Scratching head while sleeping
 

I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night when I am scratching my scalp - some places are itchy, and while I avoid touching my head during the day, I tend to do it unconsciously (and quite aggressively, I am afraid, pressing my nails on the scalp) when I sleep.

When this happens I wake up with a more intense headache and I have trouble sleeping again. This is at least partially an anxiety reaction, but could the scratching be a problem in itself? I try not to worry about it and think that this should not transmit a significant force to the brain, but I am still nervous about it. I am wondering whether I should sleep with gloves to avoid that. Any thought would be appreciated, thanks.

If scalp is itchy often, maybe treat that and see if the scratching issue stops.
Try a different shampoo/ conditioner.
Or is the scratching more of an obsessive/ compulsive habit?

The scratching would be irritating the scalp more than anything..

Thanks, Jo*mar. Yes, I am trying to treat the issue but it is taking some time to adjust, and I am concerned with what might happen in the meantime. It is not a compulsive habit at all, I don't do it when I am awake, only while asleep and when the scalp is really itchy.

Vania,

I don't think you should have ANY concern about this scratching having an impact on your brain. The tenderness it can cause on your scalp is just a skin issue.

The intense headache is likely from some sort of stress that you endure that may be the cause of your scratching or may be a result of your scratching. Do you have any dreams during these times? What kind of dreams, pleasant or stressful?

Do you notice any tingling on your scalp? Some times, we are triggered to scratch tingling where we usually respond to itching.

As Jo*mar said, itching could be resolved with shampoo and/or scalp conditioner. Tingling can be caused by reduced blood flow. Reduced blood flow can be triggered by neck inflammation.

Thank you so much, Mark. This is reassuring. Please see my answers below.

This question is spot on: now that you mention it, I realize that these events are always accompanied by a pretty bad nightmare (e.g., a fearful situation).

Not really. It is more an itching/irritation sensation (probably reinforced by the scratching).

Thanks for the suggestion. Would you have any tip or advice on how to restore the blood flow, besides the usual recommendations that you give regarding neck posture?

I think I'll sleep with latex gloves, or perhaps even a swimming cap to prevent myself from scratching the itchy spots. PCS makes you do very weird things :)

You could try applying something like Lanacane moisturizing anti-itch lotion.
It has benzocaine to quiet the itchy nerves.

I think it is worthwhile to figure out why you are having nightmares. When I had them, I was not breathing right or I had my head and neck in a bad position.

Thoughts you may have earlier in the day or as you are going to sleep can also set you up for nightmares. There is a lot online about reducing nightmares. Google 'preventing nightmares.'

You could try taking a supplement of 5-HTP an hour or two before bed. Maybe 50 to 100 mgs. Magnesium w calcium also helps sleep.

I used to sleep with chenille gloves. It helped my hands relax, especially when I had tingly hands due to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Vania, I have a similar problem. I don't scratch, but very early in the morning, usually around two or three hours before I wake up, I start stretching in my sleep with my hands behind my head. I've whacked myself a head a couple times this way.

The solution I've found is to keep the room very cold at night. If a cold room doesn't bother you (I sleep better in the cold anyway), try keeping the room cold enough so that you have to keep your arms under the blankets to stay warm. I find that when I do this, I very rarely remove my arms from under the covers in my sleep.