Recent therapy and now nightmares - scared to sleep

[Kurt simon ritchie]

I’m right now hiding in the bathroom because every time I try to sleep I start remembering trauma/ my body floods with terror and I share a bed. Anyhow wondering if anyone has any methods that help with sleep and how to deal with nightmares. Feel like I’m just processing too much at once from daily/relationship/long term stressors. Hope everyone is hanging in there and sending everyone love.

 

[Sideways]

Feel like I’m just processing too much at once from daily/relationship/long term stressors.

This is very possible. Therapy is very often a bit of a dance, because we have to constantly readjust what we're working on to accommodate both how we're coping, and the curveballs that life throw at us. Our stress cup can only handle so much.

It's worth talking to your therapist about this, and perhaps spend some time getting that stability back.

It may also be worth talking to a doctor or psychiatrist, because there's medications that can be used to help with nightmares.

 

[OM_™]

I was just wondering what medications you are referring to, to help with nightmares? I Want to ask my doctor for something new to try.

I took Temazepam but have stopped because I felt I was getting addicted and also it significantly affected my short term memory.

 

[JustMeAndMyMind]

Hi. I too recently started therapy, and nightmares was something T warned me about, just to be aware this may well happen, however she said not to be worried or scared of them as its just the brains way of processing what's coming up in therapy so whilst it's not nice for us in the moment, it's not necessarily a bad thing. I hope you find this as reassuring as I did. Knowing what may happen and why helps me understand what's going on and greatly reduces my fear and anxiety

 

[arfie]

journaling and restful activities are my go to remedy for insomnia. when i am being plagued by nightmares, i find it more restful to work puzzles, work crafts and other calming activities than dealing with the aftermath of nightmares.

i'll second the notion that this would be a most excellent discussion to have with your therapist.

 

[Freddyt]

i find it more restful to work puzzles, work crafts and other calming activities than dealing with the aftermath of nightmares.

Yes anything that interrupts overthinking and rumination works best. Change of clothes if you are sweaty, then find something that you can focus on that keeps your focus off nightmares.
I have a huge collection of favourite TV shows on a home media server (like my own personal Netflix) and I just pick a cartoon or show and watch......maybe I sleep, maybe I don't.......because that too is a trap where the more you worry about sleep the less sleeping you do.......