Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Support Group

I used to have nightmares every night, too. The thing that finally got rid of them for me was hypnotherapy -- have you tried that? Especially hypnosis that combines NLP and TimeLine Therapy. After my first session I never had another nightmare. It's been 2 years. Happy to give more info if you want it. Feel free to email me.... It's a whole new world when we can sleep. So much easier to heal when we're rested.

welcome also.my nightmares really have clam down,hugs minnie

I understand your anger at your parents. I did not realise that I was screaming until a neighbour complained. I would just wake up in another part of the house and not remember how I got there. Apparently, my parents who slept in the next room did know it was happening because after the complaint I would wake up in bed with my step-fathers fist in my mouth- hope I bit him good at least once.

It got better over the years although I found I could not take codeine as it caused sleep paralysis (where your mind wakes up before your body does and you cannot move - very scary and usually accompanied by a lucid nightmare) and finally had a breakthrough when I started taking mirtazon. I think it was partly because it has a mild sedative effect and so relaxes me a bit in that pre-sleep phase. I still have them occasionally but usually now I wake up sensing terror rather than seeing/feeling it and I am able to reason with my self that it is not really happening.

Exercise is good too but not in the hours before bedtime. I do night duty and used to go the gym on the way home but found it was too stimulating and I couldn't sleep when I got to bed.

As phlox said ..different strokes etc.

It is so nice that you have the support right now - enjoy the luxury and rest easy in your lovers arms.

Try to get as much rest as you can and be gentle with yourself.

When I was in the memory recovery phase I would have as many aromatherapy baths as I wanted - sometimes I was in there nearly all day and I would try to have one just before bed.

The people here are kind and loving and supportive and I'm sure you will find some helpful advice and somewhere to release some of your fears.

I hope you sleep soundly and peacefully tonight- many hugs

Sorry that you're dealing with nightmares. I was raped and abused by a former roommate, and then repeatedly stalked for about a year after that. I've been dealing with nightmares for about 4 years now....some days are worse than others...and the nightmares seem so real sometimes as if I am reliving all the pain again and again that I don't go back to sleep. What helps me sometimes is having a relaxation CD playing on replay, so that if I do wake up with nightmares, the relaxation CD is still playing and helps me get back to sleep. I'll say a prayer for you.

Welcome to our group. Nightmares are apart of it. It can be exhausting. It takes time to heal so just stay with safe people and love yourself and you will heal.

its just hard to deal with, it is beginning to wear me down, i barely ever sleep anymore

I'm glad you're getting lots of good advice. I totally understand fighting the nightmares. I avoid sleeping because I know the dreams will come. That's why I'm still up at 2am, my alarm goes off at 5:30. The best sleep I get is alone in a tent in the mountains. I have an Ipod pillow to sleep on, it works wonders... soft rock, nature meditation, whatever calms you. Pills help, but the after effects of them last well into the next day. Remind yourself you're safe now and nothing can touch you. If you have proof of that, bring that item to bed with you as a reminder. Such as a book, stuffed animal or whatever comforts you. Keep it close, hug it or keep it near your pillow. You can get comfort from it after you get used to your item. When it becomes familiar with you, you can comfort yourself in your sleep without waking up. In Iraq, my object was an M-16 and a Bible. Now that I'm home, just my Bible and stuffed animal parrot is enough... well an improvement anyway. Sweet dreams! ~Pippa

bravehearted - I never knew I was screaming either. I once saw a TV show where this woman was asleep and was dreaming and screaming her head off and didn't wake up. I said outloud - "that's crazy, nobody could possibly screem like that and not wake themselves up!" My husband (now ex) looked at me and said "you do that all the time." then my older siblings said the same thing. My nightmares and screaming have calmed down a lot but it has taken many, many years and will come back if I revisit the deep memories. Hugs to all.

I am new here and have been looking for a way to help my wife, she has been Bipolar for years, and 2 months ago was diagnosed with PTSD, and now last week she had started to show Multiple Personality's. That's why I'm here, looking to help my wife of 30 years.
My wife has been having bad nightmares, and very bad panic attracts lately, Her Pdoc, has just given her a new drug "Prazosin", and it really is helping to stop the nightmares , she no longer wakes up in the middle of the night .I did some looking online for info on Prazosin , it is a blood pressure med , but the VA, has been doing studies using it to help war veterans to stop nightmares. It does not put you to sleep, but it does help keep you asleep, it really has helped both of us sleep through the night, so we both fell better now during the day.