Persistent terrible nightmares

Hi everyone.

I'm asking for my bf what you all do for chronic nightmares?

He is a combat vet who has horrible nightmares nearly every night that are super gnarly with gory death and everything. He also has ptsd, from combat and childhood physical and sexual abuse if it's relevant. It's really messed with his life. He is currently on a sleep med, but it's just to fall asleep and doesn't help with the nightmares.

Do you all have any suggestions? Are there any meds that help these terrible nightmares?

Is he seeing a Therapist? Combat PTSD rubberbanded him into his Childhood Trauma. No quick fix, and meds has their limitations and side effects. Therapy is the best answer here.

Yes he is therapy but it doesn't seem to be helping

Therapy takes much time. He needs much time to heal from that Trauma.

Thanks for the reply! I'm just wondering what else I can do, because he has been in therapy for many years. The nightmares have gotten especially bad over the last couple of years.

Therapy can actually increase nightmares, as the mind process what was learned in therapy.

Hello!!

I also had those issues and was given a medication to help with the nightmares, it was called Minipress. The issue with this medication is it's actually a high-blood pressure medication and I normally have pretty low blood pressure so this created tons of issues. I took it once and never took it again because I was short of breath, dizzy, and felt very weak. It lowered my blood pressure wayy too much. Can't tell you if it worked on my nightmares cause I didn't take it long enough. I would be wary about this medication if they offer it, especially if he had normal blood pressure.

Wow! Good to know, thanks for the warning.

My "therapy" turned into a nightmare and gave me sleep problems that I never had before. Maybe seeing a neurologist would be more helpful.