Sleep Annoyance With PTSD

[Abstract]

Hi Tel,

Your dream sounds horrible and I am sorry you are awake,
I would say a T is the very first priority for you. I have come so far with therapy even though I have a way to go. What Anthony said makes total sense to me and I don't believe there is a way of evading dealing with the issue directly.

A little tip. It may be best to break that post up into paragraphs as that way more people will read it. I know my fuzzy brain often can't cope and that is why the rule is there. :confused:

Take care.

 

[Reclusive]

Hi TEL - I keep butting my nose in all over the place, but you may want to contact a crisis center or line in your area - they may be able to hook you up with state or federal funded counseling.

I'm sorry about your nightmare - that sounds really horrible. Although I've just started doing that 'Am I dreaming?' thing in my dreams too - it's so weird!

 

[TEL]

Hi Tel,

Your dream sounds horrible and I am sorry you are awake,
I would say a T is the very first priority for you.
A little tip. It may be best to break that post up into paragraphs as that way more people will read it. I know my fuzzy brain often can't cope and that is why the rule is there. :confused:

Thanks, Abstract. Didn't see that rule there. Yes, after I went back to bed, I prayed for a way to be able to see a T again. I know I need one. Doing my best not to feel sorry for myself that I don't have the $ to afford one right now. That's why I prayed for a way.

Having had Ts for most of the past 20 years, I do appreciate the value of having one.

Hi TEL - I keep butting my nose in all over the place, but you may want to contact a crisis center or line in your area - they may be able to hook you up with state or federal funded counseling.

I'm sorry about your nightmare - that sounds really horrible. Although I've just started doing that 'Am I dreaming?' thing in my dreams too - it's so weird!

Hi Reclusive! I don't think you're 'butting your nose in all over the place". I thought that's what we're supposed to do?
Getting state or federal funded counseling is a thought. I did have therapy provided for quite some time, from an organization that was responsible for some of my trauma. I appreciated their help. But now that's over, since they were only providing it for the one abuser, not the others.[/quote]

 

[Reclusive]

Thanks, TEL. Sometimes I get lonely and post too much LOL. But really, check into it - that's the only way I've been able to get help and it has made such a difference I just can't emphasize it enough.

 

[AmyO]

Hi TEL. I am so sorry you have to relive that over and over. It is hard when you either can't or don't want to remember what happened. I had an abusive ex that he would beat me for just the common stuff, but he would also beat me if I didn't "perform" for his friends. It gets pushed so far back that we forget about it until it starts to come out in the dreams. Then we get smacked around a bit more.

Reclusive is right though. I started seeing a county therapist that comes to my home so it feels less sterile.

And Reclusive, you just keep being you. And bless you for it.

 

[Iam]

The body will sleep regardless whether you want to or not at some point, your brain will force it to sleep. It is not uncommon during trauma therapy / uncontrolled PTSD, that your sleep patterns are all over the place, and if working, very normal you get yourself into a routine of minimal sleep, ie. 4 - 6hrs tops per 24hrs, then sleep lots on weekends, day and night.

Both my trauma T and my regular T have told me the same thing. In fact they actually said that the nightmares are beneficial because it means my mind is processing whatever trauma we are working on. I was also told it would get worse before it gets better. And boy were they right :confused: Lots worse at first, but now I sleep much better. I do still have trouble with nightmares, sleeplessness and very tense muscles upon wakening occasionally when I've had a particularly hard session or if there are current stressors in my life, but I know now that it is ok and don't worry about it.

The ideal person with PTSD to treat, is one who isn't working. That's it... kids, no kids, family, single, doesn't matter, it can all be accommodated to suit, but work is the biggest independent stressor in a PTSD sufferers life usually

This is optimal Anthony. Fortunately I was able to quit work 18 months ago to focus on my therapy, but sadly many don't have that option. Honestly, unless you have a job you love and that is not stressful, I don't know how you all do it. Those that do, have tremendous strength!

 

[anthony]

Agreed... those who work with PTSD, and do therapy... huge huge Kudos for what they achieve daily. More who are in that situation should give themselves greater credit for what they achieve just accomplishing those tasks.

 

[The Albatross]

Sleep apnea, disturbance and nightmares are all symptoms of your trauma. Treat the trauma, and you have no symptoms to affect you...or very minimal effects, anyway.

What? Sleep apnea? I stop breathing 27 times an hour. If there is an article that touches on this more please point me in the right direction? Wow, no kidding my jaw dropped. No therapist made that connection.

 

[Phaed]

The ideal person with PTSD to treat, is one who isn't working. That's it... kids, no kids, family, single, doesn't matter, it can all be accommodated to suit, but work is the biggest independent stressor in a PTSD sufferers life usually... there are obvious exceptions, ie. still living in an abusive environment, DV as an example.

This must be why my P and T told me to take some time off. I should have listened. Instead I finished a Masters Degree, went right into a new career and find myself here, so unsure, 5 years later. With all the medication I was on I thought I felt pretty good until 50 pounds later and feeling completely brittle I decided I couldn't endure a life like that and now am off of them. I didn't feel good, I didn't FEEL anything.

Yes and No. There is a fine balance, and what people do is exactly what they should not be doing, being; they get on sleeping tablets or some other form to try and sleep, they even over-dose medications until they work for them, often then the medication itself causes a side effect.

I was hooked on Ambien and Lunesta at different times. It took me 3 months of not sleeping until I reached complete exhaustion to get off the Lunesta. It really screwed up my circadian rythyms. Valerian is a lot gentler but still I cannot sleep on a work night at all without it because I am so stressed about having to get up in the morning to go to work.

Wow I cannot believe that all this information is available for free online about the right way to do this and it all makes perfect sense to me. I have been screwed by the medical establishment. I am angry about this money driven machine that works under the facade that they want to help people.

I have two months until this school year is over, I hope I can make it, I am fading fast. Stayed home today, I am sick once again. No matter what I do I get sick once a month at least.

 

[AmyO]

Here's to hoping you feel better. It is very hard to even imagine sleep. Like Anthony said, you almost get used to minimal sleep. It gets difficult for me sometimes because I am always on guard listening for the kids when they go into nightmares (wake up screaming, thrashing around, even mild sleepwalking). They also diagnosed me with narcolepsy (head trauma), so that I have to take crazy amounts of stimulants during the day just to keep from dropping. Could that be normal (as normal as it gets HA) with PTSD too?

I have started trying Melatonin at night too. That and a Cup of Hot chocolate works wonders for getting you to sleep but not real dependable on keeping you there. I agree with the meds theory though. It's like they just are sitting and playing Russian roulette with your emotional well being (some not all, you have to look hard for the ones to trust).

 

[Phaed]

I have started trying Melatonin at night too.

I want to mention that melatonin made my nightmares worse, my psychiatrist confirmed that this can happen.

Now, Valerian helps me sleep and gives me vivid dreams but not many nightmares. I did have one last week about my student that just OD'd that felt real but it is not typical for me anymore. I also get the doorbell or loud noises when I am almost asleep that still startle me no matter what I take. Thankfully this is not every night.

It gets difficult for me sometimes because I am always on guard listening for the kids when they go into nightmares (wake up screaming, thrashing around, even mild sleepwalking).

My kids slept with me for over a year. They would cuddle up on either side of me. They had awful night terrors and my youngest would literally scream for his dad every night. Eventually they were able to move back into their own beds and the night terrors subsided. It just took a lot of love, understanding, talking, processing and time.

Then every year my son would get them again when summer was over and school started up. School was his trigger, he was being bullied there and it was where he had been when they picked him up to go to the hospital. Once I switched schools his nightmares stopped for the most part. They both have some nightmares still, but not as often.

((((Amy))))Kids are so resilient honey. They are going to get through this. I know how hard it is but it will get better for you all. You have been so strong to get them out of this situation, you are doing the right thing.

 

[Phaed]

Albatross said--What? Sleep apnea? I stop breathing 27 times an hour. If there is an article that touches on this more please point me in the right direction? Wow, no kidding my jaw dropped. No therapist made that connection

My husband says I quit breathing at night too. I told my P but she just thought I was being hypochondriacal. She thinks I have a very vivid imagination. You know in hindsight I am so glad I don't see her anymore!

I would love to see more about this as well. I also talk in my sleep almost every night. Is that normal?