Nighttime Vampires ? Hand in Hand with Depression?

Threadbare · Jun 05, 2019 at 10:24 PM

I am up late at night, trying to make myself tired enough to sleep all night long without a panic attack or horrible nightmare that visits me daily around 4:30 am. Unlike Cable TV, each night is a new dream. It's been that way since February. I can't find anything to stop it. It's making me feel depressed -- no I am depressed. But which came first? Depression or the complex PTSD? I have new meds that get me to sleep, but nothing to unplug the 4:30 am movie. I feel I am deteriorating twice as fast as I should be aging. Sure I can fake it during the day, but the nights are so hard I feel I am in a loosing battle. Anyone with experience with on-line counselling? Any good? IMHO, the night is when my feelings bubble to the top --is that the best time to talk to someone? When the shields and deflectors are down? It is so scary and for me , so shameful. How much of that colors everything? The stigma of shame on feeling poorly?

remerge42 · Jun 08, 2019 at 05:50 PM

I have tried online counseling but found that I got better results when I saw a therapist face to face. As far as dealing with the embarrassment and shame of having mental problems, I totally understand. I spend a lot of time online googling answers to problems that I am too embarrassed to share with others. My experience is that sometimes just sharing your fears and insecurities alleviates all the pent up anxiety- which might be causing the nightmares. Don't let your fears keep you from reaching out.

Threadbare · Jul 03, 2019 at 11:19 AM

@remerge42: I do find that sometimes sharing, especially in a forum like this, can allow some of the bubbles to dissipate without exploding me. Distraction , another tool is sometimes hard to maintain.. Sometimes when I am watching a movie and there is an unforseen plot twist revolving /centered about a mental health issue I lose the containment and start to ping-pong "what if I were that character?".

Threadbare · Jul 03, 2019 at 11:22 AM

@remerge42: I do find that sometimes sharing, especially in a forum like this, can allow some of the bubbles to dissipate without exploding me. Distraction , another tool is sometimes hard to maintain.. Sometimes when I am watching a movie and there is an unforseen plot twist revolving /centered about a mental health issue I lose the containment and start to ping-pong "what if I were that character?".

NattyLumpkins · Jul 03, 2019 at 12:13 PM

Everyone, almost everyone, has some mental challenges rotating back from combat or deployment. Some ignore it, some hide it and stay miserable, some get help. There is no shame to be had, it is just a new challenge that requires some adjustment and knowledge to get through it, but you can't do it alone. You just need a coach (therapist) to help navigate it.

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Nighttime Vampires ? Hand in Hand with Depression?

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NattyLumpkins Junior Member Member Since Feb 2019 Location: USA Posts: 15 5 1 hugs given	Jul 03, 2019 at 12:13 PM #5 Everyone, almost everyone, has some mental challenges rotating back from combat or deployment. Some ignore it, some hide it and stay miserable, some get help. There is no shame to be had, it is just a new challenge that requires some adjustment and knowledge to get through it, but you can't do it alone. You just need a coach (therapist) to help navigate it.
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