Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group
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Okay. it's 12:22 MST and i'm wide awake!!!!! normally i wouldn't worry, but this is part of an ongoing pattern. Fortunately my night terrors have stopped. but i still want to be awake and buzzing all night. at other times, i drop off cozily, but wake up three to four hours after i fall asleep--the ceiling remains boring until the sun comes up. then i drop back off.
anyone find anything long-term effective? (that doesn't make you drowsy and groggy the next day, that is.) the less pharmaceutical the suggestion, the better.
PS: much of my original trauma took place at night.
anyone find anything long-term effective? (that doesn't make you drowsy and groggy the next day, that is.) the less pharmaceutical the suggestion, the better.
PS: much of my original trauma took place at night.
Right now I'm taking melatonin and it is helping. I still have the occasional night where I can't sleep, but that's to be expected. I've only been taking it a few weeks now, but so far so good.
I can't blame you for not wanting to take meds...they can be habit forming. I have an Rx for ambien, but I have severe suicidal mood crashes whenever I take it, so its definitely something I only use in an emergency...
How about warm milk? It has a sedative quality. It doesn't work for me, but maybe it will work for you.
My current and enduring strategy is to have a small tv/dvd player in my bedroom and run a low key, long lasting program. Low key is critical as the point is not to grab my attention but to 'keep thinking mind' just busy enough that it doesn't start running 'personal stuff' for me to consider.
For me the dvd of choice is a series collection from 3rd Rock from the Sun! :) Nothing threatening in it, goofy humor, and volume of programing is consistent - seldom a burst of loudness. I never get to watch the whole thing (about 3 hrs) because I fall asleep quickly. (Can watch it when I want for fun of course when not wanting to sleep!)
If I wake up when the sound quits (sometimes happens, used to happen a lot), I just start it over and fall back to sleep.
Other strategies I've used for short term success (a night here, a night there) is 'turn on a light'; or 'move to the couch in the living room and also have lights on'; ... but the dvd one is working very very well, have used it now for a couple of years.
When I first moved here I had a number of 'shocks' to adjust to and wanted to be 'touched by compassion' so found a dvd on Princess Diana and played that quite a bit using same process - wake up, start it over, fall asleep. Now I just stick to 3rd Rock, every so often using a different disc from the series but often the same disc night after night.
I find I have to set the volume low enough that it does not engage me, but if it's too low, my brain starts 'stretching to hear' - so low, but not too low.
Can't use music as my brain definitely engages and starts chasing, sorting, threads of harmony, chords runs, etc - even with music that is 'supposed' to work.
I think for me it's the reassurance of human voice - but without content that could disturb or disrupt (radio, tv, etc.)
This may interfere with my dream life, or at least dream awareness upon waking. I've wondered about that. I don't seem to wake up with dream recollection as much as I used to.
Took melatonin years ago for awhile - can't recall why I stopped. Think it began to seem less effective, or maybe I read something about not using it steadily. ??
Have seldom used meds of any kind - professional opinion of my situation said they are unlikely to help and I'm not inclined to use them in any case (don't use 'extra strength' anything, for example - even for a headache, and usually only 1/2 a tablet.)
Good Luck and Best Wishes!
Meg
if that doesn't work, maybe i'll move to Vegas. it's beautiful here in this little town, but the nightlife basically consists of midnight Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe. I think that's only on Christmas eve.
anyway--thank you. hugs to all. hope the benadryl worked, sks. nighty-night!
It has helped me sleep better.
Imorin, the PTSD CD's sound interesting - might not work for me for my 'go to sleep and stay asleep' strategy - as I've discovered 'unimportant content' is part of what does the trick - but they sound interesting, can you tell us more about them? Thanks!
Best To All,
Meg
The past few weeks my pattern has been to sleep for 6 -9 hours every other day or so (awake anywhere from 48-70 hours straight), then 6 or 9 more, then repeat.
My PDoc prescribed Ambien, which has worked a number of years ago.... but not this time. Got it on Friday.. took one at 11 and went to bed. Took a second one at 5am (I had not slept since the preceding Weds Night/Thurs. morn). Fell asleep about 6am and slept till Noon Saturday. Took another one before bed Saturday night... tossed and turned till I think it was 3 or 4am Sunday morning and don't remember anything till 4pm Sunday afternoon. My wife suggested grabbing something quick from a local sandwich shop Sunday evening, so we hopped in the car. Halfway there, she asked me if I was OK.... that I was driving funny. A block later she made me pull over so she could drive the rest of the way and then home. She said that I wad driving like I was half-asleep, even though I was carrying a normal conversation. She's never had a problem with my driving or my ability to know when I should get off the road and let someone else drive. I honestly thought I was fine. Sunday night I want to bed at 11. Woke at 9 today....
Well.... now it's 3am. Haven't taken an ambien.... should I?
D.
but then i went back to sleep and had a dream that everyone wanted to know why i was limping...
Brassai: thanks for the heads up on ambien. i've heard of sleep-eating and sleep driving. maybe life is interesting enough right now without that.
anyway--i hope you find some relief from the nightmares.