Constant night terrors for 12 years?

Posted by gongetsu @gongetsu, Feb 7, 2023

28 yr/old women haveing night terrors for 12 years with constant increased heart rate. trauma happend (rape) 2 years prior to begining of terrors. heart problems begun around the same time as night terrors. surgery was done for atrial tachycardia but terrors persist still and heart problems are still showing. nutriton varied over years have seen therapists, multiple doctors, tried multiple medications none have worked beta blockers and such and on clonazepam, mirtazipine, and birth control currently. what could be causing the night terrors and how to make them stop?

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Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Feb 8, 2023

@gongetsu Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. To suffer with night terrors for so long must be exhausting! Getting adequate rest, and perhaps not wanting to sleep at night because of anxiety for these terrors, can be debilitating.

You mention that you have had therapists, have any of them been someone specializing in PTSD? A couple of other things that come to mind, is if the terrors are about the same subject? What do you do when they occur? One of the things I have done is writing out my concerns, my feelings on subjects, and "get it out of my mind". That coupled with moderate exercise, fresh air, healthful eating seems to alleviate the negative. Have you tried any of this?
Ginger