Just Looking For Support

[luna]

Hi, I'm 29 yrs old and from Tucson, AZ. and have been really struggling lately from symptoms of PTSD. I was diagnosed 2 years ago and I'm just looking for some support and understanding as I don't have many support systems from family or friends.
Lately, I've been trying to find effective ways to deal with my chronic nightmares. I've had them for 13 years and they started a year after my brother was killed in a car accident. I've tried several medications as well as EMDR (Eye Movement Decentization and Reprocessing) but these have not helped. I'm now trying to find other ways such as spirituallity and certain rituals at bedtime. My nightmares have increased in frequency lately most likely due to a recent break up with a boyfriend and issues with my sister.
Thanks so much for listening.

[becvan]

Welcome to the forum Luna.

bec

[anthony]

Hi Luna, welcome to the forum. Luna, whilst you have tried these methods to help you reduce your nightmares, I can tell you what the cause is right now. The cause is your anxiety levels, being your current anxiety level. Nightmares / sleep is a symptom of PTSD, not a cause. The cause is trauma and anxiety. If you have truly healed your trauma, then that would cause you no more problems, however; if not it will. If you have though and your anxiety is through the roof at present from other aspects in your life, then symptoms will return, thus nightmares being one such symptom.

You cannot treat the symptom luna, you must treat the cause. The cause for you is either something currently in your life, though you're stating that these nightmares have never ceased even with therapy, which screams out to me that you have not actually truly come to terms, understand nor comprehend the full complexity of your trauma still.

[She Cat]

Hi Luna,

Welcome to the forum.....This place is full of information, help, and support. I hope that you stay, look around, and find what you need.

[Seeking_Nirvana]

Hi Luna and welcome, I used to suffer from severe nightmares and bizarre dreams at least 3 nights a week. I started doing dream work, and this helped my nightmares and bizarre dreams to lessen greatly.

I generally only have one nightmare a month now, but there have been times, when under a lot of stress, the nightmares come back more frequently. But I'm not afraid of them now (once I'm awake).

I think once I understood that nightmares can't harm me is when I really felt they tapered off. I'm not sure what your situation is, but if you would like some information you can PM me.

I have done intensive dream work, and interpretations for over 3 years. This isn't an exact science, and may not help everyone, but it helped me.

I hope things get better for you soon.
Tammy

[goingonhope]

:hello: Hello luna, and Welcome! There really is release from nightmares. We give it to ourselves, when we are willing to talk about whatever it is that causes us great anxiety. It works well for me to get it (my fears/anxieties) (past or present grief, fears, trauma's) all out, while holding back nothing. I do my best, and all in time, in a handful of different ways, though I must say that writing it out, then exposing it, while re-feeling and re-thinking it, seems to work best for me. Long periods with no nightmares do exist, and I imagine no nightmares at all do exist too for PTSD sufferers, yet I'm not there yet.

Again, Welcome and hope you find lots of support and understanding here on the forum with us.

Take Care,


Hope

[nie]

Welcome to the forum Luna. I too struggle with nightmares. As I have been making some progress in therapy, they have started to lessen, but do come back more frequently in times of stress and anxiety. I wish you success in your healing process.

Welcome!

Nie