Do you have nightmares? How do you manage them?

Alicia Spector — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 15:01:34 -0400

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Response by LTC Thomas Tennant made Aug 11 at 2016 3:31 PM

LTC Thomas Tennant — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 15:31:40 -0400

I have them and sometimes they are things form my past. Sometime they are because of my heighten concern for the nation and world around me. When I get them, I get up and go someplace I will not disturb my wife and get on my knees in prayer. I stay that way until my inner calm is reestablish. Sounds kind of like some Zen hookah but it works for me.

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Aug 11 at 2016 4:12 PM

Sgt David G Duchesneau — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 16:12:09 -0400

Quite frequently and thank God that I wake up!!!!! It's been going on for so long now, hell, I'm use to them, cold sweets and all.

Response by TSgt Kibriya Lowery made Aug 11 at 2016 4:54 PM

TSgt Kibriya Lowery — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 16:54:24 -0400

I used to have the quite frequently, assisted with sweats, kicking, and sometimes screaming...borderline freaking out my wife. I ended up talking with chaplains and even went to life skills/mental health. Voicing all the details from them helped reduce them for a little while but honestly what really helped me through them was meditation and a lot of prayer. In my opinion, having a sense of any faith as well as a support group will ultimately help.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Aug 11 at 2016 5:36 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:36:53 -0400

Use to, but my lovely bride helped me deal with them, and slowly they subsided.

Response by SSG Jeremy Sharp made Aug 11 at 2016 10:21 PM

SSG Jeremy Sharp — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 22:21:05 -0400

I used to have nightmares then several years ago I discussed it with my father, a WWII and Korean War vet who shared his wisdom and his solution with me. He said you are too young to be tortured in your sleep. If you can't control your dreams, don't dream. For most of his life, he has slept four hours at a time then he will get up get a drink or use the bathroom and lay back down. I gave this a try and didn't really understand how it worked until I read about dreams and REM sleep. By waking up about every 3-4 hours I don't reach it. Has been working for the last 20+ years and my body (internal clock) takes care of waking me up. The other thing he told me was to try to go to sleep thinking about something positive that you have total control over.

Response by SrA Sheri Wooldridge made Aug 11 at 2016 10:55 PM

SrA Sheri Wooldridge — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 22:55:02 -0400

PTSD makes me have nightmares. How I managed them in the past was sit and sulk for a few hours over coffee and cigs.
Now, I speak aloud to myself that "it was just a dream" and tell myself I will not let it ruin my day, as well. That's the best I have for y'all. Just say it aloud so your brain can absorb it

Response by CPO Amb. Terry Earthwind Nichols made Aug 11 at 2016 11:46 PM

CPO Amb. Terry Earthwind Nichols — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 23:46:44 -0400

I recommend Repetitive Behavior Cellular Regression (CR). We have consistently stopped PTSD, MST, and Suicide Ideation without counseling or therapy or meds and no office visits since 2012. Read about it for yourself. http://www.evolutionaryhealer.com

Evolutionary Healer | We Change Lives Everyday

Linda Vettrus-Nichols and her husband, Terry Earthwind Nichols, are a dynamic duo of transformation. People have always come to Terry and Linda for wisdom and discernment in difficult situations. They believe that when people have clarity they are able to take focused action. Finding a simple solution creates clarity and helps to move their clients forward.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2016 1:31 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 01:31:52 -0400

I wake up, go that was a weird and intense dream, grab a cup a of coffee and go on about my day.

Response by SFC Ronald Manners made Aug 12 at 2016 3:00 PM

SFC Ronald Manners — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 15:00:49 -0400

3-5 times a week, then I am up for the day

Response by PVT William Bresch made Aug 17 at 2016 5:43 AM

PVT William Bresch — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 05:43:19 -0400

Depends on what is going on at the time but, here is my advice, take it or leave it:

1. Wake up
2. Tell yourself, it is nothing but a Product of your surroundings
3. Realx, Breathe and know your going to be alright
4. Learn how to control your Dreams
5. When it happens again, wake up laughing. (Training yourself to Ignore it)
6. Don't worry, be HAPPY !!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU

Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry Be Happy

Music video by Bobby McFerrin performing Don't Worry Be Happy.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Sep 8 at 2016 2:41 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 14:41:40 -0400

yes, I kicked the crap out of my wife, since divorced, I also kicked a laptop across the room during one. Shrug I just stay awake till I pass out. That seems to work.

Response by PO2 Kristy Williams made Sep 8 at 2016 7:14 PM

PO2 Kristy Williams — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 19:14:15 -0400

Well, I told my MD that I was having nightmares and she thought immediately trazodone.... Which trait me in nightmares much worse than my original nightmares which were bad enough to begin with. So I went back to nothing crazy to drink or eat before bed and trying to stay positive which didn't work so then came melatonin. No dreams but kept waking up. Melatonin and trazodone together make for a dreamless sleep but you sleep for about two days. So, after plenty of trial and error I've gone back to journaling and painting. And my nightmares have once again faded. It was moving home after being gone almost 12 years that brought them back.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Nov 19 at 2017 11:01 AM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Sun, 19 Nov 2017 11:01:39 -0500

OEF VII vet with some knarly experiences + 21yrs in law enforcement. I've been a vivid dreamer since I was small. I have disturbed dreams (Nightmares) 3-5x a week for a decade. They arent very often flashback / replay dreams . They are very often that i've RETURNED BACK To OEF or am BACK working in a correct officer at US Penitentiary (94-97). I've had some success with SSRIs and 6 months on a CPAP has improved my sleep quailty. Im sooo tired of going back. Anyone with shared experiences?