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HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

essbee-93Contributor01 Aug 2016, 9:26 pm AEST

HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

As I previously mentioned in my first post "Had Enough" I briefly noted that I suffer with horrific, consisent, relentless nightmares. I have tried many different techniques, I have tried many essential oils - I've tried meditating and sleep apps and a few sleeping tablets/relaxants.. but to no avail I still have nightmares. I work in Pharmacy and I know that sleep is a habit, but I can't seem to re train my body to get into a routine - despite going to bed at the same time every night, removing my phone from my reach and turning everything to 'Do Not Disturb' and I've eliminated watching TV with my partner before bed.. The theme seems to be pretty consistent as well which is "loss" I'm either losing somebody or something or being the one left behind. I wake up continuously throughout the night, 15 minute intervals (I know, I shouldn't look at the clock, but I do - it breaks up the view of the ceiling and walls) I know my psychiatrist has mentioned that my fear of losing somebody comes from my deep insecureness.. I recently started trying a new technique from my psychiatrist where I write down my dream (which I can recite like it's a latest pop song), I explain how I feel - then write how I would like to feel and rewrite the dream to how I would like it to be & recite it every day & every night before I go to bed, to try and trick/re train my brain to have the better version of the dream - I was hopeful but unfortunately I've not had any luck whatsoever. My medications do make me drowsy, which helps in getting me off to sleep but it's not long before I'm up, panicking, stressing out and without fail pacing all night long. I'm starting to become scared to go to sleep because I don't want to face those dreams every night - no sleep sounds better than broken sleep or nightmares.. Does anybody have any suggestions? Does anybody know this feeling? I'm willing to try anything at all, I can't function on broken sleep constantly & it's really not aiding my mental state at all... I'm desperate.

7 replies

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In response to: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

AloneSenior Contributor02 Aug 2016, 3:10 pm AEST

Re: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

Hi,

I used to have the same problem years ago, sorry but I cant remember how I ended up stopping them. I do remember that the dreams/night terrors all had a theme and once I worked out the theme I realised that it was my mind trying to deal with a difficult situation I was going through. I dont recall doing anything in particular to stop them, just the realisation that they had a message for me.

I do remember at one stage trying to control the dreams to give them a different outcome.

I stopped having them after a while and didnt have any more for years, until recently when I was going through a stressful situation again and one popped up.

Anxiety can be a cyclic thing. Something happens, then we react, then we act in anticipation of it happening again and it goes round in circles. Can you break the cycle?

In response to: Re: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

essbee-93Contributor02 Aug 2016, 9:02 pm AEST

Re: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

Dear @Alone,

Thank you for taking the time out to respond to me. I really appreciate it. The theme it all seems to be following is loss - My psychiatrist seems to think that it stems from my severe insecureness within myself and my constant anxiousness of doing things alone - even though I work full time and am very capable of taking on tasks and doing things alone. It throws me out because I like doing things on my own and I do not like group tasks or being in the spotlight but as much as I like doing things alone, I hate being alone. I've always been that way, even as a child - I would be all or nothing... The life of the party, over the top and really loud or the complete opposite being quiet and isolating myself. I've been trying the recreate the nightmare technique and reciting it multiple times throughout the day, I've been told this technique is used a lot with PTSD patients, I however have found no relief with it - I'm still persisting with it. My medications make me drowsy and help me get off to sleep, which is good but I can't stay asleep. Fifteen minute intervals each filled with nightmares. I'm not sure if this is even a cycle as it's been constant for months on end?

In response to: Re: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

NikNikSenior Contributor04 Aug 2016, 6:06 pm AEST

Re: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

Hi @essbee-93

My goodness - you must be exhausted.

One suggestion I have, which you may have tried, is going to a sleep specialist? I have read about sleep CBT, which it sounds like your psychiatrist is doing with you - which is great. I'm just wondering if a sleep specialist could help diagnose any other issues (physical) that might assit.

Perhaps you have tried this 🙂 Sorry if I'm just suggesting things you've already tried!

In response to: Re: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

Unknown userMember04 Aug 2016, 6:37 pm AEST

Re: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

Hi @essbee-93

i have nightmares, of things that have happened in the past. they're pretty awful and i dread sleeping because of them too. it's really hard. being tired all the time makes everything else harder too. I havent had much luck in getting rid of them, and even when occassionally i do get a break from them they just come back.

Not very helpful i know! but i do empathise with you and can understand the frustration

i've been told that things will settle if i can get my ptsd under control etc... but im not sure i can either.

In response to: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

essbee-93Contributor04 Aug 2016, 8:27 pm AEST

Re: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

Hi @NikNik
Thanks for taking the time out to message me.
I am absolutely stuffed and still trying to function 100% for 9 hour shifts at work daily. Its a real mission sometimes.
My mother recently suggested a sleep specialist. I think I'm really going to have to look into it. I have a check up with my psychiatrist in three weeks time, but this adjustment hasn't helped and I really don't know if I can hold out that long. Unfortunately my gp is away until next week and i can't get in to see him after hours. I really don't like going out in work hours. It makes me feel worse.
Thank you for your suggestion. I really appreciate it.

Essbee 🙂

In response to: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

essbee-93Contributor04 Aug 2016, 8:32 pm AEST

Re: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

Hi @Former-Member

That's terrible. I'm sorry you experience this too. It's very debilitating for myself, I can imagine just how exhausted and defeated you must feel as well.

I understand exactly what you're saying. My psychiatrist and psychologist have both said also that if I can "recreate" the dream and can trick my brain to play that version, that eventually it'll just fade out. But I get so anxious about needing to sleep that I start to feel extremely sick and I am on the brink of a panic attack every night. Plus, constant tossing and turning and crying doesn't make a good night's sleep for my partner either.
He's at a loss at what to do for me as well.

I'm finding this week extremely hard. I had a massive break down at the weekend and I haven't really recovered plus with no sleeping on top of that, I feel I'm about to fall down that hole, for the second week in a row. I don't think I can handle that again.

Is there any tricks you've tried before you go to sleep?

Essbee.

In response to: Re: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

Unknown userMember05 Aug 2016, 8:00 am AEST

Re: HELP - Consistent nightmares and extreme lack of sleep

hi @essbee-93

I try to go to bed at a similar time each night now and make sure i'm calm when i do. I do a muscle relaxation in the evening after my kids are in bed (but not at bed time). I also use an app called actcompanion to try and pracice mindfulness with different activities on that.

But yes! everything is twice as hard when you're exhausted. hope you get some decent sleep soon.

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