(((((Pas)))))))),

This is one of those nights.....no sleep. The nightmares are always there if I don't take seroquel before I go to sleep. I keep on a low light & also keep on the TV. I found that the time between sleep & wake was the worst time for the flashbacks & nightmare like visions. The one thing with seroquel is that I have started feeling real groggy the next day & it takes most of the day for me to wake up if I take the large amount I was taking right after going through the trauma. For some reason, seroquel is the only med that helps my anxiety attacks get under control. I have to take a small dose when I feel an anxiety attack coming on & within about 1/2 hour, it has subsided. Sometimes I end up crashing on the bed, but mostly that only happens at night.

I know before I found that seroquel worked, I went nights without sleep.....I just couldn't sleep because I was afraid of the nightmares & then I just couldn't go to sleep. It was really messing me up going without sleep for so long. What happens now is that I take seroquel one night & sleep most of the day.......then I wake up & start doing the things that I didn't get done because I was sleeping & then I get involved & stay up all night again until I get tired enough I take the seroquel again to avoid the nightmares & get some sleep again.....it is a crazy schedule & isn't working that great, but can't seem to get out of the cycle right now.

I do understand your feelings of not being able to sleep trying to avoid the nightmares. It seems to be somewhat normal when dealing with PTSD.....I do think there has to be a better schedule than the one I am on right now.

The main thing I found was that the TV makes sure there is noise when I wake up & then my mind goes to listen to the TV rather than off into the thoughts that cause the flashbacks & nightmares until I finally wake up fully.

Hope you can find something that works for you.....I just had to experiment around a bit, trying to determine what was happening to me & when in the sleep process.
Debbie