“3:00 am again...same as last night.”
Your body is exhausted but your thoughts race. Did you check the locks? Again?
You haven’t slept longer than 4 hours at a time for years.
Law enforcement officers, sheriff deputies, highway patrol and federal agents come to me thinking the nights of 5-6 hours of sleep are in the past and are surprised as sleep
gradually improves as therapy starts to work.
The night before your Monday is the worst. The sense of doom starts in your stomach in the afternoon. Years ago, when you put on the uniform you were excited – it was like a superhero cape. Which was shinier, the pride in your eyes or the badge? The duty belt is technically lighter this year, but somehow your back hurts more these days. You think maybe it is just age.
“Why is it always 3:00 am?”
Maybe you worked in investigations when the nightmares began. You manage a quiet panic and the one sleeping next to you breathes slowly and relaxed. You sweat and wonder if drinking would help quiet the demons.
Yes, someone else does understand, no you are not ‘too far gone.’
At least if the images happen at night, you know they aren’t real. Sometimes the images of faces in crime scene photos appear in real life superimposed on your family’s faces.
Sometimes your family member’s face gets superimposed on crime scene photos.
No, you are not crazy, and not the only one who experiences this phenomenon.
There are normal cop dreams, and I help people learn the difference and develop strategies to reduce the intensity and frequency of nightmares or weird vivid dreams.
Is it possible that you have had your last nightmare?
Let’s find out together. Call my landline 510-797-4911 to schedule 1-3 visits to see if we are a good fit.