Insomnia

[heart]

I very rarely get a good night sleep, I either can't go to sleep or I wake up after an hour or two after I've gone to sleep and then spend 2 or 3 hours awake or can't go back to sleep.

It all started about 3 years ago when I was having horrendous night terrors and although I am much better now I still have problems with going to sleep.

At the moment I am taking on board suggestions for dealing with nightmares and will keep working at it until I can see some improvement.

I suspect I am not the only one with a sleep disorder and I wonder if it is possible to fully recover from this.

Heart

 

[Malidin41]

Hello my friend,

I am sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time with this issue. I have had sleeping problems for quite sometime now and have not really found anything to be an absolute cure. Mind you I have not been dealing with my abuse for long so I am hopeful that soon or at least at some point my nightmears will go away. Things that I have done and am still doing are meditation before sleep and listening to relaxing music such as light instrumental music with ocean waves in the back ground while having incents burning. I have not been doing this for long but just being able to relax before bed is a huge difference. I also suggest as my therapist has to me to create a spot in your room that you can set out things that remind you of good times, that way you will see that you are safe and no longer threatend by the bad momments in your life. Also it will change your thinking process from bad to good. I am very interested with this post and will deffinitly return to see others suggestions. I wish you the best my friend and I am always up at night because I work the grave yard shift so if you are ever lonely and need to talk during the lonely times in the night I would be more than happy to talk with you. I am not online everynight but I try to be on as much as I can. Well I have to go but I look forward to hear from you. Your friend malidin.

 

[reality2k4]

The only way I can think of getting rid of nightmares, is to keep telling them to go away, tell them that they don't hurt, let your inner mind scream at them. I remember having the same terrifying nightmare, I thought it would never go away, but that was the way of getting rid of it.

You may get other nightmares, but they get easier, after you fing a way of dealing with the first one's.

Hope it helps.

Maladin is right, make time to relax, whatever that means to you, I listen to ambient music etc.

If you are relaxed before sleep, you have a better chance of having worthwhile rest.

ste

 

[Spidey]

I was also having a hell of a lot of trouble sleeping not that long ago. Not because of nightmares (couldn't remember any dreams) - just simply couldn't sleep. I'd go to bed too late and wake up way too early, unable to get back to sleep.

During a doctor's visit, my doc noticed how tense I was (not surprising considering I had just had a prostate exam) and prescribed some tranquilizers - clonazepam I believe.
Been sleeping pretty well since then.

Maybe some meds will help?

 

[yesac76]

My brother,
I have dealt with insomnia sinse 1996. I have to use sleeping pills or I can not sleep. It has kicked in hardcore the last week. I have learned (been forced) to run on a max of 6 hours sleep. It sucks, but I can't do anything about it.

It was supposed to get better, I hoped , when I dealt with my SA. I have been dealing with it sonse March, when I started therapy. I am in a better mental and emotional place, but I still can not sleep without the damned pills. So, you are not the only one here who has insomnia.

Casey

 

[heart]

Hi guys
thanks for your messages, it's the middle of the night again,had a couple of hours kip, can't sleep at them moment but I guess I won't get this sorted out over night but I am determined to learn as much as I can from people's experiences in dealing with insomnia.

Don't get me wrong but it's reassuring to hear of others who struggle or have struggled with
this as it can be a lonely business.

Thanks a million
Heart

 

[EGL]

Several things I do to fight insomnia:

1. I sleep with an osciallating fan on each night, all year round. The constant background noise of the fan along with the rhythmic pattern of the osciallation helps me to fall asleep.
2. Tylenol PM - usually 1 when I'm having trouble falling asleep will do it. Two and I'm comatose.
3. Sometimes insomnia can be caused by sexual tension, soooooo....well, sometimes it's a one-man show. Usually fall asleep pretty fast afterwards.

Hope this helps.

 

[fusionoflove]

Heart,

I feel for you. I think everyone here can identify with problems associated with sleep. I too had a big problem with it. I would have to say that some of the best ways to help yourself is to first, when a nightmare happens right it down. Everything you can remember to the best of your ability. Later on in the day go back and really think about your dream. I think that most of the time a dream plays out things that are too powerful to be played out in real life. Think about what issues are being confronted. Learn to love your dreams and nightmares. They tell you messages that you need to know. As I've said before to people do not confront evil or own personal demons with hate, confront it with love.

Two, sleeping pills help. I did them for about 4 months. I did as a combination of getting off alcohol and the nightmares. I decided to get off them when I realized I ready to work through things. That I didn't want to run anymore from me. I learned to embrace my dreams/nightmares.

As far as other things are concerned. Make your bed and your bedroom holy. Don't use it for any other reason than to sleep. From what I heard that's the first thing doctors tell people with sleep disorders. Try to go to bed and awake at the same time everyday if you can. Also and I know it's hard, but don't nap during the day. Literally force your body to get into a routine.

Most importantly and I can't stress it enough write/record all of your nightmares. I personally sleep with a digital recorder next to me. For one, I do stand up comedy so I never know when something will come to me and like I said your dreams, at least I believe, send you messages. Share them with people that have an open mind and know about your situation.

I can't think of anything else right now, but work with what's best for you. Just try and I know it's hard to force your body to get into a routine.

Take it easy Heart,
Fusion

 

[Leosha]

Heart,

Insomnia? welcome to my world! I had been programmed for 2 to 4 hours of sleep a night since early childhood. It is hard to break the habit. Sleep still is something to fear, as irrational as that is. And when I do sleep, I still wake up startled and panicked, jumping out of bed like I have commited some major crime.

I have heard of people having positive help with different medications to help with sleep. I have had some help from them, but not so much. But I know that there are some that help people. It is maybe worth looking at. Even some you can get at the store, without seeing a doctor. I wish you good luck.

Leosha