Sleeping Without Medication, Possible?

[Artemis]

I am wanting to have another baby now, my only is now 2.5yrs old. Problem is I developed CPTSD around 7 months after her birth and my symptoms were severely triggered by her crying and waking at night. I basically stopped sleeping and would get adrenaline shots which felt like electrical shocks coursing through my body when I was about to nod off or if some noise woke me up. I have been on imovane since. I have gradually reduced my dose, which was fine until I got to 1/4 tab. I have been trying for the last month, but seem unable to get anywhere near a decent sleep on that. I take ages to fall asleep, wake up several times and usually my sleep is finished after 6hrs. That is not enough for me and I feel really tired. Worse is that Im starting to get really depressed and feeling hopeless, as I cannot get pregnant whilst taking this meds. I am taking so many herbs and supplements (I qualified as a herbalist/nutritionist/naturopath before getting sick) and problem is they are simply not strong enough to replace the imovane. Also most of the herbs are not to be taking during pregnancy either, so I am at a loss. Any ideas? Anyone else been through something similar? Had a baby after getting sick?

 

[Sterre]

Hi Artemis, welcome to the forum.

I had my child before I was diagnosed with complex trauma, but I did have some symptoms before she was born.

During my pregnacy ( that was not planned) I was on AD's in a low dose. For that time it was the best desicion,out of a bunch of worst decisions.

Half a year ago I followed a training for woman who are diagnosed with Complex trauma ( CPTSD). It containes a workbook, and one of the chapters is about making a safe sleep-plan.
I worked realy hard with that chapter, and since then I am able to sleep without taking a sleepingpill. Before that I only could get to sleep by taking a pill every night, sometimes two, for many years.

The plan is about identifying what your needs are to fall a sleep, to feel safe and reaxed enough to fall a sleep.
And to write these things down.
For instance ( for me)
- no wachting television before going to bed.
- no computerwork before going to bed
- take a hot shower before I go to bed
- having an audiobook playing when I lay in bed
- I spray some lavender oil on my bed before I hop in
- one hour before bed time I dont do anything that requiers heavy or upset thinking
- Itry to go to bed at the same time every night
- when I lay awake in bed, I go out of bed, and distract myself downstairs, until I feel tired again and try anew
- I'll have things laying beside my bed that make me feel safe ( could be photograps of pleasant memories)

When I cant fall asleep I'll have an emergency box right next to my bed. That box contains a cd with favorite and calm music, some etheric oils, it contains a crosswords puzzlebook, knitting gear, a humerous book, and task list of what I can do when I cant sleep, and these things dont work.

When I cant sleep after opening the box and diong the stuff that is inside the box, I start to do household chores, like sorting out socks, sorting out cuttlery, sorting out underwear or clothes.
I like to sort things out and they distract and give me a feeling of accomplishment. I dont have to do much thinking while sorting stuff out.

If I still cant sleep after that, I just try to accept it, and lay in bed resting and relaxing.

You can make a plan that will suit you and the things that work for you.
One groupmember had bought a digital photoframe where she put up all kinds of nice pictures of moments when she was feeling happy and safe, and she put it next to her bed to look at when she couldt sleep. One other member made a little book that contained all kinds of handwritten messages and affirmations that gave her a pleasant feeling.
Somebody else in the group had bought a cd with relaxationtechniques and a cd player to put beside her bed, and she practiced the realxationtechniques of she couldnt sleep.

Maybe you van make a sleepingplan of some kind for yourself?

There are lots of things you can do.to personalise it. Good luck!

 

[Truckinjoan]

Artemis, I understand the desire to have another baby - but why would you plan to do that now? I am sure you are a great mother but doing too much can lead you into a really dark place. Be grateful for what you have, that is what my partner and I have decided - she has 1 and we really can't afford another one.