Can't sleep. Clowns will eat me.

[AlienGirl]

UGH!!! I just know if I sleep I will have nightmares.

Tucker

[HEyHEY]

1. Swear to allah...what works for me is

To tell myself "DON'T dream about______ insert topic here"

ANd it works

[AlienGirl]

2. Nothing really works for me

I've had nightmares my whole life.

Tucker

[dave29]

3. That really just sucks

I'm sorry you've had nightmares your whole life. I can empathize because my wife has had the same problem. She has an elaborate procedure set up for going to bed - which usually doesn't work. It has been a sad thing for me that I have been unable to figure out a way to help her - and that Dr's haven't figured out how to treat this problem for many people.

I can also relate because I have constant ringing in my ears. A phantom noise created by my brain. Genius!

You do your best to get around it, and you move on.

I also feel I should inform you I have power over the clowns, and I told them to leave you the f### alone.

[Liberal Classic]

5. I get that noise in my ears when it's really quiet

When I was a kid I used to think I could hear my brain.

[dave29]

9. It's one of those "silent" epidemics just like the nightmares

people don't talk much about it, but millions of people suffer from it - many to the point of ruining their lives. I thought I was going crazy for a bit, but after a lot of work I've managed to make it a background noise like the refrigerator humming or the sound of crickets outside. Occassionly, when highly stressed, it threatens to spiral out of control. So it has sort of become an internal stress management alarm for me. Annoying as hell, but convenient in reminding me not to go completely nuts.

10 doctors couldn't help me, and only 2 of them tried, which was also pretty sad to learn over the course of figuring out how to deal with it.

[Liberal Classic]

15. I had no idea it could be so dehabilitating

It doesn't really get loud for me unless I "listen" to it. I had no idea it could be so dehabilitating for some people. I didn't imagine some people couldn't "turn it off."

[dave29]

20. Yes it varies from person to person

unfortunately, in my case, I spend a great deal of time having to listen closely to things - so I had to re-teach myself how to do that.

[AlienGirl]

6. Do her nightmares have themes?

Mine get worse if I'm under stress or upset about the state of the world. There are definable themes and repeating images that I can sometimes use to get information about what my mind is up to. (For instance, if I'm feeling like my life is about to change suddenly and my world is ending, I dream of eating snakes.)

Tucker

[dave29]

10. She doesn't talk about them much

just discussing them threatens their imminent return - so I generally avoid digging in as that's how insomnia worked with me... if I thought about it, it would happen.

The only thing that ever worked for me sleep-wise was meditation... bringing a lot of oxygen into my body with deep breathing, slowing my heart rate, and trying very hard to push every thought that tried to come into my head - out. I only allowed myself to focus on relaxing every muscle in my body. I wasn't going to think about anything or let any concerns or worries interrupt me. Eventually I'd get so tired of fighting my own thoughts, and allowing the sense of relaxation overtake me - and I'd fall asleep.

My personal theory with my wife (and I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV) is that she is not getting enough Oxygen when she sleeps - and that is encouraging the nightmares. The anxiety about the nightmares then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. She uses nasal sprays constantly for her allergies which just wind up giving a short term benefit, but a long term detriment in that her sinuses are perpetually irritated, and she can't breathe well through her nose when she lays down in the bed (or ever, really).

It's a very difficult pattern to find a solution for, but thank goodness she's finally trying to find ways to fight back against it - including low doeses of some anti-anxiety/muscle relaxant (Klonopin) medication which seems to be helping significantly.

[AlienGirl]

23. Klonopin has been a help

But even that isn't a guarantee.

Lately I also wake up feeling just as tired as I was when I went to bed, too. It sucks big-time.

Tucker

[dave29]

24. yeah

same with her... have you ever done a sleep study (had someone monitor your sleep - or attempts to sleep)? There are actually some decent clinics out there.

Mine went to one, but it turned out to be one of the not so good ones. :(

[AlienGirl]

25. I haven't had good medical care recently

I've got medical coupons but don't know if they'd cover a sleep study...and I'm so sick of doctors, I kind of don't want to deal with it anymore.

Tucker

[Swamp Rat]

12. Yes, I have this loud ringing in my ears.

It's been going on for months now. I can only sleep when totally exhausted.

[dave29]

21. there is help and support out there

http://www.ata.org/
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tinnitus.html
http://p080.ezboard.com/ftinnitussupport92262frm1

If you are looking for an ENT or Otolaryngologist (Ear Specialist), be sure they are well versed in the latest and greatest information in the subject before you spend a dime. I learned that the hard way.

[Swamp Rat]

26. Thanks for the links

I have no job or health insurance, so I cannot get any medical help, bit I will read the links you posted and try to help myself.

[dave29]

29. Unfortunately doctors have been of little help

in my case as well... but there is a large community of people out there - especially on the internet - who can help you find some solutions, if not complete recovery.

I wish you the best :)

[CrownPrinceBandar]

16. I hear 'em too................

It was never really bad, even when I was a kid (when they were loudest). I still get them sometimes, but it never disturbs me. I kinda like 'em. I play a little game with myself that I am hearing things that are real (vibrations of atoms, songs of distant stars), but just that other people can't pick it up.

[dave29]

22. funny about vibration of atoms

at one point mine sounded like something I can only describe as "radiation". Kind of spooked me out. That particular sound went away after I learned to relax my jaw muscles.

[Beearewhyain]

4. Just wanted to let you know that Rick Santorum has you covered

[Liberal Classic]

7. I have a few recurring nightmares

One involves, ironically enough, the monster from Ridley Scott's Alien. The alien is an implacable but rather personal foe, which looks me in the eye before killing me. I am inevitably out of ammunition and fragmentation grenades. They say you don't feel pain in your dreams, but if you're twisting a hurt neck or shoulder the pain is real. The alien is pretty smart and seems to know this, and it usually makes for my neck and shoulder before moving in for the kill and lopping my head off.

The other is the impersonal destructive forces of nature, wherein I am consumed by hurricanes, tornados, tidal waves, or whirlpools. I refused to go see "The Day After Tomorrow" because I didn't want any more bright ideas. I've already seen the movie in my head enough times to get the idea. It's a strangely beautiful sight, the eye of a hurricane as seen from the ground. However, I do not feel the personal malice associated with the alien creature. Wind and water are implacable too, but unlike the alien they are distant and impersonal.

Maybe these are not truly nightmares, I do not know. I'm sure they have some subconscious meaning a muckety muck could devine. All the same, I do not believe that I can exorcise my demons even though I want to.

[Don_G]

8. Is This The Face Of A Maneater?

[Swamp Rat]

13. Great kitty pic!

[no_hypocrisy]

11. The clowns won't eat you. They'll probably tickle you to death though.

[jdonaldball]

14. Why do you let Freepers into your bedroom?

[Wapsie B]

17. I've got a cure for that.

[Maestro]

18. I know how you feel

[AlCzervik]

19. OMG!

that sticker is on my fridge right now. I'm so glad i'm not the only one.

[Maestro]

27. lol!

:)

[tcfrogs]

28. The Flanders' might eat you

but Clowns won't!