The Nightmares Never Stop

[Elac]

I cant make my head stop remind me of what happen to me...i was once fine, when it is happening for years im overall ok...not think much or something, like robot i just go through the motion, get film, it get posted and idc...
then we get this police action and im sent to new place then new family and all is good...but now im a mess...
i cant think like i could before, my englisch was get good now it is worse on daily basis, my verbal skill are gone, and i cry when alone every time...
im a bit underweght so i cant take blood pressar medications, but i need something to make it stop

 

[Hakagav]

At a certain point, when I can't get my nightmares to stop, I do get my reactions to them to stop.

It generally starts with planning.

If I'm waking up across the room with a weapon? I clear out my room, until there's nothing except a pillow or blanket I can wake up 'armed' with. If I'm waking up drenched in sweat? I make my bed with 3-4 different layers of sheets, like I'm potty training a child, so it only takes me 5 seconds to strip off the sheet & mattress protector & Im laying on clean dry sheets... Or I just yank the top sheets off on my way to the bathroom for a 2 minute shower to wash the cold sweat and stink of fear off of me, then climb back into the warm, dry, bed. If I'm waking up mid nightmare? Fine! Grrrrr. Grumble. Get stubborn about it. And roll over to finish the sucker. If I'm waking up on high alert? Okay. Quick perimeter sweep. All's well. & either go back to bed or crash out on the couch. If I'm waking up, wide wide wide awake, and cannot sleep until dawn lights everything? I either stop going to bed until dawn / switch my sleep schedule around so I'm sleeping in the daytime for awhile, or I put those hours to use doing something, and head back to bed when I can. A few times if necessary. (2 hours is not enough sleep. But 2 hours 3 times a day? Yes. That's more than enough sleep. I can work with that! :))

Taking the power my nightmares have over me doesn't make my nightmares stop. It does make the effect they have over my life stop.

 

[Vuti]

If I'm waking up, wide wide wide awake, and cannot sleep until dawn lights everything? I either stop going to bed until dawn / switch my sleep schedule around so I'm sleeping in the daytime for awhile, or I put those hours to use doing something, and head back to bed when I can. A few times if necessary. (2 hours is not enough sleep. But 2 hours 3 times a day? Yes. That's more than enough sleep. I can work with that! :))

I love the entire post. Id add to this. JL once told me to go to sleep that she's lay there and say "im just going to close my eyes and try to relax and rest" (dont know if im quoting it right but it works). If i cant sleep or wake up wide awake, i dont try to sleep but just try to close my eyes and slow my breathing and my thoughts and my heart will slow (just like slowing anxiety) and before i know it, im back to sleep.

I wake up wide awake a lot and i also have trouble sleeping and this dont try to sleep but try to just rest and relax works wonders to get me to sleep!

 

[Agonu]

Perhaps you should think about getting a therapist, to teach you some coping skills and help you to start healing. Look into meditation to help calm your mind, deep breathing and self care. The calmer you can make your life, the calmer you can make your mind.

 

[Wiwovu]

:spitdummy::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug::hug:Meditation works! I learned mindfulness meditation because I heard that over time it can actually change your brain - and I believe it has. Just 20 minutes a day. It took a while before I self thd changes but I can think now!!
And I sleep!
Do you have anyone to talk to? It sounds like you really need to talk to someone too.
"I cry when alone every time". )-: I know that feeling, too much inside.

 

[Jeveh]

:hug::hug::hug:

 

[Elac]

i use meditate and yoga too...but i take sugestions and try

 

[Mukag]

Elac - what you say about being find when it was happening but falling apart now you're in a safer situation is so familiar to me. The shock doesn't set in when it's all going on - it's later that you have to deal with it.
I think that's why many, including myself, seemed to keep getting ourselves into traumatic or stressful situations - it's almost more comfortable, it's when you stop and think and start to feel again that the pain sets in.
I hope you have someone you trust to talk to or a therapist - someone who can hold you through this