Posted by Racer on November 25, 2006, at 13:38:25
In reply to Nightmares and..., posted by JerryPharmStudent on November 25, 2006, at 0:40:16
Jerry, I'm so very sorry to hear you're suffering so much. Nightmares are terrible, and do cause huge problems in life. I had years of constant nightmares, and my quality of life went straight down into the sub-basement levels.
Anxiety affects my dreams, so a medication that can lower anxiety might help.
Serotinergic medications tend to bring on much more vivid nightmares for me, so a medication review might at least give you some ideas.
Perhaps a drug which blocks some serotinergic effects would help, like Periactin? It's an anti-histimine, so that would also help sleep.
It's possible that a mild beta blocker, like Inderal, might help relax you and lower the risk of nightmares?
Behavioral therapy to help lower anxiety, or biofeedback, something like that can't hurt, and might possibly help.
The only thing that helped me, when I was in my own private bedroom in Hell, was learning to wake up when the dreams went south. I can't tell you how I managed to learn that, and I can't offer any advice about how to learn it yourself. I can only tell you that, once I learned to wake up when the dreams went bad, the nightmares began to taper off. It's not always effective -- and there are times I will still have periods of vivid nightmares, although they're not nearly as horrific as those from years back.
I know it won't help you to hear this, Jerry, but I'm older than you are, and have struggled with depression for many more years than you have. Sometimes I look back on my life, and I think about how much of it has been destroyed by depression, anxiety, anorexia, etc, and it's terribly hard to see any point to going forward. I would give nearly anything to have Mr Peabody show up with the Way Back Machine, and give me a do-over. Since that ain't gonna happen, the best I can do is try to make realistic assessments of what I can do to improve the quality of my life going forward. Many times I think the answer is "not enough so's you'd notice..." (Doesn't that sound like depressive thinking to you?) It really does seem, sometimes, as though the amount of effort required is far out of proportion to the potential returns. You know what, though? I may as well put in some of that effort, 'cause it ain't like I'm doing anything else, you know?
I know it's not a lot of comfort, telling you that it could be worse. But in and amongst the "worse," there's also a fair amount of life that's good -- even in my depressive world. My little cat finds innovative spaces to sleep -- often causing great hilarity in the humans around her. My big cat's efforts to be as close to me as possible as constantly as possible often make me feel a sense of inner contentment. I live in a world that includes some very special people, including my husband, GG, SLS, my best friend from college, and others I won't name just now. Heck, Jerry -- even the Fall TV schedule offers a fair bit of enjoyment! (Save the cheerleader, and all that...)
I'm very sorry you're suffering, Jerry. I know it's been going on for you for a while, and I was so pleased when you announced you were heading back to school. Perhaps the stress of school was a bit much? I know that stress is wearing me down just now, and I'm not doing anything like as ambitious as you are.
Best luck to you.
poster:Racer
thread:706965
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061123/msgs/707108.html