Hi everyone!
I was wondering if anyone had any advice they could offer me regarding some sleep issues?
A couple of years ago I got really physically sick as a result of DDNOS. I won't bore anyone with all the details but lots of sensory issues, dizziness, numbness, feelings of pressure, feeling like I'm floating away etc. (Had a bunch of medical tests, nothing physically wrong.) It got much better, because it was effectively disabling, but I get really bad issues at night.
I struggle at night in general, I suffer from sleep paralysis, intense nightmares, I get distressed in my sleep and scratch at myself a lot etc etc.
Lately, since my nightmares have been getting worse the psychical symptoms when I'm falling asleep have been worse, too. I'll feel like I'm floating away, a part of my body will go numb, It will feel like I can't swallow or can't breathe, and like a huge wave of sensation just hits me hard. It's so, so hard to explain, and grounding techniques aren't doing the trick. I wondered if anyone else experienced their physical dissociation symptoms more when they're trying to fall asleep? It's absolutely all encompassing, keeps me up all night, then I'm terrified all day the next day. Sleeping medication seems to make me feel worse. My therapist offers good advice, but nothing so far seems to help. Advice is really appreciated, but I also just really want to know that someone out there understands what it's like
Thanks!