don't help me, I'm not sure if the same is with everyone but my body likes fighting them.

The first time I took Seroquel I was like that. I kept thinking this is not going to help me sleep and it didn't. But just recently I took 2x the dose and I slept but the next day I felt like I was in a drug stupor all day.

 

[Notsowild]

Sorry did something wrong there! Don't know how to edit !!!

 

[DianaRoth]

@Notsowild
I've taken a few different ones, a lot of them make me feel like a zombie, so I try tire myself out through the day so I can sleep earlier. I do love sleeping when I do sleep haha

 

[WendyA]

Thinking about it, I've always dreaded the nighttime, but I have no idea why. Now with PTSD in full force, it is the absolute worst for me. I dread evening, just knowing what I have to endure for the night and that while mostly everyone else sleeps I will be up in agony and feeling like I've never been more alone.

 

[EverOnly358]

I have so much trouble sleeping through the night. I often prefer to stay up late or wake up early... it just feels too scary and vulnerable to sleep when everyone else is asleep, too. But I have to be careful... too many late night hours and my sleep schedule flips and suddenly I'm sleeping from 11:00am to 7:00pm, which is so not good. Anyways... when I can't sleep, I try to do fun, relaxing things with no pressure... movies, TV, reading books and that sort of thing. That being said... I read somewhere that any blue light will disturb your sleep... you can even sense it through your closed eyelids. So, if you're an electronics junkie like me... make sure to have something to cover the lights on TV's, DVD player, clocks, etc. Sleeping in the dark and then getting some sunlight first thing in the morning will help to reset your sleep schedule and make getting to sleep easier as well. In addition, exercise, exercise, exercise... it helps with getting a good night's sleep, too.

:hug: to all who need them. Being the only one awake in the middle of the night is so hard, especially when worries and memories spin through your head.

Hang in there,
EverOnly