Terror in the night...help please!!!

I have a little one who is having Dreams/nightmares/flashback/body memory at night?? Not sure what is going on...

My girlfriend says about 30min into going to sleep a Little One cries and says it hurts her but seems to be asleep. I have no memory of this happening. It has been happening for a while, almost every night, with a couple nights of ceasing; then they return.
My girlfriend comforts her and tells her its not happening now and she is safe in bed. Its scaring, upsetting and causing my girlfriend to not sleep well.

What is happening?

How do I help this Little one from going through this??

I honestly wish I could help but I don't know a lot yet about it all, but my thoughts are these.
**TRIGGER WARNING ***
Do you know why you have DID? Cause well I don't. No idea of a trauma whatsoever. Maybe it's the same for you but your little does remember and this is what's causing the nightmares? Does your girlfriend know what the nightmares are about? Maybe that's a start?
Hope you'll find an answer and solution...

Thanks Sierra...

I do know the memory that this Little one holds and she is dreaming about that....

Have you tried talking to her and letting her know she's all grown up now and nobody can hurt her like that again? Does the little one respond to your SO? If so tell your SO to tell the little one to look at her/your hands so she can see she's big now, and strong, and someone really good who loves her very much (your SO).

Maybe your SO can also try to talk to her before you fall asleep to let her know she's there for her and she wont be hurt. You can also remind her she's safe. The little one doesn't necessarily have to be out for that to happen. Does she ever come out other than in nightmares? Does she have a name?

I used have those kind of nightmares too. Me and my partner started doing what I suggested and after a while they stopped.

My little one will come out and talk and play with my SO's ears???? The little one loves ears for some reason. They make her laugh. I dunno.

Do you have a therapist? If so I would talk to him/her about it. If not you might consider getting one.

My T says sometimes dreams like that are memories trying to get out. They're almost like abreactions in that it seems like you're reliving the trauma during your nightmares.

There's a wonderful medication called Prazosin (http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/prazosin-for-ptsd) that worked wonders for ninchen… Feel free to ask any questions. It's not a psych med, in case you're afraid of that…

niva wrote:There's a wonderful medication called Prazosin (http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/prazosin-for-ptsd) that worked wonders for ninchen… Feel free to ask any questions. It's not a psych med, in case you're afraid of that…

I m already on Prazosin and it has helped tremendously, but sometimes dreams filter through...
Thanks niva!

firelamb67 wrote:Maybe your SO can also try to talk to her before you fall asleep to let her know she's there for her and she wont be hurt. You can also remind her she's safe. The little one doesn't necessarily have to be out for that to happen.

We will try the talking before sleeptime. Its encouraging to know that it helped and they eventually stopped.

firelamb67 wrote:My T says sometimes dreams like that are memories trying to get out. They're almost like abreactions in that it seems like you're reliving the trauma during your nightmares.

This seems to be what may be happening. Thanks....now I have a better understanding. Thanks firelamb67!

You're welcome, I am wishing your little one sweet dreams tonight. <3

Hi VaessaG, how did it go last night?

Thanks for asking firelamb67

Nothing but sound sleep....
My SO thinks putting her arm over us triggers this little one. She didn't do it last night and things were peaceful. Neither one of us likes that we cannot cuddle, so we are hoping talking to this little one before bed will help.

Good! I'm glad. It's good that you figured out the trigger. Maybe one of these nights she'll come out to your SO and she'll see a safe, loving presence and will like to be cuddled.

Mine does every now and then when she feels like it.