Posted on Dec 9, 2017
Does anyone else have a problem with nightmares?
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I never had a real problem with experiencing nightmares, not even as a child. However, over the past week I have been woken up in the middle of the night from nightmares that I can't recall, but my heart is racing, head is pounding, and I have the feeling like I need to run to find cover... Has anyone else experienced anything like this? If so, did you find any way to stop it?
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Mental Health Advice
Posted 7 y ago
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SGT Joseph Gunderson I completely understand your problem and have the EXACT same issue, this started happening to me after my 2010 - 2011 Kandahar, Afghanistan deployment. I have been working through the VA using CPT therapy and found some benefit, but it has not gone away completely. It got much worse after my most recent deployment 2016 - 2017 and I hope for it to slack off now that I am retired and not in the deployment game anymore. I also have medications that benefit the anxiety & migraines I get. Also 500 mg Magnesium, 100 mg B12, 100 mg B2, 1000 IU Vitamin D (Health food store).
The most frustrating aspect is that all my 'bad' reactions are unconscious and completely out of my control, even to the point of my wife leave the room due to my screaming or more dangerous running or kicking reaction that hurt her to when she tries to wake me up.
So get to the VA and setup a Behavior Health appointment with someone who can meet with you to work through therapy and a Dr. who can order prescriptions if needed.
Good luck, I am confident they can assist.
The most frustrating aspect is that all my 'bad' reactions are unconscious and completely out of my control, even to the point of my wife leave the room due to my screaming or more dangerous running or kicking reaction that hurt her to when she tries to wake me up.
So get to the VA and setup a Behavior Health appointment with someone who can meet with you to work through therapy and a Dr. who can order prescriptions if needed.
Good luck, I am confident they can assist.
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SFC Christopher Taggart
Re: "I also have medications that benefit the anxiety & migraines I get." Sir, I'm glad you mentioned about anxiety & migraines. I already take meds for anxiety, but not the headaches. Lately, I've gotten headaches that are near migraines levels...i say near migraines levels because my doctor has not declared them as migraines, but they sure last long, and I'm sensitive to everything! I try not to take any pain relievers because they have already caused me to get an ulcer...no fun there. As for the nightmares, I've had those too, but being a religious man, that has helped. Thanks for the suggestions too, Sir.
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SFC Christopher Taggart
Cynthia Croft - any suggestions for the migraines? matter of fact, as i write this comment, i have one going on now! it's lasted for the last few hours.
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LTC John Shaw
SFC Christopher Taggart - Of course they will start with NSIDs, with Ulcer, you can't do that, Tylenol but you will need to take only the dose allowed and it won't work effectively. Beg to be seen by the neurologist and have a sleep study. You need to be on a preventive daily medication, topamax (but don't go for a high dosage, the side effects suck) and a as needed dose when you have the migraine, imitrex is what I have used for years.
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Possibly sleep apnea causing lack of oxygen . . . One of my relatives deals with all these symptoms as well as temporary amnesia when his apnea gets heavy
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SPC Erich Guenther
Though he probably would not be getting to deep REM sleep and having dreams at all if it was Sleep Apnea that usually kicks in before REM sleep I thought.
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I have had nightmares, probably best described as night terrors, since 1972. Sometimes they come 3 or 4 times a year and sometimes 3 or 4 times a week. I don't really remember the dreams but I wake up terrified, knowing someone or something is after me. Same symptoms - racing heart, needing to hide or run. I finally broke down and talked to my VA doc about them - only took 45 years. Doc said it is a symptom of PTSD. I have never believed that possible. I spent 2 1/2 years in Vietnam but I was not a combat soldier. I was in intelligence my entire career. Yeah, there were lots of rockets and mortars dropped on the base, especially in '68 and '69. Everyone experienced that. Once a sniper took a few shots at me and once I got knocked down by the concussion wave when a bunker at the ammo dump I was guarding was blow to hell. Other than that, not much. There is a medication which I have yet to take that is supposed to help control the nightmares. I haven't taken it because I never know when they'll show up. Is this the week they'll get me 4 nights in a row or is it going to be another 3 months before they hit me? I never know the answer to that. The meds are called Prazosin.
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