Struggling with Nightmares and Flashbacks

Has your therapist implemented a "safe place" meditation? That honestly saved me during EMDR

I was prescribed Gabapentin for my night terrors (I take it 30-60 minutes before bedtime), and it has helped so much. I haven’t had a night terror for almost a year. I also began EMDR therapy around the same time I started the Gabapentin.

I have a psychiatric service dog. He wakes up if I am having a nightmare. I sometimes have panic attacks in my sleep and he will wake me up. He gets me out of bed when the alarm goes off. He alerts me when I am very anxious or going into a panic attack. He leads me to sit down or lay down when I am having an episode. He does deep pressure therapy if I am hyperventilating or dissociative. He redirects me when I am doing unwanted behaviors like picking at my nails or tapping. He is kind of annoying. When he is redirecting me, I’m like no I want to pick my nails. But he is persistent and always wins. He is amazing. Dogs are very intuitive and will do some of these task naturally. The training provides consistency in alerts, and responding to you. Did you know you can train your own service dog? Did you know they do not have to be registered? I worked with a trainer but did some of the training myself. Did you know a psychiatric service dog is a service dog like any other type of service and protected by the ADA? Psychiatric service dogs are not emotional support animals. Psychiatric service dogs are trained to do a task or tasks.

I've had a lot of luck with trazodone to keep me asleep through the night. at my worst id have 4+ nightmares a night and sleep in hour-long bursts, but with trazodone I can stay asleep sometimes up to 10 hours. it's made a huge difference for me. I was also prescribed prazosin for my nightmares and that seems to have also helped. I totally understand how you feel. it can be extremely debilitating waking up and already feeling like garbage. fighting back to return to a productive state, especially in the morning, is incredibly painful. you got this though!

You should ask your doctor about prazosin. It’s a medication that helps to block nightmares. Fewer nightmares help me cope with everything else a lot better.

It is such a long, hard journey. Rooting for you. Have you tried journaling and documenting all of your flashbacks, like a catalog? I did that with some of my triggers and it helped me avoid them until I was more ready to confront them. Now I'm stuck and not remembering things, but starting EMDR soon. Weighted blankets, CBD or THC (specifically a calming or sleep aid strain), maybe even melatonin might help. I find talking to someone about what's happening can also provide a little relief, and having a nighttime routine and comfort items ready. You could have a "kit" near where you sleep that has a journal, a candle or smell you like, a meditation app, peace affirmations, a comforting snack, blanket/stuffie. I try to make my bedroom as cozy as possible.