What Helps You Feel Safe Enough To Sleep At Night?

A few weeks ago I was too tired to put my pj's on before I went to bed and slept in my clothes.When I woke up I felt really rested,I had slept well for about 8 hours.

The next night I tossed and turned and had a miserable 3 to 4 hours of sleep.So I started thinking about how well I slept in my clothes,wondering if it was just a fluke.The next night I slept in my clothes again and slept very well again.

Since then I have been testing it out,some nights clothes,some nights pj's,and every time I sleep in my clothes I get 8 or more hours of sleep compared to just a few hours in pj's.

So from now on I think I will wear a pair of soft,cotton,stretchy jeans and a t-shirt instead of pj's,since it works.Maybe sleeping in pj's just makes me feel too vulnerable or something.I have been sleeping with weapons beside my bed since I was a very young girl,but I don't think they have been enough to make me feel safe.

I really sweat sleeping in full clothing but it's worth it to actually sleep.

What helps you feel safe at night?

Knowing my wife is beside me.

- A really lightweight blanket, so I don't feel restricted
- Wearing my prosthetic leg.. but I haven't done that in years because it's really bad for the stump
- The lock on my bedroom door, but I only use that in special circumstances (for example, if my parents have guests) - that was the condition my parents set, otherwise I wouldn't get a lock.

Me too,with my husband beside me,but it's still not enough to feel completely safe because he sleeps.It would be great if he could just lay in bed all night without sleeping.

When I have been triggered by something and experiencing PTSD symptoms he doesn't make me feel safe at all though and I would rather he not sleep in my bed at all.

I am the opposite,cannot stand being in a room with a locked door.Sometimes it's even hard to be in a room with the door shut(therapy was difficult for that reason).

I go through periods where I have to sleep with regular clothes on, too. For a long while I did not feel safe enough to sleep in a bedroom, so I slept on the couch. I have to have the door open so I can hear the rest of the house. Sometimes I need a TV on when I fall asleep so I don't stay up all night listening to noises.

That's interesting. I have to have some light on in the room and no socks or footie. I usually sleep in clothes also. I thinks it's a knowing that if I had to get up for an emergency at least I would have suitable clothes on to defend myself, hope or even escape. I also sleep with a gun under my pillow. I live alone so no problem with that. If someone else was here I wouldn't do that because of my sleep walking. I would love to get 8 hrs of sleep. Have you had a sleep study done?

Interesting. I've noticed the same reaction towards cloths v. pj's. My fiance being with me also helps. I don't sleep without some kind of consistent noise and usually a light on, as well.

It is interesting some of these things we share, really makes you think about things and have more "why" questions, well it does for me anyway.

My cat who always sleeps on my bed, my blankets, having some kind of soft background noise like music on quietly, and now my meds all help. When I've had really bad times, having a knife under my pillow, sleeping on the couch so my back is to the wall and I could see the whole room, and having my shoes and car keys by my bed so if I had to escape from the house, I could do it in a hurry - those all helped me. It was all in response to fear over previously being stalked and threatened. I still sometimes like to have the keys by my bed but it's not as bad anymore. I hope things get better for you.

dx: ptsd, gad, mdd, panic attacks
rx: prozac, clonidine prn

Clawing my way out of depression.

Super soft mattress pad (the ones that are a few inches thick)

Super light down blankets. (I have some down blankets that are too heavy...it really is a fine line between too heavy and too light.)

My stuffies LOL

My white noise machine

Locking the door (although my current lock is broken, it hasn't bothered me. I just prefer it to be locked.)

Comforting smells. (One of my stuffies is covered in my favorite perfume. It relaxes me.)

oh and i must ALWAYS be wearing a sleep mask on my head. It doesn't have to be on my eyes though. I am used to the calming pressure by now I suppose.

The right clothes are a must! Nothing on my legs, no pants, no socks. Super short shorts are ok to wear as they don't restrict leg movement. I prefer somewhat fitted tops but if they are too tight they just make me more anxious. Again a very fine line between just right and too much.

LOL I must sound like a nut case with all of my requirements for a good night's sleep. This is why I prefer to not travel.

And nobody understands my extreme level of insomnia. Once I went a whole month with some nights of no sleep, other nights of just an hour of twilight sleep (which is pretty much worthless as you don't get into REM and are still aware of everything in the room.)

Oh I can so relate to this stuff, doesn't sound crazy at all, well not to us LOL. Have you had a sleep study? My first one I didn't go into REM at all, must have been the first case of that they had seen because they had all kinds of questions when they were unhooking me.

Since we are talking about sleep lets talk about the time you get the best sleep. I get my best rest just as the sun is coming up, no I'm not a vampire I'm kind of on a third shift schedule. Anyone else have to deal with this?

I sleep with a sound machine on very loud,can't sleep at all without it because I am so used to it.

I also always have a night light on.

When I have been triggered by something and symptomatic,I sleep with the light on,phone in hand,weapons within reach,sound machine off(so I can hear intruders).

I get my best sleep when and if I take an afternoon nap,which isn't very often.Sometimes I think I would maybe do well if I had a 3rd shift job,I have no problem sleeping during the daytime.

Yes, sounds like 3rd shift would work for you. It would kill me to work daytime. When I was going through orientation I had to work dayshift and I stayed sick all the time. Once I got on second shift things got much better. I was not meant to be up with no chickens

I need a nightlight or some sort of light on. I'm afraid of the dark. I also need some sort of noise in the background. I usually have the tv on low or I listen to an audio book or something.

I have a weighted blanket and I need my husband there.

My family all being home safe, with the doors all locked and everyone safe in their bed....my dogs and being right next to my hubby.