Night Terrors Anyone?

[SomeOtherGuy]

I have been experiencing night terrors for many years now, varying in intensity. They usually manifest early on after going to sleep. CBT doesn't help, but Valium does (which I seldom take). I have learned to ignore the weak ones with a bit of screaming. Sometimes I don't even notice them, but they scare the hell out of people sharing the space with me e.g. if I have guests.

Over time I kind of got used to them, but the big ones are nasty. I noticed that they don't happen when I am sleeping with a person (embraced) but if I am alone they are sure to come. Sleeping with my dog helps, and even if I have them, she grounds me a bit.

Of course the night terrors are only a symptom of deeper mental issues, and a cornucopia of behavioural oddities and coping strategies.

I am interested if there are any other people who experience night terrors, and the ways they manage them without resorting to benzos.

[Shnookie]

I’m Jewish. My father, aunt and grandparents were Holocaust survivors. They were dirt poor when they came to America in 1947 and slept in one room. My grandma would scream at night about the terror she went thru during the war. I don’t know, if they eventually gave her Valium to help her sleep. She had survivor’s guilt. Why don’t you want to take benzodiazepines to help you go to sleep. Even with the 1 mg of Klonopin I take and this is a small amount because it has an afterlife, I have strange dreams from time to time. Now mind you, I am almost 66, have Bipolar I, ADHD which includes hypersensitivity and PTSD and work 7 days a week. Maybe try meditation or Melatonin. Wishing you good luck.

[SomeOtherGuy in reply to Shnookie]

I m not jewish, but most of my family has been through the same experience including camps. I guess we are that "other" generation. In terms of Valium or other benzos, if I take them regularly, more is needed for the same effect as body builds resistance. I cut 5mg tablet into halves just to take the edge off without having a "buzz" the next day. Classical meditation doesn't work for me, but I write fiction so it is a form of meditation, great for general wellbeing, but at nights nobody can tell. I have good days and bad days and it is a spiral, slowly going down until it starts affecting my waking life, intrusive thoughts etc, and finally night terrors, then valium, and the cycle continues. I will try your advice again, and go sit at the temple and breathe. Can't stop my mind from going places, but at least it is serene. Sometimes I wish I could cry it all out, but that's not an option. Sports doesn't really help either, in fact sometimes physical exhaustion can trigger night terrors by itself. I am kind of used to them, and calm down pretty quickly, but when the big ones happen, it usually start an avalanche, and it takes a while to get back up, hence this attempt. Perhaps someone had similar experience and has an idea that works great for them I didn't consider already.