I got triggered when I slept on the couch for the first time in months

[Lycholko]

Over quarantine, I developed insomnia. I would sleep downstairs on the couch because that's where my mom sleeps and I would need her help during the night. I wouldn't be able to sleep until 4-5 in the morning. I tried everything to get better and I did for a while. However, now that winter is here, my room gets ungodly hot at night. (Long story short, my heater is broken and I can't control how much heat comes out.) I am forced to sleep on the couch some nights. I slept on the couch last night and it wasn't good. I went to bed at about 10pm and slept for maybe 2 hours. I woke up at around 1:30 and couldn't fall back asleep. I tried meditation, reading, drinking water, went to the bathroom, counting, changed sleeping positions, etc. but nothing worked. I started to break down because I was reminded of a few months ago and how awful I felt. I was so scared I would never sleep again (which I know is ridiculous but I truly believed that.) I decided to try and sleep upstairs since I couldn't sleep downstairs. I was shaking and hyperventilating and screaming into my pillow. I had my window open to try and cool down my room and apparently my mom heard me screaming. I think last night was the most scared I have ever been. I have never felt like that before and I am still feeling bad. I am not sure if that was PTSD or something but I was triggered big time. I am going to tell my therapist tomorrow about it and see what she has to say

[Hidden]

Interesting study on sleep by doctor sleep expertm.youtube.com/watch?v=74F22...(Not working as expected?)

[Hidden]

What is the reason, you sleep downstairs ? What is triggering you upstairs on top of the room been hot, can you not turn down the heating.

You mention PTSD is that linked to your sleep problems.

BOB

[Lycholko in reply to Hidden]

I sleep downstairs because my room is too hot at night. I wake up with a dry throat and dry eye. I try to put my fan in the window to try and cool it down, but it makes my allergies act up. I cannot turn down the heat because my heater is broken. It pumps way too much heat during the winter.

[Polara6ear]

Hey. I know how you feel and I can tell you your therapist won’t help, because he hasn’t been what you’ve been through. Like I said I know exactly how you feel and I would like to talk to you.

[Lycholko in reply to Polara6ear]

Sure, I would love to talk!

[Torri_____]

The symptoms of ptsd are severe and feel like the end of he world when it’s triggered for me and I begin to react physically overheating train sounds in my ears and my eyes can’t see and so I understand the response reminding you of past and that causing severe reactions. I’m glad you have a therapist and continue to be open to that as it can take time but being fully open helps them see inside the picture and things you might repress. Having anxiety and not knowing why the responses are happening can be so scary and cause more anxiety over the anxiety. Try to see the crazy feelings as your body way of naturally responding to your thoughts of severe threats and not allow yourself to feel negative at yourself for the body and mind response. It is doing it’s job as it remembers you went through a lot before not being able to sleep. Exhaling all the air is one thing I do to start being clearer and also cold water splash to the face is scientifically a way to stop the intense rush of urgent anxiety that becomes physically exacerbating. I send warm cozy thoughts to you and just had this w my nights and have a therapist telling me the things here and it’s helping me know I’m normal to react to danger even if it’s perceived we adjusted to cope with something scary so it wants to warn us again.

[Torri_____]

You were naturally coming up with ways to release the fears by opening the window drinking water yelling into the pillow or counting so you are ahead of so many that suffer anxiety. And your natural nervous system in there is working hard to overcome past fears. So you should remind yourself you are doing amazing to be seeking therapy and naturally trying from inside out✨