Nightmares

KikiDee

Hey All,

Sorry if this is in the wrong section...I wasn't sure if there was a better place to post.

For the past few weeks I've been having nightmares. In the grand scheme things, this is a very minor problem however they're becoming more and more frequent. I've tried the usual things like no food after 6, going out for a walk before bedtime, I've even turned to getting hammered (this tends to work but is not a very good method to rely upon!) but they still keep happening. I have no issue in getting to sleep but I often find I'm waking up crying as they are so real and scare the living daylights out of me.

After this happens, I can't relax enough to get back to sleep. There's been nights where I've had them and I've stayed up crying all night after them as I'm terrified. I know they're not real and I don't think they're representative of anything in my life at the moment or previously but they still scare me so much. So I'm wondering if you guys have any tips to help me relax after having one? Is there anything I can do to chill myself so that I'll sleep? It's starting to affect the humour I'm in the next day as I just constantly feel exhausted.

Aimeee

I'm following with interest as I'm in similar situation. I had an awful one the other night, woke up in a sweat felt like I'd had no sleep. It was so real though that's what scared me most. At the moment i am under a lot of stress (it's turning into a long term extended family issue that i cannot resolve) and I'm in dread of the effect it's having on me and my own family. It's a bit of a vicioud circle really.
I have to read myself to sleep most nights, sometimes works.
I also find exercise great both for zoning out and being so physically tired that I'm asleep as soon as head hits the pillow.

PirateShampoo

Are you using your computer or mobile phone before you go to bed?

Aimeee

Yep on phone now. Very bad i know and one of the things I'm trying to cut out. Had a good habit of not bringing phone to bedroom at all but now i need to be contactable.

KikiDee

No...my bedroom has become a technology free zone.

wokingvoter

I had/have a recurring nightmare since my daughter, who is now 18, was small
In the nightmare I am looking for her, almost always in the dark, sometimes naked from the waist down, in different places, but always involving public transport ie getting on and off buses and trains
It starts off with me excited to see her but it gets increasingly dark and I become more and more panicked that I'm not making any progress in my search
At this point I can now wake myself up and I hardly have the dream any more since she has got to adulthood and gained more independence
At one point I was having it at least once a week
I would wake up tearful and frightened and often had to go and check on her

mvt

Don't think you have nightmares or even dreams for no reason. They are usually related to something going on in your life.

Ave Sodalis

OP, has anything in any way traumatic happened to you in the past? The reason I ask is that sometimes nightmares are your subconsciousness manifesting itself. I think reoccuring nightmares would be worth visiting a counsellor.

KikiDee

sup_dude wrote: »

OP, has anything in any way traumatic happened to you in the past? The reason I ask is that sometimes nightmares are your subconsciousness manifesting itself. I think reoccuring nightmares would be worth visiting a counsellor.

I've gone through quite a big life change in the last few months but the nightmares started some time after that, when everything had settled down and I was starting to feel more like myself again

KikiDee

KikiDee wrote: »

I've gone through quite a big life change in the last few months but the nightmares started some time after that, when everything had settled down and I was starting to feel more like myself again

Recurring dreams can signify something in your life which needs your attention. Recurring nightmares can indicate a past trauma or deep seated worry. It's your unconscious mind's way of saying "look at this".

It might be no harm to have a chat with someone if they are causing you this level of distress.

StanleyOllie

I see you went through a big change in your life. Its amazing what we can cope with when we have to. You somehow get through. But maybe the dreams have to do with this. You say you are back to normal. Could it be a fear of it or something happening again. While you dealt with it maybe somewhere inside there is a fear of it or other change happening again and could you cope a second time. You could!!! But could it relate to that... a post stress type of thing?

pookie82

KikiDee wrote: »

I've gone through quite a big life change in the last few months but the nightmares started some time after that, when everything had settled down and I was starting to feel more like myself again

Ah.

Just when you think you're back to normal these arise, eh? That's pretty much textbook, OP, and quite common. When the stressful situation is happening, you get through it best you can.

Then when things settle and it's over, your brain decides to go "hey! Let's deal with all this stuff!" I have personally found this to be the case in times of illness/stress in my own life so you might be a bit like me (and thousands of others) in that sense.

Also, you mentioned getting hammered in your OP ... I wouldn't advise this as a "treatment". It may seem to work in the short term, but personally I often get horrendous nightmares for a few days after drinking, it could be contributing rather than aiding.

Speak to your GP about it if they don't let up in the next few weeks. Maybe some counselling would help?

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

KikiDee

Hey everyone, thanks so much for your replies. Even just saying it here makes it feel like I'm not alone lol! Ye are all as good. I'm going to speak to my GP coz ye are right, I can't go on like this.

The getting hammered, I tried it twice but quickly realised that it's not the way I want to go. It could lead down a very dangerous path that I definitely don't want to go down!!