Nightmares

I've had insomnia and it is a trial and very exhausting. I'm not sure if you drink coffee as well as the medicinal but I found that coffee depleted me when I was using substances. I think that's what you ment by medicinal. I'm sorry your struggling.

Thanks, no coffee, but yep on caffeine through coca cola. And yes, the medicinal is legal [drug name edited by moderator, as per guidelines]. I don't do other drugs, pills ect, was drunk for decades, but now couldn't handle it if I wanted to, but the grog and all doesn't really take any of the bad away, prob did help numb things, but in the end it really didn't work, only made me feel a worse & week human. I keep hoping to learn on here from others and just survive a bit easier would be cool @BanksiaGumnut 

@WannabeFree

That must be so scary and exhausting!

If the waking nightmares are related to trauma could they be very vivid flashbacks? If you think it’s trauma-related I wonder if BlueKnot might help? If not, would you be able to speak to a GP or psychiatrist about what’s going on?

Is there anything you’ve found helps ground you or get you out of these waking nightmares? In the moment it would be really hard I’m sure, which is why I’m wondering if thinking about it when you’re not in the middle of it might help?

It sounds like it was really overwhelming to get that gift. That makes sense to me but I imagine it must have been hard both being happy and being so overwhelmed.

Yes, trauma related. Obviously has always been there, but last few yrs, and than last six months it has just gone bonkers. A jaded angry thing i am. Someone mentioned Blueknot to me previously here, but i had forgotten all about it, so will look into that, thanks. I have been seeing a psychologist for a while now, after I thought he "got me", he might be able to fix me, now, i really don't believe it's possible. And the present, was actually a way for me to get about, so I will be able to go to places with more trees than people, so im hoping this is something that can take some of the yukky out. And planning a couple of things to look forward to, a cruise for a few hrs with lunch and very good company, my present giver

Stay Safe

Hi @WannabeFree,

For nightmares, you may want to try Imagery Rescripting:

https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/-/media/CCI/Mental-Health-Professionals/Sleep/Sleep---Information-Sheets/Sleep-Information-Sheet---06---Imagery-Rescripting.pdf

For trauma:

• Grounding for relief in the moment: https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/support-toolkit/techniques-and-guides/finding-relief-through-grounding-techniques
• Coping with flashbacks: https://www.sane.org/information-and-resources/the-sane-blog/managing-symptoms/coping-with-flashbacks
• Self-help: https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/your-recovery/helping-yourself/
• Support group: https://supportgroup.mhfa.org.au/trauma-and-ptsd-support-group

Is the "medicinal" that no longer seems to work a psychotropic drug? Perhaps review it with an enlightened psychiatrist or pharmacist may help. The brain can develop a tolerance for a drug and become less effective, and even contribute to the problems itself. However you need to be very careful if you agree with your clinicians to withdraw from such drugs - it usually has to be done very slowly (often much slower than traditional medical advice) to avoid harmful withdrawal symptoms. See https://notbrokenproject.com.au/?sdm_process_download=1&download_id=1044