[mugwort2]

Uncertain if this is PTSD related. Lately my sleep been really horrible. The only way I know I slept is if I remember a dream. Its been so rough that I scarcely get 4 hrs sleep and that's if I'm lucky I lay in bed wide awake ruminating the trauma's I experienced. The emotional, verbal abuse of my mom, the way my dad was hardly there, my abusive boyfriends. Yes there's been some good intimate relationships with men. Currently in one now and I'm grateful. My issue now is staying awake , thinking of my emotional, physical PTSD related hurts and feeling a very deep dispair. I know its intrusive thoughts but they are making me feel so depressed. Sorry for being a downer.

[Bolivar83]

Not a downer, mugwort2 - glad you posted here. You might check w/doctor just to ensure all ok, but I also have terrible insomnia as a result of my PTSD. Similar to you, I can get 4 hrs or less a night - for me, it's flashbacks, hyper-vigilance that are usually due to being triggered somehow. Has something happened recently to stir things up psychologically?
What do you usually do when this happens, what works for you?

I think the insomnia aggravates and deepens my depression ("...very deep despair") - might this be what is happening with you (trigger - insomnia - lack of sleep causing more depression and repeat). Hope you get some rest, soon.

Take care

Bolivar

[leomama]

Originally Posted by mugwort2

Uncertain if this is PTSD related. Lately my sleep been really horrible. The only way I know I slept is if I remember a dream. Its been so rough that I scarcely get 4 hrs sleep and that's if I'm lucky I lay in bed wide awake ruminating the trauma's I experienced. The emotional, verbal abuse of my mom, the way my dad was hardly there, my abusive boyfriends. Yes there's been some good intimate relationships with men. Currently in one now and I'm grateful. My issue now is staying awake , thinking of my emotional, physical PTSD related hurts and feeling a very deep dispair. I know its intrusive thoughts but they are making me feel so depressed. Sorry for being a downer.

What kind of care providers do you have and are you using either supplements or medication to help with your insomnia? What kind of healing program do you have?

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[mugwort2]

Bolivar To me its intrusive thoughts. I believe both flashbacks and intrusive thoughts are equally hard to deal with. Not comparing how difficult they are to get through. I don't either one as easier to get through.
Leomama. Primary, pdoc, therapist. I use Yogi relaxing tea. Unsure what you mean by healing program?

[leomama]

I mean program to heal your PTSD. Its a serious medical condition and requires medical intervention. I'm glad you have that. Do you have any sleep aid?

[Wild Coyote]

I have extreme difficulties sleeping. I am super hyper-vigilant.

I grew up that way. I was the "family watchdog" (even before I was 4- 5 years old) because of the place I had slept and the responsibilities I was given. I slept near the front door, just because there was only room on the sofa which was near the front door. We were often bothered in the middle of the night by my violent father (parents separated/divorced) and/or by the police, commanding I open the door when they were looking to arrest him. It was an ongoing nightmare.

I have not yet gotten over the sleeping issues. I have been treated in major trauma centers, too, over the years.
My sleep is horrible right now. I can also now get hypomanic (no sleep) as a part of both CPTSD and a more recent traumatic brain injury which caused me to show more bipolarish traits (BP-2), too.

I did much better with sleep when I had my German Shepherd Service Animal. She guarded while I slept. She has passed on. I have been a mess with sleep again, ever since. The traumatic brain injury was a more recent random assault in a park in daylight, which only fed into the CPTSD more and caused a head injury and worsened overall symptoms. *sigh*

I hope you can resolve your sleep issues soon. The sooner, the better, if possible.


WC

[mugwort2]

Originally Posted by leomama

I mean program to heal your PTSD. Its a serious medical condition and requires medical intervention. I'm glad you have that. Do you have any sleep aid?

I take melatonin and I use aromatherapy lavendar essential oil. Yes I definitely realize PTSD is a serious mental disorder I see a pdoc and on generic Effexor 150 mgs Grateful for your concern.

[mugwort2]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

I have extreme difficulties sleeping. I am super hyper-vigilant.

I grew up that way. I was the "family watchdog" (even before I was 4- 5 years old) because of the place I had slept and the responsibilities I was given. I slept near the front door, just because there was only room on the sofa which was near the front door. We were often bothered in the middle of the night by my violent father (parents separated/divorced) and/or by the police, commanding I open the door when they were looking to arrest him. It was an ongoing nightmare.

I have not yet gotten over the sleeping issues. I have been treated in major trauma centers, too, over the years.
My sleep is horrible right now. I can also now get hypomanic (no sleep) as a part of both CPTSD and a more recent traumatic brain injury which caused me to show more bipolarish traits (BP-2), too.

I did much better with sleep when I had my German Shepherd Service Animal. She guarded while I slept. She has passed on. I have been a mess with sleep again, ever since. The traumatic brain injury was a more recent random assault in a park in daylight, which only fed into the CPTSD more and caused a head injury and worsened overall symptoms. *sigh*

I hope you can resolve your sleep issues soon. The sooner, the better, if possible.


WC

I feel terribly sorry for you. Your childhood sounds extremely traumatic with the way you needed to be so constantly hypervigilant. I truly wish I could tell you what to do to improve your sleep. What exactly is CPTSD. How does it differ from PTSD? I hope you can resolve your sleep issues asap. Gentle hugs to you.

[leomama]

Do you think that's enough? Any other modalities?

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[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by mugwort2

I feel terribly sorry for you. Your childhood sounds extremely traumatic with the way you needed to be so constantly hypervigilant. I truly wish I could tell you what to do to improve your sleep. What exactly is CPTSD. How does it differ from PTSD? I hope you can resolve your sleep issues asap. Gentle hugs to you.

Thank you for your expressed compassion.

CPTSD: Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Psych Central


WC

[Bolivar83]

Hope you don't mind a follow up, mugwort2 - how are you doing? Did sleep finally come for you, and respite from the intrusive thoughts? If so, hope you will share what you found helpful...I'd be interested.

Take care, mugwort

[seesaw]

Mugwort, yes, sleep problems can definitely be from PTSD, either form of it. If you are having issues with nightmares you may want to look into getting an Rx of Prazosin, which has been known to help with PTSD related nightmares.

I also agree that an herbal supplement like melatonin can help too. I also take vistiril, which helps with anxiety and makes you drowsy, and it's a anti-histamine, so it's not an intense drug.

I hope your sleep gets better.

Seesaw

[Eren01]

Hi am new and new to mental health care.
It was my sleeping issues or lack there of that ended up with a PTSD diagnosis.
Sry if this post is in the wrong place... I have tried a lot of different things... They seems to work for a while but I end up with very little sleep. Still working on what sleeping medications may work for me. Tried all the medical advice and all the meaningly well advice from friends amd family members... But supplements work great after a while, but then I go back to not being able to sleep... Horrible dreams wake me up often... Any way it is good to here... Think I will read and lurk for a while.

[leomama]

A precaution on the prazosin: it's a high blood pressure medication so if you have healthy blood pressure it may not be safe for you. I talked to my psych nurse about it with the understanding it would not be good for me because I have healthy blood pressure and she agreed. In my case melatonin is not effective. The only that works for me is seroquel but that's medication.

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[seesaw]

I had healthy blood pressure and prazosin was just fine for me. I would check with your doctor to see if it's a good drug for you. Just because one person had a problem with it or has success with it does not mean you should take it. You should ask your doctor about it.

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[leomama]

I never took it.

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[Eren01]

Planning on giving Temazepam a workout tonight. starting out with 15mg... if that does not work after a few nights I was told to go to 30mg. Has anyone tried this?
Really hope this one kills my dreams

[Eren01]

had a rough one last night... really bad dreams, could not go back to sleep. tried every trick I knew... the usual drill...not much fun at all... then just ok I am up and read some art magazines I did not have time for until now LOL

Originally Posted by mugwort2

I take melatonin and I use aromatherapy lavendar essential oil. Yes I definitely realize PTSD is a serious mental disorder I see a pdoc and on generic Effexor 150 mgs Grateful for your concern.

Does the melatonin and lavender oil really work for you, I have both but never used the melatonin and the lavender I just made body butter out of it to make lavander scent, How do you use that, I have terrible insomnia and I am always up around 1 or 2 in the morning, I hate it

[mugwort2]

Originally Posted by Eren01

Hi am new and new to mental health care.
It was my sleeping issues or lack there of that ended up with a PTSD diagnosis.
Sry if this post is in the wrong place... I have tried a lot of different things... They seems to work for a while but I end up with very little sleep. Still working on what sleeping medications may work for me. Tried all the medical advice and all the meaningly well advice from friends amd family members... But supplements work great after a while, but then I go back to not being able to sleep... Horrible dreams wake me up often... Any way it is good to here... Think I will read and lurk for a while.

Didn't realize members were still posting on this thread. Hope you find a good, safe sleeping aid. A sleepless night is a terrible thing to go through I empathize with you. Just telling you my PTSD diagnosis was based on an intake interview with a pychologist. Late rit was confirmed by a pdoc.

[mugwort2]

Originally Posted by leomama

Do you think that's enough? Any other modalities?

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Truly sorry for my extremely late reply. It does , the melatonin, lavender somewhat. What bothers me the most are my intrusive thoughts. Hate them.

[mugwort2]

Worlfeyes . Leomama, Seesaw Yes I think they do but it may be the power of suggestion. OTOH that's how placebos work too. Seesaw My past bp readings in my primary office were 140/80 I can only get a med if its in my HMO formulary Yes that does suck.

[Inthetrees]

What I find works when your mind won't turn off for sleep.. So simple, nothing else has worked so well for me.

You have to calm your mind for only a moment, wait for that silent moment (even if you have to work at and feel it) then think or speak allowed:
"I give myself permission to sleep"

[Deejay14]

I have ptsd and my sleep becomes just awful when ptsd is activated. I have a great doc who helps me. Hope you have some good support.