(((So leigheas))),

Oh hun I am sorry you are struggling that way, I have experienced night terrors, terrible flashbacks, and have been crippled even by being in an evironment where I experienced trauma.

My husband and I now sleep in separate rooms. I sleep with the TV on for a couple of reasons. I like to find something I can listen to that I don't have to watch, and that helps me think about something else rather then fall asleep with bad feelings. Also, I like the TV on so if I wake up from a night terror, it helps me realize where I am, helps me be in the now, and gives me something to listen to while I try to calm down and go back to sleep. It also has noise so I am not listening in the dead quiet where a noise can upset me.

I have worked on making my bedroom "mine and a safe place" and I found I began to sleep much better. Also, when you have these strong episodes, what really helps to weaken them is to acknowledge them "yes I know that happened, that person was bad, but I am safe now". It's important you do that instead of feeding into it and letting it retraumatize you. Usually, if you pay attention these experiences come in waves, by acknowledging them and reminding yourself that was in your past and "not now" and that these experiences actually do fade away, instead of allowing them to get stronger, you are going to make them weaker and weaker.

I also sleep with a heating pad, and find that comforting and soothing.