Still kicking after waking

[Deleted member 40995]

I have nightmares and often wake up kicking or thrashing, sometimes wake up kicking every few minutes, sometimes I’ll be just falling asleep and suddenly just panic and my legs instinctively start kicking. Happened last night and this morning, it has kept happening- involuntarily just kick my legs out, been having some re experiencing and flashbacks today and keep kicking my leg out involuntarily, has anyone else had this happen when they’ve woken up- not been able to stop kicking? Any suggestions to help would also be appreciated

 

[shimmerz]

No, no kicking, but for me I may wake up and find my legs feel paralysed. I am recognizing more and more that legs are a big thing in my trauma. They are telling me a lot.

 

[Deleted member 40995]

No, no kicking, but for me I may wake up and find my legs feel paralysed. I am recognizing more and m...

I’m realizing that too; think it may be because my impulse was always to try and run, and running from him was a big part of some of the worse trauma memories, maybe the kicking had to do with that.

 

[shimmerz]

I don't know if you use visualization at all, but I am wondering if you can rehearse in your mind, your running to somewhere and actually getting away. Somewhere that you feel safe. Like, literally, making up the end of the story but it being your getting to safety while you run (where ever that may be). I know that figuring out what safe actually is can be a really big challenge, but I know for myself that this has stopped some pretty major somatic stuff for me.

 

[Deleted member 40995]

I don't know if you use visualization at all, but I am wondering if you can rehearse in your mind, you...

I could definitely try that, thank you!

 

[nowthisisme]

I don't kick but punch .. kind of like pushing someone away. I "wake up" and continue punching for a few seconds and go back to sleep. It's weird i actually see myself set up and punch but I'm so knocked out that I just fall back asleep .. not sure if it's the melatonin that keeps me sleepy but i do feel like my mind is separate from my body, two different systems that function independently from each other.
Maybe your body keeps going until your brain finally catches up and stops it.

 

[MamaHopeful]

I am having this!!! SO grateful to know I am not alone!!! I kick and feel terror and even moan/groan every few minutes. I get no sleep and it's the worst. Thank you again for sharing!