ex-mil guys- nightmares & troubled sleep

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wolfmother

Joined
Jan 16, 2006
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anyone here had or having a hard time getting to sleepor experiencing nightmares? - I tend to always sleep with my "ears open" due to past military training and some past 'contacts' that have occured whilst I was asleep - meaning; I had to be on my feet and thinking tactically within a few seconds. These dreams have recurred lately (although I thought they were gone for good)- and I really need some sleep. Anyone got some advice for me?
 
i sleep badly; the only time i never did was when i used to go to an exercise class in the evening. a few hours on the circuit and i fell in the door for a nights unbroken sleep.
needless to say i'm planning on starting again.
i've never seen this advice anywhere in fact the opposite is usually what people are told. but it worked for me.
nicholas
 
I've got terrible tinnitus ( ringing ears) from unprotected gunfire and cannot sleep without some sort of " noise" in the room....If not , a lizard fart will have me standing at attention.
Try a little soft instrumental music at a very low volume.It can hurt to try.

A hot, hot shower, 1 minute before bed, also tends to wind me down... if I have allot on my mind.
 
Those are some classic symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. Do a search for PTSD you wll find tons of info.
 
Agree with the Sarge (#4). Interrupted sleep and bad dreams among ex-military are almost always symptoms of PTSD.

In Oz, contact the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service (VVCS). Forget the name, they support all veterans of all conflicts and are staffed with trained counsellors and psychologists, and have direct access to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) if you need further help. They are used to veterans and their sometimes touchy ways and will treat you with care and respect.

PTSD, anxiety and depression can cripple the strongest man. There is nothing to be ashamed of in seeking help. If you have doubts about the VVCS, have a chat with some of your local Vietnam veterans in your RSL, (like the US's VFW post) and get their opinions. I doubt that you will hear any negative opinions. It is a long hard road to recovery, but you don't have to walk it alone, and there is an end to that long road.

Don't go down the road that has the bottle and the pill as a solution, that is no solution, just a bigger problem.

BTDT:( , and finally came home.
 
I know of a fellow who was pretty well over his PTSD (from Vietnam) and watching all the war stuff on TV brought it back. He actually had to resume counseling due to symptoms and his attempt to stop them by drinking.
 
BlueyM said:
PTSD, anxiety and depression can cripple the strongest man. There is nothing to be ashamed of in seeking help.
BTDT:( , and finally came home.
Click to expand...

Very true. I've been in a couple of car crashes and for maybe a year or so after each I was hypervigilant while driving and occasionally had intrusive thoughts of remembering the moment of impact. They were not so intrusive as to cause me to seek counseling, but I could fully see how PTSD works for folks that have been in combat.

My mom was witness to a very big explosion and industrial accident when she was in her 20's (1950's) She said every now and then she flashes on the feeling of the impact of the explosions and the look and screams of the victims. Once again not so severe as to impact her functioning but give her an insight into PTSD.
 
my sister did her PHD on the benefits of exercise to treat PTSD.
Work it out hard Bro! You WILL feel better.
B
 
Never been in a military conflict but I had my share of post-traumatic stress disorder. It went away, I thought I was ok, and then WHAM : nighmares, playing the "movies" all day long, reliving the stressful moments, the adrenalin rushes for nothing... and then depression sneaked in. I didn't feel like doing anything, felt like sleeping all day and couldn't sleep at night, etc.

I went to see a psychotherapist and I talked it out. It just had to be SAID, as if saying it would make it go out. After a few visits to the psychotherapist I was already feeling better, and a few months later I was like new.

Post traumatic stress disorder is not something for wimps or crazy people. Most people will never get that because they never experience extremely scary and stressful events. Find someone competent, and put those things down, off your stomach. It works.

Cheers,

David
 
Prolonged anxiety nearly always results in depression because simply, the short burst chemicals that are meant to make us engage fully in a dangerous situation (Cortisol and the catecholemines), also act to remove the chemicals that facilitate the feelings of calm and wellbeing (like Serotonin).

If a tiger stalks us then this is no time to feel at peace and contemplate the beauty of our surroundings - we need to act massively to ensure our survival.

The problems with PTSD is that this mechanism can forget to shut off, leaving us with exhausted adrenal glands and the low serotonin levels which trigger feelings of hopelessness and dispair.

Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs mate -they have some good programs and you can get some excellent counselling without having to pay for it.
 
Have some experience with PTSD through someone close to me. You've done a good thing simply asking for advice. By asking questions you'll find out you are not alone on this. Use some of the contacts these fine folks have listed and TALK about it. It can be really tough, but there is help.

Take care. :thumbup:
 
I really appreciate everyone's input on this- thanks everyone; I needed a 'sounding-board' as I'm currrently up in the hills alone writing for a few months, so the internet and phone are my main means of reaching the outside world.
A little about me; I'm really fine, but just a little concerned to be feeling these feelings again since I regard myself as strong and positive, and I've been through the PTSD and depression and diagnosis thing before. I was hesitant, but the little pills for a few months really helped to give me the 'breathing space' to get back on track; I bounced back right away and have never looked back - unitil now...
My main issue is going through the civilian health system as the combat I saw was post-military, working in africa as a freelance film guy (no benefits or health care plan for a freelancer!)
Anyway, I'm not depressed (just need some solid sleep!) so I'll be re-upping my exercise regime as I've been pretty slack of late, that should sort me out!
 
Hmm, up in the hills behind Byron? Now what in the hell do you have to be depressed about.:D

Have you tapped into some of the Yoga resources in that area mate? A great way to get a solid workout and switch off some of that 'fight-flight' response.

I turned one of my ex regiment mates on to Yoga recently and he reckons it's changed his life.

billyM - you got a reference for your sisters work? It's certainly and interest of mine.
 
yeah good point- maybe I should hook up with one the local hippy chicks and getting right into yoga and crystals! Actually, since doing ju-jitsu I've always been interested in yoga...ohm.....Beach fishing is *great* to; it's like a form of meditation with a fresh meal at the end of it! ;)
 
As a firefighter/emt I can tell you from personal experience to go through a CISD (Critical Incident Stress Debreifing). When I first got into it the old guys would look at us younger emt's after a tough incident and tell us to,"...suck it up, you big babies!" Of course they didn't talk about their nightmares and all the guys that quit over the years because of being bothered by memories. I had a particularly bad incident that affected not only me but others on my dept., the first responders on the scene and the police officers involved also. I was having a real hard time with it and was waking up at night screaming myself and my wife awake. I was ready to quit! They had a CISD scheduled, but it took a week! Too long! What I learned is that it's not the particular incident itself, but an accumulation of everything you've been through. For me, that incident was the straw that broke the camels back, so to speak. I learned how to deal with that and others that I still carry. The CISD team helped me in such a way that I stopped having the recurring nightmares I had for years of previous bad incidents. As they said, those of us that have been through the nasty stuff are changed by it forever. We just have to learn how to live with it and not let it take over our lives. I owe a lot to that night with the CISD team! I'd suggest you find somebody that is a pro at handling things like this, be it a CISD or counselor and spend some time with them. It'll help. Good luck!!!
 
Counciling is good advice, but the immediate problem is sleep. Without it, your problems will only get worse. You've got a lifetime to deal with what you've experience, but you've only got a few days to start getting some sleep before your mental functions become impaired. Go to the doctor and get some sleeping pills. I know it's not a popular suggestion, but it's the right thing to do. Drugs like Ambien a far superior to the old medications that were highly addictive and debilitating in their own right. They have an added benefit in that you won't remember your dreams. There are stronger medications out there too if your problems are really severe (waking up in different parts of the house or smashing things in your sleep).

Sleep well.
 
Thanks, Ming.
Infantryman, 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), Vietnam 1968.
Left the green machine in 1987.
 
yesterday; a much heavier work out than usual, plus I did a long pack march to top it al off. Slept like a baby! With the added sleep i have more clarity, and will be seeing my old counsellor when I fly to Melbourne later this week. Thanks blokes. - i've alos been over at the whine and cheese forum for some good laughs this week- check out "most disgusting experience ever" if you need a laugh :)

Onya Bluey! 3RAR HUH? For those of you who don't know; that's one of our best regiments here in Oz.
 
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