Nightmares

[LadyLux]

Hello,
I have nightmares every night. Because of them, I get little sleep, and have broken every relationship I have had since they started. (No one likes sleeping next to someone who is screaming and crying in their sleep.) I stay up until my eyes can no longer stay open and then wake up terrified, shaking, confused. Anyone have any suggestions as to what to do?

Thanks,
LadyLux

 

[Mina]

Hi, LadyLux, and welcome to the forum. Do you have PTSD, and are your nightmares from your trauma? Or a different condition? Are you currently seeking any professional treatment?

I found that my nightmares have been diminishing as I've been going to therapy, weekly, and working through my trauma. When I don't address things while I'm awake, they seem to come out while I'm asleep. The more I work through them in the daylight hours, the less they affect me at night.

If you're comfortable doing so, consider taking a moment to post over on the "Introductions" forum and tell us a bit more about yourself. :smile:

 

[Kunoichi]

Ladlux

Welcome to the forum!

I agree with Mina. Therapy has helped me diminish my nightmares, also sleep aids have assisted the insomnia. Keeping a good mindframe before you go to bed is essential as well as it can help diminish nightmares (in my own experience).

 

[kers]

Welcome to the forum. I'll add my voice to the chorus--the best thing to reduce nightmares is treatment. Dealing with your traumas makes them less likely to terrorize you when you are awake or asleep. Medication may be a part of this treatment.

The information section of the forum has a lot of good articles about sleep management that may help you reduce the nightmares, too.

 

[Cindy]

Nightmares are not fun.

For a long time my strategy with nightmares was the same as yours. Avoid sleep. WRONG choice. Losing sleep only intensifies other aspects of PTSD.

Here are some suggestions from what I have learned along the way.

Prior to bed, take a half hour and clear your head by focusing on pleasant thoughts. Listen to relaxing music, do some visualization of good places and times you may have experienced.

Make your bed a safe place to be; huge stuff animals to hug, photos or art that comfort you at your bedside. Lighting to your liking, blankets or not, soft music at arms reach, potpouri?

Prepare a 'comfort box' for when you wake from a nightmare. Inside this box are things that will distract you and soothe you. Snacks, puzzles, scented candles, music, silk scarf, ??? what ever works for you. Once you do wake and are sitting there totally triggered - ground yourself as fast as you can. It is important to change your location to a chair or move into the living room.

I also take medication.

Try to be aware of things that will set off your nightmares. Whenever my asthma is bad or I have been to the Dentist I can almost guarentee nightmares. For me knowing the reason for the nightmare sometimes lessons the impact of it's prolonged effect.

Prior to these strategies it would take me half a day to recover from my nightmares. Now when I do have them my recovery time is much shorter.

Cindy