jaw clenching (TW: sexual assault mention)

[emotionalheimlich]

i've been out of my long-distance abusive relationship for over a year now. you name it, it happened, pretty much. a big part of why we broke up is because she raped me while staying with me for a couple weeks over winter break in 2012-2013.

since then i have been clenching my jaw in my sleep and waking up with killer headaches. i've been trying to train myself to fall asleep with my mouth open, but it doesn't help much. i've recently (the past couple months) found myself unconsciously clenching my jaw during the day and having to massage my cheeks and jaw to stop it. i've had to have my tongue or cheeks between my back teeth to ease the pain a bit.

does anyone have any advice on how to help ? its really starting to hurt ;o;
thank u

[canunot]

I honestly wish wish wish I did I always assumed I did this due to past sexual abuse because of a drug I was given in a certain situation. Like a side effect of the drug that made my subconscious do it for like.. well ever it seems.

But I did try so hard to try keep my mouth open or keep my teeth apart and that's when I started like tensing up my jaw without clenching my teeth together I don't know how to explain it but I think people will understand.

I assume some people feel a lot of relief when they take part in meditation? It's never helped me at all but i know it has helped a lot. Just to relax yourself before you're settle down. With the headaches I always feel it's something coming part and parcel of the jaw clenching.

What has helped in the past is when I have taken my PRN which is Diazepam which I get prescribed so I have 3 pills to use in 3 weeks so I don't OD in dissociation or become dependent on another medication. And I just take it whenever it;s getting to the point I'm crying in pain or frustration so if you could talk to a medical professional about that?

I hope you can find something that helps or that someone else has something helpful that could benefit you x

[emotionalheimlich]

But I did try so hard to try keep my mouth open or keep my teeth apart and that's when I started like tensing up my jaw without clenching my teeth together I don't know how to explain it but I think people will understand.

i know exactly what you mean! i do that as well! it's so frustrating

thank you for your reply; i might talk with my therapist about it but i usually forget to as i dont clench or tense up with her. we'll see!

[Hershey]

What about getting a mouth guard and sleeping with that?

[canunot]

What about getting a mouth guard and sleeping with that?

I don't know about the OP but it kind of just feels like you have bigger teeth. So you still clench because your heads telling you too and it's like just clenching against the mouth guard? If that makes sense?


And to the OP so you don't forget set a little alarm for 3 minutes before your actual appt time or better yet do what I do and leave a little pattern drawn on your finger with a pen and put a ring on that finger rather than the normal finger ( or just put a ring on if you don't wear one)

yeah I know it's a silly idea but i never like to take the easy route