I owe you an explanation about something you don't even know happened. I'm doing this because I have received so many comments from people about being direct and honest on this blog and I feel I have an obligation to you to continue in that vein at all times.
I didn't feel very good yesterday. I couldn't put my finger on it but I noticed it from the moment I got up. I intended to to work out but didn't have it in me. I pushed myself to get various things done, had a brief nap in the afternoon, and fell asleep a little after 8PM and slept until 3. I was exhausted.
And then I remembered I had a bad dream Wednesday night. That hadn't happened in a while.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has three categories of symptoms:
Hyper arousal
Re Experiencing
Numbing
Re experiencing can include nightmares, bad dreams, intrusive memories, and flashbacks. That's what happened to me Wednesday night.
My dream included real people with faces and names, people who were associated with my event.
The actual situation never occurred, but it was analogous to what happened and was close enough to the real thing to scare me awake. I fell asleep again but I don't think it was normal sleep and I think the dream affected me all day.
I tell you all this because I think many of you know what it's like. It's normal, ok? Your're not weird, you're not going crazy. It happens, just like it happened to me.
If it's something you've been dealing with for a long time, meaning longer than 3 months or so, then you need to Confront and Understand what's going on and try to put it past you. You may find that professional help would be of great value to you in that process.
Don't just keep putting up with it. Try to address it on your own and if you can't go find someone who can help you.
KS
Nashville Thinker
I didn't feel very good yesterday. I couldn't put my finger on it but I noticed it from the moment I got up. I intended to to work out but didn't have it in me. I pushed myself to get various things done, had a brief nap in the afternoon, and fell asleep a little after 8PM and slept until 3. I was exhausted.
And then I remembered I had a bad dream Wednesday night. That hadn't happened in a while.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has three categories of symptoms:
Hyper arousal
Re Experiencing
Numbing
Re experiencing can include nightmares, bad dreams, intrusive memories, and flashbacks. That's what happened to me Wednesday night.
My dream included real people with faces and names, people who were associated with my event.
The actual situation never occurred, but it was analogous to what happened and was close enough to the real thing to scare me awake. I fell asleep again but I don't think it was normal sleep and I think the dream affected me all day.
I tell you all this because I think many of you know what it's like. It's normal, ok? Your're not weird, you're not going crazy. It happens, just like it happened to me.
If it's something you've been dealing with for a long time, meaning longer than 3 months or so, then you need to Confront and Understand what's going on and try to put it past you. You may find that professional help would be of great value to you in that process.
Don't just keep putting up with it. Try to address it on your own and if you can't go find someone who can help you.
KS
Nashville Thinker
I was discussing this very situation with my daughter last night after she had a bad dream. I have noticed many times when I've been under stress, I will have bizarre dreams that morph different people and different events into the same dream. At times it is comical and other times it scares the crap out of me. These dreams do have a way of bringing things to the forefront of your mind, that perhaps you have been trying to ignore, making it a good time to confront and start to understand. I appreciate your candor and willingness to discuss it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sally, nice to hear from you.
DeleteI know the feeling. Weening myself off my anxiety meds prescribed shortly after my life altering experience I dealt with nightmares as doctor said I would. Determined to beat this I did what he said and continued my journey. One night I had a dream, not a nightmare, sharing with my father. We were sitting at the kitchen table where I grew up and he told me I'd be fine and he was proud of me and all I've accomplished. Hugged me, smiled and I woke up. That was last month, now med free, a happy girl again and I know life knocked me down. However I worked hard, lifted myself up all with the help of my dad, my angel since 2000. May he rest in peace now
ReplyDeleteSue
ReplyDeleteWhat a great note. You make several important points and use some important words.
"Medication."
Sometimes people need meds on a short term basis to get through things. Nothing wrong with that, it's normal.
"Determined". You have to be.
"Continued". You can't let the experience stop you.
"I know life knocked me down." Yes it did. Get up.
"Worked hard." Yes it takes hard work.
And it sounds like you had a special Dad. Family and friends are crucial.
Thank you.
KS