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Sleep problems, PTSD / anxiety related or??? I'm going crazy here...

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Posted 2/21/2012 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
I've been having issues the past few weeks with sleep. Doesn't matter what time I go to sleep, I usually end up laying there for hours being half awake half asleep. Like I'm sort of dreaming, but I can still hear any noises that are going on around me. And then when I finally do fall fully asleep, I've been having really vivid dreams, often waking up several times during the night / shutting off my alarm in my sleep. I usually end up sleeping until like 1 or 2pm.... it's almost like my brain is saying "reality bites, dream world is better" or something. I HATE sleeping in so late, my whole day is shot and I get nothing done and feel like crap the rest of the day... only to have the whole cycle repeat again the next night.

One difference last night, I stayed at my best friend's last night and watched a movie and talked about all kinds of stuff, and fell asleep next to him (nothing funny happened, he's like a brother to me). Took me a bit to fall asleep, and I think I only slept about 4 or 4 1/2 hours, but those 4 to 4 1/2 hours of sleep last night were SO much better than about the last few weeks of sleep combined. I actually woke up and felt refreshed!

I've NEVER experienced anything like this before for such a long period of time.

A few weeks ago me and my ex split up, and a friend of mine has been in and out of the hospital (and I've been sort of stressing over the fact I think they're lying to me about some very important stuff).

I've been dealing with PTSD for a good 5 1/2 years almost and have never (that I recall) experienced anything quite like this before. A friend of mine suggested I go to a doctor, but I can't see how anything physical would cause something like this... seems like if anything it'd be more psychological in nature. Anyone else experience this?

I got PTSD from being sexually assaulted in my old home (moved out of state) and in my bed... but I haven't had any issues in sleeping for the past few years. And while I slept better when me and my ex were together, (I guess safety / security feeling while I'm laying down trying to sleep.. having someone next to me), I haven't had issues really for years. I don't know if all the stress lately is making me revert to feeling unsafe in my own home / bed (because of the good sleep I got last night at my friend's house) or if this is just a normal thing from PTSD / anxiety / panic disorders?

What I wouldn't give to be able to sleep even halfway decently again =(

(please pardon my post if I repeated myself or anything... I'm SOOOOOOO exhausted)
Posted 2/21/2012 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
I can completely see the connection here. It is not suprising that you have residual fears of sleeping...and that sleeping next to someone that you trust makes you feel more secure.

Did you receive any therapy/help after your attack? If not, I urge you to now. Or if you did, maybe you need to return and re-examine those things that helped you in the past, as sometimes the trauma returns.

Your friend's suggestion regarding seeing your doctor is not actually off the mark...your doctor should be able to help you in referring you to someone who can help. A good dr. will network with both experts of the mind and the body, to treat the whole person...physically and mentally!

I hope that you will pursue some help. Sleep and feeling safe are a must for your well being! There are many good treatments for PTSD including CBT, EMDR, and hypnosis.

I am sorry to hear of your past trauma, and applaud you for reaching out for help! You are a survivor and conqueror...now look into finding the peace that you so much deserve.:)

Hugs,
S.C.
Posted 2/21/2012 11:47 AM (GMT 0)
bad sleep pattern can be a big part of panic/anxiety disorders. when i was at my worse I'd toss and turn all night and finally get to sleep about 4-5 am and sleep till about 2pm. it was terrible. I had no energy to do anything. the sleep didn't really improve until I started treating my anxiety. sleeping badly is one of the indicators to myself that my stress levels are to high. Medication, guided relaxation as I was going to bed and walks in the afternoon helped.
Hope things get better for you soon :)
Posted 2/21/2012 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
I can totally relate !!! You are not alone...

Blessings, Michelle :-)


PS Welcome to healing well :-)
Posted 2/21/2012 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
BrokenWings

I agree with what others have recommended including your friend.  See your physician for a medical screening exam to rule out any physical problem that may be causing your insomnia. Also look at therapy if you are having a lot of stress to help you learn new coping techniques.

Our resources post at the top of this page have some good links to stress reduction information.

Anxiety is not fun and losing sleep increases your anxiety which you already know - I wish you a peaceful night.

Kitt

 

Posted 2/23/2012 8:47 AM (GMT 0)
A psychiatrist was quickly able to determine that my wife's PTSD was more than that...it was BiPolar and OCD. He put her on dopamine (virtually harmless and often given to those with restless leg syndrome) and her sleeping improved almost instantly.

Since she is bipolar as well lithium was added in. See a good Psychiatrist - we waited 4 years to long to take that step and saw some good results very quickly.
Posted 2/23/2012 4:33 PM (GMT 0)
I have to agree with the advice that you were given. Go to your doc, get a full health screening just to rule out anything physical first, then go on from there.

I can totally relate to what you are dealing with. I have PTSD too, and I used to get the same way while trying to sleep. I would lay there half asleep and half awake, just like you described. If I started to fall into a deeper sleep, I would be woken up by a panic attack. Once I addressed my anxiety and panic attacks again, I was able to sleep soundly.

Just a suggestion here, but maybe you could get one of those body pillows to hug at night when you're trying to fall sleep. That way you will feel as if there's someone there with you, and make you feel secure.

I truly hope you find something that helps, ((hugs)) Fox
Posted 2/23/2012 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Ty all for replying, it's comforting to know I'm not alone, yet it's sad because I wouldn't wish any of this on anyone else... not even my worst enemy =(

I did to go a therapist for a while, but since i moved out of state I haven't been able to. A lot of therapists down here didn't want to take payment from the PA Crime Victims Compensation. I just recently got insurance, so now I just have to find a good therapist to go to. I know it's pretty important to find the RIGHT therapist for you, so I'll see how that goes.

I've had sleep studies done, so I don't have any sleeping disorders (such as sleep apnea or things of that nature).

I'm really glad this site is still around, I know years ago when I was struggling with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome this site was extremely helpful, and still is (the CFS seems to either be gone or in remission so yay for that! Just the PTSD now)!! It's so nice to know there's others out there who understand and can be supportive!

It might sound kind of silly, but while I don't have a body pillow (although that sounds like an idea too), I do have a blanket that was made for me when I was a baby that's been very comforting to have around especially when I have to sleep alone (which is pretty much all the time). I usually put part of it under my head but on top of my pillow.

On a brighter note, I'm not sure if the exhaustion caught up to me, or if my mind was actually at peace for once last night, but I actually fell asleep pretty fast! I don't recall having that half asleep half awake thing like I have been, I think I actually fell asleep pretty quick for once! I did wake up a few times and still slept in a little later than I would have liked, but it felt like some progress lol.

I've been so busy these past few days I'm pretty exhausted. It's a huge chore it seems a lot of days to even do things as simple as make phone calls to take care of things. I often find myself doing things almost last minute because either the phone calls make me anxious, or the paperwork, or whatever else it is. Once I actually get it done I feel great! But it's pushing myself to get those things done that's the hard part. It took me about 2 months just to get to be able to push through to finish the HUGE packet of paperwork I had to do for my insurance! It was like 20 some pages to fill out!

P.S. Fox I love your signature! The "Someday I'm gonna have a nervous breakdown - I've worked for it, I've earned it, and no one is going to deprive me of it!" It made me smile =D
Posted 2/24/2012 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
I find that I have to push myself to do things like (non-social) phone calls and paperwork (the little requirements of life) as well.

I put so much energy into my job, home-life, and managing anxiety levels, that I have little left over for that stuff...so I completely get where you are coming from there!

You are doing great however, keep up the good efforts! I am glad to hear that you are going to find a private therapist that will help you! I hope that you find someone awesome, so that you can start working toward feeling better.:)

I am glad that you slept better last night and I hope that this continues! Keep posting with us...we are all cheering you on.:)

S.C.
Posted 2/25/2012 5:07 AM (GMT 0)
Is it possible to get PTSD from having long term severe general anxiety? i was about to post here about my sleep problems but i read this thread and although i do not have PTSD these sleeping issues are exactly what i have, especially what Fox7 describes, and its been scaring me so much. when i close my eyes i immediately sort of go into this half sleeping dreaming state, where i'm awake sort of but i start dreaming without having fallen a sleep. and if i go into a deeper sleep i wake up in panic.

I was on mirtazapine but i stopped that because it helped me sleep but i found i slept way too long and found it hard to wake up even with an alarm like i could just sleep forever...and had extremely vivid dreams as well....sometimes it was like dreams were more vivid than reality.

Not sure how to deal with this....my doc totally refuses a sleep study, which would help me be less anxious about it.
Posted 2/28/2012 8:46 AM (GMT 0)
Argh,

PTSD is usually the result of a trauma one has experienced, like rape, being in a war, car accidents, robberies, all kinds of traumas. I'm not certain if long term severe general anxiety would cause it.

But PTSD has a lot in common with anxiety and panic disorders, including the sleeping problems, etc. Seeing a doctor may help to rule out other causes, or a therapist, but I'd feel pretty safe in saying the half awake / half asleep is a very common thing with anxiety / panic disorders.


As far as an update goes, I haven't been experiencing the half asleep / half awake things as much lately. It's still taking me a while to fall asleep / get tired, and I'm still sleeping in a lot later than I want, but it seems the sleep is getting better. Ugh it's so hard to get your sleep schedule back on track once it's messed up!

I NEED to try to get up at a decent hour tomorrow and call the office to get the information on what all my insurance covers now, if I have to go through anyone in particular to get a referral for a therapist, co-pays, all that stuff. It's almost 4am and I'm just now finally getting my mind to hush long enough maybe for me to sleep!
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