Stitch,

I don't know if it will help but I use "white noise". One of those air cleaners that creates sound - it helps to drown out the silence. The quiet always makes me think too much. It helps me might help you.

On the nightmares - mine aren't as bad anymore but it does help to figure out what they mean. I had a therapist once that really helped in defining what they meant - that helped to make them not as threatening. I'd wake up screaming for help and she was able to talk through them with me and explain what was happening.

Good luck with it.