Night Terrors and PTSD

Welcome... So sorry for your suffering, @KnightPetal 😢

Hi @KnightPetal

Welcome to the Sane forums.

I have PTSD and suffer from night terrors too. When they wake me up, it takes me awhile to sometimes know where I am, that I am safe. At times it feels like I am that child again.

I too have supports in place and take meds.

Those night terrors can affect every part of our life. From not wanting to sleep at night to trying to get through the days when I've had them. Even distancing myself from others so I don't have to pretend like everything is ok.

Please know that you are not alone. There are many of us on here that can relate to what you are saying.

Hey @KnightPetal, welcome to the Forums and thank you for sharing your experiences with the community!

It sounds like you have been through a tough time since you were a child. You are demonstrating your strength and resilience in coping with that for all this time. You are so brave for being vulnerable and reaching out to your peers.

Thanks again for sharing with the community!

Take care

RvierSeal

Hi @KnightPetal

Welcome to the forums.

I'm so sorry that you are going through this. Night terrors are horrible things. I know what its like to wake up and think you are still in the situation and how long that awful few moments can be/feel for your brain to realise that you aren't actually in that situation at all and that you are safe. And then the after effects of not being able to get back to sleep, or having restorative sleep and how this impacts all aspects of life in general.

Its good to hear that you have mindfulness techniques and medication to help you.

I have medication to help with night terrors too, but they don't seem to have the same effect if I wake in the middle of the night from a night terror and then take them. I have found that listening to sleep stories - gentle calming stories help keep my mind from wandering back to the event when I am trying to get back to sleep really helps to keep me calm even if I don't get back to sleep. Apps like Headspace, Calm have these and I even found an app for PTSD called Sleep Restore that helps your brain get back to sleep. My husband's non-trauma affected brain doesn't like it all so if you have someone sleeping next to you perhaps use some headphones for that one!

Just thought I would share these with you as they are free (or have free versions) and have really helped me.

I hope you find the support you are looking for here on the forums

Warm regards

SkySeeker22

Hi KnightPetal. I am 46 i also have CPTSD along with a couple other conditions. I'm on medication too. The medication I have knocks me out every night so I do not have to wrestle with my thoughts. The tablets switch my brain off!! From what I'm reading on your post, you take medication but STILL suffer from night terrors?? Is this correct?

I find my antipsychotic [edited by moderator] very helpfull for me. I have the quick release to use as needed and the slow release at night and I is active when I get up to ease my manicness.

I literally am out for 8 hrs straigjht. Can you tell me more about your situation please

Hey @Opal22 and welcome! Glad to have you with us here on the forums 😊

Just a couple things -

1. I have edited your post to remove the name of a medication. This is part of our Safety Guideline, and it exists to ensure safe discussion of medications, and that folks are only discussing medications with medical professionals, i.e. off the forums.

2. Just a lil tip, if you want other members to be notified that you've responded, you can tag them - use the @ symbol and a drop down will appear, and you can choose their name. If their name isn't there, you can type it out and it should then appear for you to select, and it will show up in blue like this: @KnightPetal

Hope you find what you're looking for in the community 💜