HOW to SLEEP when you're scared?

SGT Aaron Olivas — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 18:56:50 -0400

I had typed this whole example of what happens to me when I go through these nights trying to fight my thoughts but this F#!^ing app cleared it all...wtf! Anyway I can't sleep, I have panic attacks of not being able to sleep and it's getting old fast and I am losing the only strength I have left to stay sane. Please tell me I am not alone please. .....

https://youtu.be/KWv-ZQ1xZ4o

PTSD Keeps me up

Just thought I would explain what goes through my head a little better with a video in my own words.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jul 20 at 2015 7:01 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 19:01:55 -0400

Not sure what scared could do to not make you sleep, one would think with the high stress of being scared that one's body is biologically pre-dispositioned to take. I find that when scared or stressed out (usually high intensity (mortars, rounds) contact while trying to sleep), total exhaustion usually wins. Anxiety is often the only burden of not sleeping and is a killer as I think you may have eluded to. When the mind keeps the physical body up for long hours and sometimes days until the anxiety can surpass. Usually only an answer to the dilemma on the mind can allow you to rest.

Response by SSG James Arlington made Jul 20 at 2015 10:06 PM

SSG James Arlington — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 22:06:00 -0400

Dude. You're not alone. I wrote about buddies in my book with such problems. There is help.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 10:58 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 22:58:10 -0400

Sgt have you tried soft music it helps me a lot I have problems sleeping have had all my life as far as I can remember soft music Celtic or just white noise helps to calm my mind before sleeping give it a try I'm sure others have

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 20 at 2015 11:10 PM

COL Charles Williams — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 23:10:28 -0400

I, luckily, can sleep through anything... I nothing scares me.... yet.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 21 at 2015 12:00 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 00:00:47 -0400

SGT Aaron Olivas you are not alone & you have gotten some good advice so far. The sleep study will be a good way to rule some stuff out. The overt sense of fear and anxiety deprive your body of the ability to get the REM sleep it needs. Unfortunately, the mind controls the body so you have to find a way to let your mind get out of high gear when it's time to sleep. A lot of my Soldiers wound up on Ambien during (and after deployments) but it has been proven to be habit forming. Alternating Benedryl and Unisom seems to work short term for someone I know but a long term solution will most likely come from finding out what is the underlying cause. Whether a support group or a trained professional, help is out there. There is an OEF/OIF Social Worker assigned to every VA. That would be an easy call to get a line on resources. If you run into any roadblocks with resources, let me know. My wife works for a non-profit that assists homeless vet and is pretty plugged into the resource community.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jul 21 at 2015 12:37 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 00:37:08 -0400

SGT Aaron Olivas, Who is in charge of your brain? ""I used to mentally drive my car to a peaceful place. Once at 'my' (Muskingham in OH), river I would get an inner tube from ?, and float down the river. Since I am afraid of turtles, I used a huge inner tube to keep my butt out of the water. My 'tube' would get stuck on the river banks, I mentally added little fins to cause it to spin away.

IF I STARTED TO THINK, I WOULD START MY ENTIRE DRIVE - RIVER TRIP AGAIN! FOCUS, FOCUS, or start your sequence over! And wear a big hat!

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jul 21 at 2015 9:59 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 09:59:02 -0400

I will admit that I am scared of thunder. I wear earbuds to sleep when it's raining outside.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 25 at 2015 7:44 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 19:44:48 -0400

When I was building myself up, I used positive self affirmation to help me feel normal. Anytime I felt out of control I would use the self affirmation, to include in bed when I was riddled with depression or anxiety. Those words became a light in a dark world.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2015 7:54 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Jul 2015 19:54:09 -0400

SGT Aaron Olivas, you mentioned pills (and you mentioned your VA doctors) ... Have you discussed sleeping pills with your docs? I don't have PTSD, so I'm not a good one to advise you on that. I do have trouble sleeping sometimes, so I use natural supplements and white noise (as you noted) to help with sleep. Hang in there.