Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

medicine: 20 mg. Aripiprazole in the mornings.
diet: three to four meals a day
exercise: walking
weight: 136 lbs.
mood: okay
sleep: 8 hours

Dreaming eases painful memories

"Most people have to deal with traumatic events at some point in their lives, and, for some, these can produce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), leaving them emotionally disturbed long after the event itself."

In a study of PTSD volunteers, researchers found that studying dream sleep could assist in understanding PTSD patients.

"Those who had slept properly had less activity in the amygdala, a part of the brain associated with heightened emotions, and more activity in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region linked to more rational thinking."

With no sleep the amygdala has greater activity.  There is less activity in the prefrontal cortex, with no sleep.

"Consultant clinical psychologist Dr Roderick Orner said that although sleep was believed by many to play a crucial role in the processing of traumatic memories, there were likely to be many other factors at work in PTSD patients."

I had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  For some, this is unrecognised.