how can I get some sleep?

Question

I have been awake for ever it seems, I have tried sleeping pills but they only make me go to sleep but not stay asleep. I wake up in the night and cant sleep for anything. its making me so nuts. I getting where my dreams from the little sleep I get are interacting with my reality.. cant tell if I dreamed it or it really happened. my shrink says I have post tramatic stress syndrom,

Answer 1

tell your doctor to give you seroquel are valiums they will get the job done

Answer 2

Post traumatic stress syndrome can be the cause of your inability to sleep. It can also make it hard to perceive what is real and what is not.

Try these things.

Journal. Sit and write for at least 20 minutes without stopping each day for about a week. Do not judge your writing, this is for you, and you alone. Write whatever comes into your mind. Don't organize it. The only rule is to keep the pen moving.

Create a bed time ritual for yourself. Get a yoga or relaxation DVD and do it. I recommend AM/PM Yoga for Beginners from www.gaiam.com.

Use a diffuser with lavendar oil. These are those things where you have a tea light underneath, and the oil above.

Get vigorous exercise during the day, but not too close to bed time.

Go to your health food store. There are several things you can take to relax. I take valerian root, which also reduces anxiety.

Early in the evening make a list of tomorrow's to do's so you are not thinking about them when you are sleeping.

Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Alcohol will make you sleep for a little while and then wake you up. It is also a depressant.

Avoid computer and television for an hour or so before you go to sleep.

Get a recording of soft, ambient music and play it when you sleep.

When you get in bed, picture yourself surrendering to the bed and to sleep. The feeling is much like floating in water.

Follow the breath. Count 1, breathe in, count 2 out, 3 in 4 out...etc to 10 and start over. If your mind wanders gently bring it back.

Read happy things before going to sleep.

If you have a spiritual tradition, reconnect with that.

Use the serenity prayer:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference.

Answer 3

I don't know, but I may as well copy and paste this stuff. It all applies to PTSD. Some of it might help you sleep, particularly the exercise and sunlight part.

anyone who is depressive should take a good multivitamin most days with a meal. while you are at it take a calcium-magnesium-zinc pill. I won't go in to detail here about why. just do it, it's not that expensive. also, get lots of beneficial fatty acids - particularly omega-3. take a couple grams of fish oil daily.

then try getting lots of sunlight. get some vigorous cardiovascular exercise as often as you can. practise good posture and learn a little about basic yoga postures and t'ai chi warmups.

eat a varied very high protein, high fiber diet low in saturated fats and refined carbs. shun additives and preservatives. you want whole foods, not overcooked. eat leafy greens and colourful vegetables. eat tree nuts,eat fish, eat more fish, the more nutritious fruits (berries, etc.), herbs, and some WHOLE grains. don't eat sweets or drink sweet/sour drinks. instead eat fruit. diet really really really matters. it has a slow cumulative effect.

stay hydrated. this can be a matter of simply avoiding certain foods that dehydrate you. try to get plenty of regular, restful sleep.

that's all that comes to mind. you might wanna check if you notice any effect from ginseng pills. watch the caffeine, especially late in the day. good luck.


i also think you should try the following for a month and decide if you think it might be helpful:

whenever you shower, when you are about finished, turn the water to all cold, or as close as you can handle. do whatever you want; tense up, or relax. but sit in the cold for a minute. afterwards, go hot, and then if you are not in a hurry go back to cold for a minute. repeat one more time if you want.

Answer 4

well i Will tell you that I have never had a problem sleeping I can fall asleep and stay asleep.

So here is what I believe can help you. Your mind is racing and you probably wake up and go thru all kinds of scenario's about this and that.

If it is mind chatter that is keeping you awake develop a routine before you go to bed maybe writing down your thoughts and telling your self you will deal with them tomorrow and drink sleepy-time tea develop your routine and do it the same way every night.

Good Luck Sleep tight

Answer 5

I think your shrink's assessment may be correct. One of the symptoms of PTSD is sleep disturbance.

What are the symptoms of PTSD?

In general, post-traumatic stress disorder can be seen as an overwhelming of the body's normal psychological defenses against stress. Thus, after the trauma, there is abnormal function (dysfunction) of the normal defense systems, which results in certain symptoms. The symptoms are produced in three different ways:

Re-experiencing the trauma
Persistent avoidance
Increased arousal
First, symptoms can be produced by re-experiencing the trauma, whereby the individual can have distressing recollections of the trauma. For example, the person may relive the experience as terrible dreams or nightmares or as daytime flashbacks of the event. Furthermore, external cues in the environment may remind the patient of the event. As a result, the psychological distress of the exposure to trauma is reactivated (brought back) by internal thoughts, memories, and even fantasies. Persons also can experience physical reactions to stress, such as sweating and rapid heart rate. (These reactions are similar to the "fight or flight" responses to emergencies described by Dr. Walter Cannon.) The patient's posttraumatic symptoms can be identical to those symptoms experienced when the actual trauma was occurring.

The second way that symptoms are produced is by persistent avoidance. The avoidance refers to the person's efforts to avoid trauma-related thoughts or feelings and activities or situations that may trigger memories of the trauma. This so-called psychogenic (emotionally caused) amnesia (loss of memory) for the event can lead to a variety of reactions. For example, the patient may develop a diminished interest in activities that used to give pleasure, detachment from other people, restricted range of feelings, and a sad affect that leads to the view that the future will be shortened.

The third way that symptoms are produced is by an increased state of arousal of the affected person. These arousal symptoms include sleep disturbances, irritability, outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, increased vigilance, and an exaggerated startle response when shocked.

Answer 6

i had similar problems with sleep until they put me on bipolar medication. my ups were so up that i couldn't sleep for anything, and when i did, it wasn't well. i'm not saying you're bipolar too, but it wouldn't hurt to find out. since there are different degrees of the disorder, it's sometimes difficult to diagnose. best thing is to keep a journal everyday as to how you feel. if your moods switch drastically, sometimes for no apparent (to anyone else, you might understand the reason) reason, then there's a possibility. but don't fret if you are. it's not something that's your fault. it's like diabetes, only in the head, and can be controlled with medicine too.

Answer 7

Insomnia (sleeplessness) is due to stress, dietary and medical
problems. By making small lifestyle changes like having a fixed
daily routine, relaxing and eating properly, insomnia can be
cured. I found the information at http://tinyurl.com/jfzpz useful
for getting sleep.

Answer 8

Try taking an antidepressant & a stronger sleeping pill together. That has helped me in the past. Also try sleepy time tea.

Answer 9

This may have oversimplified your problem, but it helps me so I wanted to share.
When I can't sleep, I relax the muscles in my jaw. Sounds really silly doesn't it? But until I relaxed the muscles in my jaw, I didn't really realize how tense the whole face, neck and shoulder muscle area is. It's hard to be stressed and tense when you consciously relax your facial muscles. Hope it helps you some.

Answer 10

Drugs are not the answer. Try warm milk before bedtime or read a good book until sleep comes. You will find a way.

Answer 11

Call the great name of Jesus the only saviour. Sincerely pray and tell him this small problem. He will take care of everything.