Violent Nightmare

[novemberDark]

I'm not sure what that prazodine is (don't know the latin name I had 2 types of meds and I'm not keen on medications, its the last resort (now their in the garbage)

It was trazodone to help stay asleep, that didn't wirk anymore.

Then clonazapam, it really knocks you out but not a good idea.

What I wonder about is if the pills make for piecefull sleep, does that mean you recharging the body only?. Not working out emotional stress through dreams, is that put to a halt then?

 

[novemberDark]

There is a reason why the body talks to us and still a natural thing. The sweats same thing. My anxiety was making me choke, I know now what it has to do with breathing.

The process was explained to me after passing out from it (first time) by my docter. I probably wont tape myself on the pavement agaun because I now when to stop pushing myself on.

Now I concentrate on my breathing, but you can't really do that when asleep.

I guess eventually the body does an all systems shut down at the end to protect it just like shock. But without enough adrenaline it's byby for a while. Anger is a protection too that way with ptsd it's just cranked up a notch.

I have found some homeopathic pills that seem to help me so far so good but it could be psychosomatic.

 

[franciemarnie]

IMO from what I have read and experienced, your body/mind post-trauma is forever looking-feeling for the opportunity to follow thru with the action and release it was physically set to take but couldn't at the time of the original trauma(s) due to the nature of the original trauma(s), whether the body / mind is asleep or awake.

It can take years to come up though.

I pressed it back down with alcohol first. When I quit, it took 3 years for the xhit to hit the fan. It didn't take long to get addicted to painkillers then. When I quit that, again it took three years for stuff to surface though I had many violent nightmares under the influence too.

Meds are necessary sometimes for sure but they ultimately seem only to hold down symptom severity. They don't heal the original wound.

It's the original trauma that needs healing. Then the violent nightmares for the most part come to an end. The trauma isn't looking for follow-thru anymore. At least that was my experience and what I have researched.

 

[novemberDark]

Yes and alcohol makes you skip the REM stage of sleep, which is very important.
It also only affects the short term memory not the long-term.

I was afraid of getting addicted to the clonazepam and didn't get a refill after finishing the first 30.

The trazadone I noticed a negative effect ( more depression). The celexa for anxiety I never started taking because its also an antidepressant. Seen how fast one can turn into a walking medicine cabinet.

My friend weaned himself completely off medication after 9 years (we were together back then) and I remember all his emotions started coming loose, it was done under medical guidance no rehab centre and took a year.

He returned alone to the place of the war zone afterwards. The hell from years ago, it was a decision to see if it could help with any healing.

As far as I know new memories of that place were created which is a good thing, but I'm sure it was extreemly hard to do. Things have been rebuild but still areas full of landmines.
The people there got used to it and they are not dropping everywhere, they are living their lives.

I get derailed sometimes but cannot even think about returning to the place where everything happened even though it looks different now.

Maybey in the future when I'm more anchored I'll put myself in that position. I do believe confronting it is a good thing when you're ready.

 

[JarHed]

Hey Scott USMC

I'm a jarhead too. Served in VietNam. I understand how you start to feel OK and then BAM! from out of nowhere it all starts going south. PTSD is a thing that doesn't care who you are, where you've been or anything else. It's mission, is to make you miserable. and It can do that very well.

So of the things you're experiencing are shared by all that have PTSD in it's many forms. Some of yours, of course, are due to your combat experiences. I've had those awful dreams you and others have mentioned. If you're here you're looking for answers to what's going on. That a good start.

If I may, I'd like to suggest a few things. These are all things which have helped me and I think they are things that can help others as well. If you're not in therapy of some kind, get involved. The VA has outreach centers that are small and have good doctors that can help. It's probably the most important thing you can do for yourself. All this stuff just isn't going away, I hate to say. You'll also find that you're not alone as you seen by coming here. People share their problems and solutions as well. There is also the combatPTSD site which I'm a member of as well. They are all Combat Vets with PTSD and can understand what you're going though.

Just stay connected with people if you can. As far as the sleep problems, you can get involved with sleep therapy for that as well. My doctor told me when I started it that I was one of the worse cases of insomnia and nightmares that she had seen. It helped. I can actually sleep well and get up rested. I still have an occasional nightmare but nothing of the scale I had before. So what I'm saying is that a positive change is possible.

Not sure what else I can say except that I'm glad you made it back and you found a great place like this. pm me if you'd like. Let me know if I can help. I've been at this stuff for a while so I may have an answer or two. Best wishes and good luck.

Semper Fi

JarHed

 

[Firelamb67]

Binaural Institute:
Deep delta sleep meditation
Isochronic Tones

I got this off Rhapsody...not sure where to find it elsewhere. But this helps "reprogram" your delta waves. It helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. If nothing else the sounds it are incredibly relaxing along with beautiful sounds.

Hope you can get it. Rhapsody is thing that you can download for less than $10 a month and you can get all the music you want. You can even look up comedians when you want to laugh. I like to listen to the older ones like Gilda Radner, Steve Martin, Richard Prior etc--they never let me down.

Well anyways-hope it helps.

 

[Shell-Shocked]

My nightmares are so violently graphic that they scare me. I don't know where my brain comes up with the images conjured up in my dreams as I do not watch horror films nor have I ever seen live action....

They really frighten me and cause me to feel disoriented and sick and instantly make me shut down and not want to leave my house for days sometimes....

Is this normal PTSD stuff?

 

[JadedGhost13]

Thank you veterans for your sacrifices. My oldest son is a Marine, he blurted out, without pause, over the holidays he had volunteered to go to Aphganastan. This was a hard kick in the face as he has been in what was considered a non deploy able support unit. He's excited about going, thats scary. I worry for his mental health. But enough of that talk.

I have horrid nightmares, mine are not combat related, but horrible to say the least. I do sometimes talk out in my sleep, I often physically fight in my sleep. I do not believe I have ever physically gotten out of the bed to do these things however. But I do know that I may as well had not even slept because I actually never rested, I was too busy either reliving traumatic events, or experiencing very morbid dreams that I do not wish to speak about.

I just a week ago started mini press, its terrific so far, but I am trying to be realistic and not get my hopes up too much about how great it is as my body builds tolerance to meds very fast, I end up on the highest dose allowed and eventually have to just try something else.

 

[JarHed]

Is this normal PTSD stuff?

Hey Shell-Shocked

Yes, what you're experiencing is 'normal' for PTSD. I assume you were in the military from your call name. I always suggest sleep therapy, CBT for Insomnia, as it's a huge help in lessening the nightmare, and helping to regain some normal sleep patterns. In the military and in combat areas specifically there isn't such a thing as 'normal' sleep times. Lack of sleep, the constant shift of sleep patterns, and very little sleep kind of starts the ball rolling towards where you are. There's help out there. If you have any questions about CBT-I let me know.

JarHed

 

[novemberDark]

Good luck jadeGhost13.
I can understand your concern for your son and his mental health, when you know how it is to live with the pain and suffer from a condition.
All the best to you during the time he is over there.