Nightmares when sleeping plus keep waking up

ILoveYourVibes

This has been going on a while.

I have been having very unpleasant dreams. Or unpleasant feelings during sleep.

I don't feel at ease.

During the day i am ok ...and i don't watch weird stuff before bed or eat weird stuff.

I also find it hard sometimes to STAY asleep but getting to sleep is ok.

I used to have issues falling asleep but that is ok but i can't seem to stay asleep a whole 6 hrs.

I eat well exercise ok etc.

This did happen to me before when it was my last year in college. I was so worried I started to sleep in a diff room or change things in the room to see if that would help. It took two years for it to get better. And it wasn't anything i did ..it just wore off ??? So i don't know what to do now.

Dog day

Hey ILOVEYOURVIBES, I’m really sorry to hear this, issues with sleep are a nightmare (no pun intended).

Given these crazy times we’re living through are you feeling anxious, is there a possibility you’re even subconsciously internalising stress? I know of a lot of people struggling to get restful sleep at the moment, even those for whom it’s never been an issue before.

It sounds like you’re doing a lot of the right things, I know that actually drifting off isn’t your issue but good pre-bedtime habits can really lengthen the quality of deep sleep. I think trying to sleep in another room for a while is a great one for you to revisit if possible, this definitely helped me.

Also try making a few other changes, a warm bath just before bed, a very dark room, looking at zero screens before bed. Not sure if you’ve tried a meditation app yet? I used to be something of a cynic about these but check out Deepak Chopras’ 21 Days of Meditation on YouTube or something similar. I find podcasts really helpful to drift off to (with the phone faced downwards a distance from my bed), there’s a wealth of great stuff on BBC Sounds.

I still awaken in the night sometimes but can normally drift back off without having too much difficulty in doing so.

Then there’s old tricks like lavender scented pillows, oils to apply to your pulse points etc.

Basically be almost ‘ritualistic’ about your bedtime habits & it will be trial & error as to what works for you.

Hopefully some of these suggestions help. Equally I hope that by the time you read this you’ve managed to get some quality sleep!

Jequ0n

I guess there is something niggling hidden in your brain that it keeping you awake and at this stage it could be the anxious expectation to wake/ stay awake.
Maybe write down the dreams/ thoughts when you wake up and see if you can identify a pattern?
Unpick that over complicated brain..

rtron

Just someting that was happening me and may or may not related to you. But I grind my teeth when asleep and this leads to an uncomfortable nights sleep. I recently got a night gaurd for my mouth from the dentist and it has helped significantly in getting a good night sleep.
It took a while to get used to it and took a few trips to the dentist to get the gaurd adjusted to be comfortable.

C3PO

If it’s any consolation you are not alone in these strange times! Many people (myself included) are experiencing vivid and bizarre dreams. I think the medical explanation is that we are not getting into deep sleep and thus remember the dreams.
For me - I seem to sleep well but can be exhausted when I wake up!

YellowLead

I haven’t been able to sleep properly for the last 3 weeks and have crazy dreams for the few hours I do nod off. I think in my case it’s just uncertainty around the months ahead etc (covid). If it doesn’t pass soon I might see my gp as it’s so hard to focus in work etc when I’m exhausted.

ILoveYourVibes

C3PO wrote: »

If it’s any consolation you are not alone in these strange times! Many people (myself included) are experiencing vivid and bizarre dreams. I think the medical explanation is that we are not getting into deep sleep and thus remember the dreams.
For me - I seem to sleep well but can be exhausted when I wake up!

This is EXACTLY it ..im sorry to hear you have having it too!:(

markmoto

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

This has been going on a while.

I have been having very unpleasant dreams. Or unpleasant feelings during sleep.

Bad dreams and nightmares from nutritional point of view.

In summary deficiency in thiamine. And that could come from prolong stress, lots of sugar, alcohol, refine grains (bread, pizza, pasta, cereals etc) and lack of nutritional diet.

If you think that could fit your profile do not buy pills, rather get B1 naturally from food. Liver would be N1 source.

ILoveYourVibes

markmoto wrote: »

Bad dreams and nightmares from nutritional point of view.

In summary deficiency in thiamine. And that could come from prolong stress, lots of sugar, alcohol, refine grains (bread, pizza, pasta, cereals etc) and lack of nutritional diet.

If you think that could fit your profile do not buy pills, rather get B1 naturally from food. Liver would be N1 source.

If you read my original post. I say my diet is VERY healthy. And it is.

markmoto

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

If you read my original post. I say my diet is VERY healthy. And it is.

Not sure what you mean by healthy, would that mean lots of fruits and veg?

YellowLead

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

If you read my original post. I say my diet is VERY healthy. And it is.

What about alcohol? That can have detrimental effects on sleep.

ILoveYourVibes

markmoto wrote: »

Not sure what you mean by healthy, would that mean lots of fruits and veg?

Yes ...and NO junk no sweets no processed foods. I watch sugar etc. Only healthy fats.
Natural yoghurt etc. Hummus etc and i read the ingredients of everything!

Salads ..steamed veg ...i will make soup from scratch. I eat chickpeas ..or sometimes rice.



Like i will have avocado on a rice cake as a snack or a medulla date.

What about alcohol? That can have detrimental effects on sleep.

I don't drink. :rolleyes:

I exercise too.

markmoto

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Salads ..steamed veg ...i will make soup from scratch. I eat chickpeas ..or sometimes rice.
.

What about fish, red meat, eggs, especially egg yolks?

ILoveYourVibes

markmoto wrote: »

What about fish, red meat, eggs, especially egg yolks?

I have had bloods done they are perfect. Thank you mark.

And any time a dietician or GP has looked at my diet they have been satisfied.

markmoto

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

I have had bloods done they are perfect. Thank you mark.

And any time a dietician or GP has looked at my diet they have been satisfied.

Cool. another issue oxygen deficiency at night, e.g. snoring, sleep apnea etc
Run voice recorder over night.

ILoveYourVibes

markmoto wrote: »

Cool. another issue oxygen deficiency at night, e.g. snoring, sleep apnea etc
Run voice recorder over night.

Oh ...they tried that on me ages ago when it first started ..no...they did a sleep study.

And i don't snore.

In there is very toned up actually because i used to sing. And i am very fit. Slender etc.

C3PO pretty much explained what it is i am experiencing.
I sleep but its not deep sleep. And I have SO many dreams ..like 8 in one night or more...and they all lead into one another...I think its not getting into deep sleep.

YellowLead

I guess what needs to be figured out is WHY you aren’t getting into a deep sleep.

I can't take any kind of vitamin B supplement or I have the trippiest vivid and often frightening nightmares.

As soon as I start taking it, the nightmares start. Worst was B6. Then another time Dr recommended I take B12 as I was extremely low, but had to stop again as the vividness of the nightmares were making me more exhausted!

Witchie

I have been editing a lot of articles on sleep for a client who is an American sleep specialist and one thing jumping out at me is how vital vitamin D is for good sleep. If you aren't already taking a supplement, I suggest you think about it.

Check her out here and
read some of her articles here

markmoto

Witchie wrote: »

I have been editing a lot of articles on sleep for a client who is an American sleep specialist and one thing jumping out at me is how vital vitamin D is for good sleep. If you aren't already taking a supplement, I suggest you think about it.

Check her out here and
read some of her articles here

If you planning to take vitamin D supplement I suggest taking with K2.

markmoto

Deleted User wrote: »

I can't take any kind of vitamin B supplement or I have the trippiest vivid and often frightening nightmares.

As soon as I start taking it, the nightmares start. Worst was B6. Then another time Dr recommended I take B12 as I was extremely low, but had to stop again as the vividness of the nightmares were making me more exhausted!

Liver, eggs and fatty fish best source of vitamin B
Supplements might not work at all.

ILoveYourVibes

Can people stop giving nutritional advice I would only take that from a professional and not online? No medical advice either please.


I am sure you mean well. But it's always lay people who don't know how much they don't know.

I've done nutritional courses myself as part of a PT qualification and even I wouldn't give nutritional advice to anyone.

Any vitamin deficiency can only be detected by blood tests. And only diagnosed by a real doctor. And I have stated i have had blood tests and they came back fine. And if you know the way blood tests work ( i was tested for the kitchen sink calcium hormone levels vit b 12 etc the lot) then you know I don't have a deficiency.

Liver, eggs and fatty fish best source of vitamin B
Supplements might not work at all.

With all due respect. You dont know this. And you are prescribing dietary advice without even knowing if there is a deficiency which you could NEVER know without a blood test.

If you planning to take vitamin D supplement I suggest taking with K2.

Really K 2 ...being its a fat soluble vitamin its very unlikely anyone is deficient. Its already in most foods that have vit D.

markmoto

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Really K 2 ...being its a fat soluble vitamin its very unlikely anyone is deficient. Its already in most foods that have vit D.

If you planning to take vitamin D supplement I suggest taking with K2.

Blood test can't reveal all micro nutrients deficiencies.
And I don't prescribe you anything at all, do what you like, smile

You said you don't know what to do?
Well anyway best of luck in your recovery.

Lots of people are having sleep disturbance and unusual dreams or nightmares due to the Covid thing. Lots. Even if not apparently worried about it, it brings up fears due to subconscious associations, generalised existential angst etc. Tiny tidbits of info floating in the public sphere trigger associative ideas and symbols in sleep.

Oat straw tea really deepens sleep. Pukka do combinations that have oat straw as part of ingredients or you can buy as a separate herb, which is stronger and more useful. Baldwins UK supply good herbs online. You can try as tincture if you prefer - Avena Sativa. Worth a try to see if it suits you.

Witchie

Sorry, wasn't trying to give nutritional advice. Just research from my client highlights how vit D impacts on sleep so was suggesting you take a look at it.

Again apologies.

Graces7

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

This has been going on a while.

I have been having very unpleasant dreams. Or unpleasant feelings during sleep.

Do you actually remember your dreams once you are fully awake?

I have no real sleep pattern; probably old age. But as soon as I stopped worrying about it or even taking notice of it it stopped having any bad effect on my life etc,

Now if I wake, I might get up and wander a while, even do housework... But I have no need to be anywhere at any set time. It was the idea that unless I slept through etc ? The worry not the waking itself.

ILoveYourVibes

markmoto wrote: »

Blood test can't reveal all micro nutrients deficiencies.

I know you are trying to help but..

Yes it does. My potassium my calcium all vits ..

A vitamin D blood test measures the level of 25(OH)D in your blood.

Vitamin K plays an important role in blood coagulation, bone health and vascular health. For this test we measure and report serum vitamin K1 levels. Elevated levels of PIVKA-II in the blood can indicate deficiency of vitamin K1

I have to get mine yearly and both are fine. You should never attempt to increase an intake for a certain vit without knowing there is a deficiency from a blood test first.( my gps advice) I definitely do NOT have any deficiencies. And yes blood tests can tell you this.

Similarly a registered dietician looking at my diet telling me it's healthy tells me ..well that it is healthy.

ILoveYourVibes

Graces7 wrote: »

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

This has been going on a while.

I have been having very unpleasant dreams. Or unpleasant feelings during sleep.

Do you actually remember your dreams once you are fully awake?

I have no real sleep pattern; probably old age. But as soon as I stopped worrying about it or even taking notice of it it stopped having any bad effect on my life etc,

Now if I wake, I might get up and wander a while, even do housework... But I have no need to be anywhere at any set time. It was the idea that unless I slept through etc ? The worry not the waking itself.

Its not always bad dreams. Its just sleep that is full of dreams. like eight or ten at night.

Yes i remember them. Sometimes they are unpleasant.

I don't worry about it. Its just annoying.

Rubberchikken

Then maybe accepting that they’ll happen and that they’ll probably go just the way they came is the thing to do.

If you’re not worried about them just annoyed then that’s good, isn’t it?

markmoto

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

I know you are trying to help but..

Yes it does. My potassium my calcium all vits ..
.

Blood test for potassium can't reveal accurate level, most of potassium inside the cell. Only guess. Same applies for e.g. magnesium.

But if you are fine. Happy days. : )

ILoveYourVibes

markmoto wrote: »

Blood test for potassium can't reveal accurate level, most of potassium inside the cell. Only guess. Same applies for e.g. magnesium.

But if you are fine. Happy days. : )

That is what i thought too. And believe me i was wrong.

They give very accurate results.

Please admit you are not medically qualified are not well versed on what you are talking about and stop posting advice contrary to what my GP has told me.

They estimate your reserves based on blood levels. Also if your reserves (in the cell) are low ..your blood levels will not stay constant. Blood tests over time ..will give you your true albumin level potassium or whatever.
If you weren't ok it would just fall again over and over.

I have already told you my doctor has said im fine. I am not sure what you are trying to prove. It seems more about trying to prove what you THINK you know about vitamins than trying to help me.

I am not really one to follow armchair medical advice and crazy dietary advice ...like up your liver consumption.

Big Bag of Chips

markmoto, please do not offer advice regarding what blood tests show, or don't. Your posts are veering close to medical advice, which is not allowed on the site.

OP, the only person you should discuss blood tests with is your GP.

leggo

Honestly, based on your responses, OP I think you should discuss this entire issue with your GP rather than on boards.ie. People are giving you anecdotal suggestions as to what the issue could be based on their experiences and your response is to keep talking about how you eat, generally, 'well', how your doctor has told you you're, generally, 'fine' and are slender. You've also rolled your eyes at a couple of replies, got quite confrontational and said that you've tried a lot of the suggestions already.

If your issues are more serious than the standard sleeping issues people would suffer (which are going to be caused by diet, not managing anxiety, drinking caffeine close to bedtime, spending more time than normal in bed etc) and you've tried a lot of different solutions already...what were you expecting posting to people who aren't doctors? That's all people here can give aside from general sympathy...and this forum, while compassionate, isn't for that. It's people asking for help with personal issues they're facing. Go speak to your GP if it's significant enough that it's impacting your life.