Sleep deprivation - nightmares caused by bad occurances in the past?

Question

My girlfriend would probably hate me writing this. shethinks I fuss to much! lol....She's been suffering from nightmares of bad occurances from her past to do with sexual abuse (and more) She cannot sleep at all. In the past she as had to rely on drugs to help her sleep and avoid nightmares, but she can no longer take drugs for this so she's hardly getting any sleep apart from the odd drifting in and out of sleep for a minute or two. She will not get counceling or speak to anyone about this, which I can understand cause it must be difficult for her to talk about the past and her nightmares in detail, I've even suggested writing a diary blog to put it all into the that but that seems to be too difficult too. Shes a very busy person, and sometimes I have no idea how she has the strength to do it all with a lack of sleep. I'm forever trying to find an answer to this problem for her even though we've tried everything. Just hopin maybe some1 out there as the answer.....

Answer 1

I've walked her walk and hopefully, your as patient as my husband and as understanding. It took me many, many years to get the right help for my abuse (sexual, physical and emotional). I never really wanted to vocalize it as it would make it seem more real or someone would say it wasn't true. My last shrink, after a suicide attempt, finally convinced me to write about my life and told me no one would read it unless its what I wanted. It took me almost a year, a lot of tears, sleepless nights and deep, very deep anger to get over, but I did it. I actually turned it into a book, Don't Cry for Me, published by iUniverse. I'm not trying to sell you my book. Not at all. But, if she reads some of the crappola I've been through she might relate to some of it and find that writing about her anger, her betrayal, her experience will put the past where it belongs - in the past. Right now, she's trying ,subconsciously, to find answers...and getting nowhere. If you e-mail me through this forum and give me your e-mail address that I can send the story to - I'm happy to do it. You can go online for one of the booksellers and buy it too - but its faster and cheaper if you get it by e-mail. The reason I finally published my story was to help others that were or have walked my walk.

Many of us can get over the sex or the abuse...what we can't get over is the betrayal. That - right there - says it all.

btw...my user name is Adrina Blue, as you'll see from the book, its not my real name ;-). Good luck to you and prayers to her.

Answer 2

Saying that she can no longer take any medications doesn't seem right at all. There are some meds that are really expensive though. There are others that have unpleasant side effects too. I have tried one that has worked very well for me to get normal sleep called Trazodone. It only costs about 12 bucks for thirty as far as I know. There are Community Health Centers and family services that take people on a sliding scale and the medications sometimes are free. What she remembers most likely seems real to her. What I remembered was abductions and surgeries since around the age of three. The medications make it hard to remember things so vividly though and more like a blurred or faint dream. The only thing that might prevent her from taking certain meds is being pregnant or possibly some illness. Therapy over time should help if she wants to remain a survivor.

Answer 3

I'm not saying I have the answer. Usually sleep deprivation
after something traumatic eases up the farther away one
gets from the bad occurrence. Sleeping pills can also
cause nightmares. I'd suggest she find a radio program
of soft music or play a stack of cd's of soft music she likes
when she goes to bed at night. I'd suggest she think of
pleasant things while she listens to the music. She could
soon be drifting off to the music and get a good night's
sleep. If you are living together, giving her a nice backrub
upon getting into bed could also help. At least have her
try this. Best Wishes.

Answer 4

I know you have probably tried this. But she needs to talk about it. In denying it she is making it more monstrous, she may think it will go away but it won't. I was abused when I was young (thought I admit, it probably was nothing compared to the torture you girlfriend experienced) and I didn't tell any one till 8 years later. In that time it became a monster that seemed to press down on everything I did. Yet when i spoke of it, i was taught that i wasn't in the wrong and that it wasn't normal. (It still scares me though) Do try to get her to talk and if she gets annoyed just tell her you care that much you hate seeing her like this.

I do apologize for repeating what you have already tried, but it just makes my blood boil when I think that some sick person has caused that much trouble to an innocent women. I do hope it does sort, and i hope she can come to terms with it. hard as it is.

Answer 5

If she is not getting enough sleep, she will soon be hallucinating if she hasn't already and start getting paranoid, thats what happened to me. Anyways, nightmares are a cause of a spirit of fear, she can cover herself by saying these scriptures outloud before she goes to sleep Psalms 91:11, John 14:27 and Levitus 26:6. If she wants to get healed and never deal with her depression or past again, she can get theophostic theraphy, she can go to the website at www.theophostic.com for more detail, but only if she is ready to stop hurting.

Answer 6

As a fellow Villan!
Dude it's all up to her how and what she does to cope with it all! It's great she is of rid of all the things she used to rely on to knock her out! Been there got insomnia and sorted it out! (well apart from the odd night like dis) she needs to make a few changes in her life but it ain't up to you to sort it as she may think ya meddling with her life and take it out on you!
Just do what ya doing and keep helping and supporting her the best you can!
If it gets way too much then slowly get some support from someone qualified to treat her and not a friend or mate who thinks they know what's best as this can result in false hope and prognosis! Good luck
Lets hope we get a european slot next year! M O N 4 evr

Answer 7

I have nightmares too, sometimes i don't even have to be asleep just close my eyes and its reccurring again. I think that because it was such a terrible thing to happen, your mind finds it hard to let go of it and feels the need to focus on it because it is a life altering moment. It is called post traumatic stress disorder, I suggest you research it.

I aslo think that she is extremely lucky to have you, you are coming here asking for answers when another person may have just left her alone and abandoned. But you are wonderful, i hope you can find your answers :) May god be with you both!

Answer 8

Get extra sleep, at first, and seem up at here how i in basic terms spoke back a query approximately that. to extra effectual your visual allure, positioned caffeine on them. Brew 2 teabags no longer decaf and drink the tea jointly as you hold them over your eyes for fifteen to 20 minutes. try this on a daily basis for a jointly as, and particularly drink tea because of the fact it has sturdy wellbeing advantages and speeds metabolism. they might desire to circulate away quickly. I try this lots and it enables because of the fact I genuinely have comparable issues.

Answer 9

Please tell her that sleep deprivation is the worst thing you can do for your mental health (as well as physical health). She might, I am just guessing, possibly experiencing some type of bi-polar disorder and using the adrenaline from some kind of compulsive mania just to get through her busy days. Dude, trust me.....she needs RELAXATION and sleep before she self destructs. Its a given.