Nightmares Every Night

[Ahmya]

Hi, I'm new to this forum, but not new to these nightmares. I've been having the same nightmares for 11 years now. I've tried talking to therapists, and have been able to get over some things, but not the nightmares. I recently moved, so talking to old therapist isn't as easy.

Little back story- I was raped by my best friend's brother when I was 12. Since that night, I've had nightmares where I wake up screaming. My fiance knows about the nightmares and tries to help by holding me, and it does make me feel better, but any suggestions on how to begin overcoming them? I used to be terrified of all men, my family, boyfriends, my fiance I dated for 5 months before I finally let him hold my hand. It's better now, but the nightmares stay.

 

[EloiseLandau]

[DLMURL]http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/prazosin-for-ptsd[/DLMURL] There are studies for this medication, Prozastin, which has been shown to help with PTSD nightmares. There are also trials for it; perhaps there is one in your area.

 

[Emilie]

Heya smithbr. I've had nightmares every night since I was little. To give you a little info on my experience with prazosin, I find that it simply makes my nightmares lucid, whereas instead of being hopeless, I suddenly gain control of my situation and i am able to affect my dreams while I am on it. For instance in my chasing dreams I could just jump up and start flying or something, and asking myself things on paper with pen before sleeping while on prazosin turned out to yield some interesting dream results too... I personally had to go off of it though because I have low BP. My T tried seroquel XR and Latuda for me but neither do jack for my dreams, they just keep me from waking up at night and get me to bed on time.

Also, This week my T said we were going to pick apart and examine some of my nightmares-so I can let you know how that goes. If you or someone else knows 'you' well enough (and I mean deeply, and personally) the interpretation of your dream(in my opinion) can provide valuable insight to your subconscious thought. And I don't mean like, "a fish means good luck" or something, but if your are being chased that could reasonably relate to some things you are experiencing while awake.

 

[Gamereign555]

For me Prazosin makes my dreams more shrouded and quiet as if I am viewing through a veil and ear plugs. I haven't had a lucid dream since I have started taking it. I can tell it's a dream but I feels more vague and less threatening. I often can remember bits of the dream when i wake up but have no idea what the bits were about. Trying to remember the bits of the dream is kind of what the dream actually feels like. I can remember enough to know that most of my dreams have been about gathering together with other people and preparing to enter another world, I as of yet do not recall any violence in my dreams but even if I did, I probably wouldn't have noticed it. I tend to wake up pretty well rested with minimal sleep disturbances but groggy if I take the Prazosin with something else before bed.

No more chasing after my girlfriend for endless hours, no more witnessing other people falling or being mutilated, no more falling off cliffs and myself being disfigured, no more people threatening or trying to choke me, no more hypnogogic experiences where I can't tell if I am sleeping or awake, away with the ghosts and demons.

 

[Emilie]

heyyya gamereign long time no see, Interesting to hear what it has done for you. I had a few nights of what you experienced by the way, but more often just lucid dreams for me. I know it kept my heart rate from shooting up and me waking up in panic for sure.

By the way smithbr, it might help you out to start keeping a journal of your dreams for later reflection. I found that it helps slightly to move on to the next nightmare by getting that one out of the way...lol. But seriously, if you're having the same horrible recurrence sometimes your subconscious wants you to act on it, like draw it, write it..ect. I use that method when I get the really bad ones. No matter what I do though there seems to be another bad dream to move on to.

 

[Srain]

Welcome to the Forum.

I'm so sorry that you went through such a horrific ordeal. I can surely understand how disturbing nightmares can be and with lack of restful sleep, for me anyway, it just seems to add to my anxiety about the next night's sleep which in turn feeds the fears leaving me restless. It has been years of repetitive nightmares, night terrors, and insomnia. I don't know if you are seeing a professional for your trauma but that is something I have been finding, along with the suggestions here, helpful as well as healing.

Please take good care of yourself. You are not alone in dealing with something like this.
Peace,
Rain