What Is This "sleep" That You Speak Of?

[HOPEFULHEART82]

Insomnia is my friend of late. I notice that the more I'm triggered/stressed, the harder it is to sleep. When I do sleep, I have nitemares. I feeling like I'm caught between awake and sleep, during my waking hours and at night I just wait wishing along the night for daybreak to come.

 

[Seasounds]

Hello, it is nice to meet you!

Not getting quality sleep, and having nightmares, is no fun.. What have you tried?

 

[HOPEFULHEART82]

Hi! I've tried earlier bed times, I've tried removing All stimulus from my environment, breathing techniques. Aromatherapy! Its my mind that wont calm down. Constantly worrying. sigh.

 

[MissMacD]

Going to see a sleep specialist this week, just thought I'd spread the word for anyone who has access to this where they live.

 

[DaleD]

Hi I'm Dale. I know how bad insomnia can be. Sleep specialists can be very helpful; however, they usually just prescribe drugs that are easily addictive. I saw several while I was in the army starting with my first bout of insomnia when I was in Iraq. Finding the right med can be a time consuming pain. Over the years I have been on at least 10 different prescription sleep aids. They are ok for short term but try not to get hung up on them. Find other coping mechanisms to help ease your troubled mind. One that I have found that works is writing. Poetry, journals, lists just anything that helps. Talking with someone could also help. Just unloading ona trusted friend has gotten me through some of my worst nights.

 

[HOPEFULHEART82]

@DaleD Thankyou for your help. I found this forum last night while I was up, so hopefully it will help, lol. I don't always have access to friends, with their equally busy lives and such, however let's see how things turn out for me here. As I said, I'm hopeful. lol.

 

[Justpassintime]

I hear you - I stay up all night about once a week. Thankfully I do not have nightmares - I think the last vivid and horrible one was about ten years ago? I just stopped fighting it - I will eventually sleep, maybe not when I would like it to happen, but I will eventually sleep all night long. I found that "trying to sleep" was far more stressful then the not sleeping, hence my choice. I have an insane level of intolerance for laying flat and "trying to sleep" I find that quite maddening and it feels like being held captive.

Typically I stay up the one night, get a ton of stuff done I have been putting up, stay up the following day sort of mellow since so much was done and go to bed early the next night. I take like six meds a day now and adding one more is just one too many.

This works for me, your results may vary.

 

[Inwardly_Broken]

I totally understand where you are coming from. If I get 2.5 hours in a night I feel lucky. I can't take naps during the day. I have constant nightmares. Come to think of it, I've never had a "normal dream". Anyways, my T heard about a med that is specifically for PTSD nightmares. Once I figure out what it's called I can let you know. I'm willing to try anything to help me get nightmare free sleep!