Nightmares

[Cowboyangel19]

So I have PTSD and anxiety and it keeps waking me up with nightmares. Does anyone haveany suggestions on how to get them to stop?

[brokenlight]

I don’t have advice, but I feel your pain.

I’m sorry you have to experience this.

It’s the worst.

Best of luck to you & I’m glad you’re here ✨

[Lindyloo53 Volunteer]

The only thing that has helped me with ptsd nightmares is to be engaging with emdr therapy.

[Dolphin14 Moderator]

I was put on a medication that helps with ptsd nightmares. As with all meds they don't all work for everyone.

The med is called Prazosin. Worth chatting with your md about.

[Nathalie99 Partner]

Hi Cowboyangel19,

Welcome to the community.

I have had nightmares too. It does get better after trauma therapy.

I haven't tried Prazosin but that's something that might be an option for you. It's a blood pressure medication that can help.

There is also a kind of therapy where you change the outcome of your nightmare to a positive one.

A part of this is imagining a safe place. That's what I am doing and it's helping.

Also when you wake up, you can try focusing on something in here and now that is comforting and grounding.

I'm feeling for you...

Nathalie

[ladyofcastile]

Trauma focused psychotherapy. As kind and gentle as possible. And gentle yoga just before going to bed. I usually start with a meditative lotus position and then I just let the movement flow. It is a moment of encounter, love and compassion with my body. I just end standing with my hands over my heart or one hand on my heart and the other on my lower tummy. I breath and whisper to myself something I need to hear, like: "I am ready" "I am safe" "I'll find the way" "I'll be alright" I try to create an atmosphere for this closing moment of the day, through the softest of light, the smell of lavender, through calming music or sounds that can be found on YouTube. Those things helped me. I started sleeping through and the nightmares vanished.

[Beingindependent Volunteer]

If you can find a way to completely relax and keep yourself calm and try not to think of stressful things before bed or be careful what you watch on TV

if you can watch something like really relaxing like a Hallmark movie or do it yourself show or something that doesn’t have anything to do that might trigger something in you

then perhaps you won’t have those dreams at least that’s what works for me

I’m really sorry you’re going through that I’ve gone through that before and it feels really awful

if you do have those dreams or continue to then I would when you wake up to tell yourself that you’re safe that’s not happening

and calm yourself down enough so that you can go back to sleep

but I hope that those nightmares stop soon because I know how difficult that can be

[greenrainbow]

Hi, I have the same issue and tried emdr which helped but I have a complex ptsd so I’m waiting for more specialized treatment. Not sure what’s your case. Otherwise melatonin helped me sleep - it’s the most natural “medication” as it’s a sleeping hormone that your brain produces but you might not have enough of it when you have ptsd. Otherwise walks, gentle exercise, yoga, breathing exercises or reading a book before sleep - whatever calms you down. Still ptsd is a severe condition so you need professional help