Dreams

Does anyone else have such vivid dreams you have a hard time realizing you're safe when you wake up? I've always woken up sobbing since I was a child, but it used to be once every couple of years. In the last 2-3 years my husband is having to wake me up from either hyperventilating or physically crying in my dreams multiple times a month. I wake up covered in tears or gasping for air and it takes time to come down from it even once I realize I'm safe and it was just a dream. This is becoming way more frequent and I don't know if its an anxiety thing, OCD thing or just a thing. (I do not have Obstructive Sleep Apnea). This is one thing that really bothers me.

Anonymous

Date posted: 19h

Yes! This happens to me too. It happens when I can't even *remember* the dream sometimes. I just wind up stuck in an uncomfy, unsettled state that I don't even know how to turn off. I'm so sorry you're going through this! If it's becoming more frequent there might be something in your daily life you are avoiding or suppressing that is making its way into your dreams. As someone with a bad habit of avoidance to deal with keeping my triggers at bay...thats my personal theory. 😫 I don't know what the dreams are about though so please take my thoughts with a grain of salt!! It could also be trauma related. As you start to heal and challenge yourself different parts of your brain get activated. You bring awareness to them and all of a sudden you're in the soup of it! I hope you start to feel better soon! Wishing you some good sleep and some better dreams!

Kevin V

Date posted: 18h

Yeah, I usually barely remember my dreams after I wake up, but the stress is still there for like half an hour.

AmberS.

Date posted: 18h

@Kevin V The stress for me lasts 12-24 hours. Ive been crying off and on for 6 so l far today aaaand I'm on vacation 🤦🏽‍♀️

Kevin V

Date posted: 17h

@AmberS. Oh. That's horrible. For me, the morning anxiety tapers off after an hour or two at most, I can't imagine having to deal with it the whole day, only to fall asleep and have to do it all over again. Has nothing you've done helped at all?

AmberS.

Date posted: 17h

@Kevin V I just took a nap and woke up still with my heart pounding but I feel a little better I think.

Kevin V

Date posted: 17h

@AmberS. Ah, glad to see that you feel at least a little better. Have you checked to see if you have any vitamin deficiencies, like Vitamin D or Magnesium or such? Sometimes a deficiency can actually affect your brain and mood. Also, extremely vivid dreams can be connected to mental disorders, like OCD, anxiety, or others, so it's possible that it is a result of your condition itself.

AmberS.

Date posted: 15h

@Kevin V I just had my blood drawn last week for my annual and my PCP checked a few extras, everything was good there. I also take a multivitamin daily and magnesium glyc. at night for sleep and mood. This has happened to me since I was a child but yeah its definitely becoming more prevalent. Therapy Monday and psychiatry Thursday, I'll bring it up to both of them.

oats

Date posted: 20h

I understand. I suffer with the same kinds of dreams. Sometimes I’ve read that antidepressants and anti anxiety medication can contribute to them. I’ve also read about things to do to create a calm sleep environment can help (cool bedroom, no phone or tv near bedtime, going to bed at the same time every night), etc. Hope this helps. God bless you ❣️

Kevin V

Date posted: 18h

With my most recent OCD episode, I am actually not having many dreams at all, and the few I do get, I barely remember them. I still wake up with considerable anxiety every day though.

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