thanks.

Been sailing the sleepless boat for a long while. Just over a week ago I didn't realize just how little sleep I got or how tired I really was and caused a 3 car accident. Back to the hospital I went where I wasn't given much of a choice but sleep medication (lunesta). At the time I wasn't a happy camper about taking it but now that I'm rested I regret not having pressed the issue of sleep meds with my Dr. Not for every night, just for when it really starts to catch up to me. I too went the BP med way; didn't much help me but not saying it won't help someone else. Have to admit the nightmares were a bit less intense on the BP meds. Bottom line; sleep is important to our well being and should be handled appropriately. I could've killed someone.

The dream journal helped me over this hump. I still don't have the classic 8 sleep cycle, but I rest well most nights without meds. Still have nightmares on occasion, but they have lost their power over me.

Nightmares are always hard...they just seem so real and I always find that I also feel down, depressed and generally off for the next few days. In short they are unsettling. Meds may help you sleep, but they don't fix the problem. I am one to talk as I still take Trazodone to sleep at night. I think meds have their place until we can heal enough to deal with the problem. Sleep is one of the most important things you can do to help yourself. While you are on meds and sleeping better...still not 100% you can work with your therapist to develop skills, methods will help you with the nightmares. Once you have healed enough, you can reduce or eliminate the drugs.
I feel for you! I have been there with the nightmares and not sleeping and it can get ugly really quickly. By the way, booze and or drugs do not help so please don't go there. I use to drink until I passed out so I can sleep. Like I said, it got ugly quickly. A good therapist saved my life and has helped me clean up, and get on the road to recovery but not before spending sometime in the hospital. I am so much better than I was last year, but still have so much further to go.
You can beat PTSD and kick it to curb but you cannot do it alone. Get some help with your nightmares and sleep issues. You need to be able to function to beat this.
This board has been a source of understanding, reassurance, and inpiration for me. I cannot tell you how much it has helped me. I hope it does the same for you

Actually this is one of the main reasons I joined the site. I had no idea that this is a problem for so many of us. Like you I have terrible nightmares and get very little sleep. My doctor has me on Ambien because it has an amnesia affect. It does help me go to sleep but most of the time I still have nightmares. I have tried many other medications as well but they didn't work either. What works best for me is reading until I'm almost asleep. I would say it works about thirty to fifty percent of the time. I know that journaling helps a lot of people, and there are some meds that do work well for some people. This probably isn't much help, but you are not alone in this and in that you have support. So please hang in there.