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Parasomnia And Altered State

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mamachick

Diamond Member
Ok, I am almost embarrassed to post this and I have never heard of anything quite like this. I have not known whether to laugh or cry about what happened.

Last week end while at my max stress level, I got a call from a trouble making relative spewing venum. I was way beyond full on the stress cup. I was already at a point of chronic stress with divorce, finances, etc. Although I try to maintain forgiveness, I was hating my ex that day, and had said to a friend that he would not notice if my ass was on fire because of how avoidant he is.

That night I went to bed like any other night. I dont fall asleep easily and have to take xanax and it was likely late. I dream of problems, work, have nightmares. I woke up off and on but was so tired from stress I just stayed in bed most of the day. Until my doorbell rang and my dogs were barking. First I planned to ignore (salesperson or something) but then came pounding. I went and answered and it was police. They said I left my daughter a scarey message about my ex husband. Then I remembered dreaming that he was on fire----but I was hesitant to put him out. He was running across his farm on fire and I wanted to run and help but then thought that if I did he would never give me the divorce. I also thought it was maybe a trick because he told me he bought a new gun and he would shoot me if I got near. I was very afraid and was yelling for help but I just stood there froze...and ashamed.

Well evidently during my dream, I actually called my daughter and said that he was on fire and I might have lit him on fire myself and that I did now know and should I go and check on him and then went back to sleep. My daughter did not listen to the message for many hours and when I did not answer she tried calling him, who also never answers calls and after hours she became afraid and called police. The officer asked her if I was on crack. OMG. I listened to the message and the words were not slurred, I was just scared to death you could tell. So now the officer at my house quizzed me about the date and time and such and told me not to do this. The problem is-I did not know that I did.

Days later I went to therapy and told my therapist. She said that in one of my past sessions that she asked if I used something unusual or took too much of something, she thinks it was the same state-that I just was not me after talking to me, and that I was in an altered state. I admit I felt out of body that day. After therapy, I began telling my other daughter what my therapist said. She told me that she ran into a friend of mine and he asked if I was alright. He then told her we were suppose to have lunch on day about a month ago and the morning of, I called him at 6 am confused and told him a mutual friend was dead and for him to come over and that I did not know how it happened. (I must have dreamed that but dont recall I have so many bad ones). He described the same state.

I googled information and found parasomnia but none of this really makes sense to me. I know I have done things on Ambien that I do not remember-that is why I refuse to take it. I sleep walked as a child and one daughter also did. It says that it runs in families.

I find this very frightening. Then I try to use humor to minimize as there is nothing else I can do until I see my therapist again. Information said that people return to sleep in a few minutes but they are between wake and sleep states. I guess one could find themselves driving then. It says that many eat in their sleep and do not understand weight problems.

If anyone has any experience or knowledge of this please do let me know. Even if you dont, your comments are welcome. I am really confused and appreciate your reading this lengthy post. Thanks
 
My sleep doctor told me she believes I have episodes of parasomnia but mine is a bit different in that I attack myself in my sleep only to awaken to torn clothing, scratches on my face, and bruises on my body. The episodes correspond to high stress times. She couldn't offer any more advice other than to decrease my stress levels and wear gloves when I go to bed so I don't hurt myself during these episodes. Your case is a bit different though.

Are you able to see a sleep doctor? I ask simply because documentation of the disorder may help you in the future if you cross paths with cops who mistake your behavior for much more serious psychological disorders and /or drug use----and you temporarily lose your freedom as a result. I think it's better to be pro- active rather than wait for things to get worse and then try to prove your case after the fact.

Yes, parasomnia does run in families. My sister sleep walks and sleep talks. We have different varieties but it's all related.
 
When I took tranqs, I blacked out and did crazy stuff just like with alcohol. So terrifying I quit with them in 1992.

I'm sorry you're going thru this - whatever it is. It's frightening.
 
You are so right. I do have a documented sleep disorder (daytime sleepiness disorder) following traumatic brain injury and the report read that the night time waves were not normal either and will be correlated with future diagnoisis. This never happened. Also this last incident, I was off anti depressant 4 days cold turkey because I ran out and did not have money. I dont know if that had anything to do with it. Since I was unaware that I had called a friend a month before, I thought this was isolated. I also think the daytime episode is unrelated but was during very high stress.

Information says to install door alarms and sleep on first floor among other things. I am going to find out about getting documentation.
Your sleep problems sound worse Solara-I hope you have someone else in the house with you.
 
sleepeducation.com is one web site with information and it states that it happens with ptsd among other reasons, it also happens with drug and alcohol abuse, genetics, and other.
 
Solara-you were so correct in suggesting that I get this diagnosed and see what treatment can help before trouble follows. However, I did not. Last Sept., around the time of my original post, my insurance took money back from my therapist for previous months and refused future treatment, stating that she was not a provider after they had approved the visits. That was a battle. She had been a provider, then policy changes dropped her w/o either of us knowing. She jumped through hoops and got reinstated and I just began therapy again after 6 months without. Also, the insurance took my anti depressants away. After severe panic in March, my Dr. provided me with samples. I had rotator cuff surgery in December. I had an endoscopy in April because of stomach problems and loosing 15 lbs in months.and have GERD, hiatal hernia, and esophogitis from NSaIDS for pain over the years. Now the Dr wants a stomach emptying test. I have a cyst on my wrist (artery) that needs removed. The list just goes on. Long and short, I did not ask dr for referral to sleep clinic about parasomnia.

Thanksgiving I started dating a guy that was real sweet, for about 6 weeks, then he told me that he had a warrant for his arrest for hitting another man. Yes I should have ran. Instead, I set out to save him. He ended up very mean and cruel. After more than 2 or 3 months, he was being mean and said that it was his HIV acting up. I went into severe anxiety and panic attacks. I was too ashamed to tell anyone for days and after about cracking up, I told my 37 yr old daughter who went to the ER with me for testing. We had conversations about it later and he was vague about what he meant. So he kept promising to be tested for 2 weeks. I was told to be re-tested in 6 months. He destroyed some property, said some vulgar things, shoved me, etc. and I booted him out. He does not accept rejection well at all. We exchanged some words through text messages. But there were some text messages that I swear I did not write-not necessarily bad, just blank. They are on my phone so I know that I did.

Two weeks ago he filed stalking charges against me. In my state, evidently there is no harrassment specifically. If it is harrassing-its a misdemeanor, if stalking it is felony. Mine is misdemeanor-which really means harrassment. There was no claim of contact, driving by, or following him or anything like that. I have honestly gone out of my way to avoid him and places that he might be. But there are claims of texts, pictures, and media posting-that I cant find any evidence of on my phone. He ended up being arrested for assaulting this other man and in his crazy mind blames me for his arrest since I nagged him about being violent and hot head. I got an attorney who has requested discovery of evidence. I am certain that some of his claims are false, but I have vague memory of some communication and none of others. I had also told him about this disorder during our relationship. I have began going through phone bills but really have to wait to see what he is claiming. There was also no claims of threats.

During this time of no physical contact since Feb 27th when I booted him out, he has started frequenting where I go, sending his friend to harrass me, having people call me with blocked numbers, people attempt to make contact on facebook that are bogus, having his friend tell me that he is going to kill me and that Im going to get hurt really bad. Sending vulgar facebook messages to my friend. At a certain point, I hated him so could imagine mean words. My hate is short lived, now I have just had to accept the 6 month wait. My dr putting me on meds has lessened my dislike for him as well.The unknown is driving me crazy, but I will just have to wait a week for discovery of evidence.

My advice to anyone who experiences such sleep problems should make it a priority over all health issues. I live alone. I have been told not to delete the messages he sent me because they are harrassing and evidence in my defense, yet Im scared of an accidental dial. I want to delete his number. I also thought of putting my phone in a far away place at night, but with his threats, I could not even call for help if he broke in. Parasomnia has turned into nightmare. From everything I have read, decreasing stress and good sleep hygiene is the treatment. Yet all of this has caused my stress to be at a high level. Any advice?
 
So horrible.

I totally understand wanting to delete his number. Can you download the texts to your PC (there is an app/program that can do this). That way you have a copy, but can delete them from you phone. Maybe if you take photographs of the text messages on your phone. Maybe if you have a friend (or lawyer, doctor, therapist) do that for you who would testify that they were on your phone and that they took the photographs.

There might be an app that can lock your phone during late night hours to only emergency and pre-approved numbers. I'm sure they are available for kids having phones so parents can control the calls and make eg only their parents number available to call during eg school hours. I'll see if I can find one for you....do you have an iPhone or Android?
 
I went to A t and T store today and had messages photoed. Now I have to download to computer. Before I do that, I want to meet with my lawyer (probably within week) to make sure this is acceptable in court.

I have never checked a mans pockets, phone, followed, driven by, or anything like this-EVER. I am totally non violent and find no excuse for it EVER. He was on speaker phone with my 2 adult daughters when I was having a panic attack that "nobody does this to a Last Name and will get away with it". This is retaliation. Oh I admit that I can be impulsive and have a sharp tongue, but most messages were asking him to call off his friend who was following me for a week in March and with 2 witnesses of the threats, but the threats were not that he would kill me, just hurt and destroy me. This is a case of the stalker claiming victim. I am not even claiming to be a victim really, its a relationship that went bad and bad words were spoken. On May 10, he sent me a message making fun of my retarded granddaughter and some vulgar additions. I told him off the same day in response, and he was able to file charges. What is wrong with the legal system? Are they idiots. This is so childish and retaliating. I think he is hoping for a civil suit to get some money because he is a bum and mooch.

I think there is an application that prevents you from dialing or texting certain numbers (its like a dont drink and text during evening hours) I just want him deleted. He has a friend who is a computer wiz. I have received spoofed calls, from a neighbor who's phone was disconnected a year ago. I wonder if you can spoof texts too-or make false ones up?

Thank you for your comment ghotiff. You know, sometimes it just helps to get it off our chest and know that someone cares.
 
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