Complex trauma and sleep
How do I sleep at night when my body is perpetually tense due to complex trauma? I wear a night guard, have cycled through multiple sleep medications (Rx’d by psychiatrist), and try my best to maintain a consistent sleep schedule but have little success. I get nightmares every other night but I don’t lie awake fearing having them. It just feels like my mind and/or body is always “on” whenever I want to turn it “off”, unless I am dead exhausted from insomnia.
Hi! I struggled and sometimes still do, with sleeping due to complex PTSD. Sleep is so essential and it gets frustrating when you can’t fall asleep, stay asleep, sleep without nightmares or night terrors, or even get comfortable/relaxed in bed. I feel like I tried everything too. Perscriptions, a shower before bed, meditating, listening to soft music, literally counting numbers, splashing my face with cold water to transition myself from day to night. 2 things that I have found the most helpful are essential oils (I put peppermint essential oil in my diffuser every night and that’s all I can smell - I love peppermint and to me it’s calming) and I have to sleep with my weighted blanket on me. Part of my trauma was being restricted/held down. So I didn’t think I would like the weighted blanket or find it beneficial but it is amazing. It decompresses my body where I can literally feel anxiety going away and I can take deep breaths. I hope something I’ve said helps!
I have rhebsame thing from a car accident i was in with some friends. I feel like i falling and jolt awake. Like i was still there. The thing that helps...? I can stay a wake for up to 2wèeks with no sleep but some days a good company of freind helps.