Pamela H in Texas Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I've been having some extremely bad dreams. They are horrific and violent. I wouldn't watch tv shows that awful! People die in them horrible deaths (not just falling from a cliff or a car wreck, but like tortured). Even worse, I'm not waking up from them. For example, my alarm went off for 15 minutes this morning. I could hear the music at some point, but still couldn't wake up. It just made no sense. I tried tying it to something in real life. I can't think of anything that could be tied to that level of violence, fear, etc. Mostly, I want to do something that tomorrow morning, I don't have another dream like these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I'm so sorry! That sounds terrifying! I don't know if this really works or not, but I've heard you can control what you dream by what you're thinking about when you fall asleep. Maybe some type of meditation/relaxation CD as you're falling asleep to help you calm and focus your thoughts to more pleasant things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebeccaS Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Just a thought, but are you on any medications that this could be the side effect? My mom was on a blood pressure med (I think) that gave her horrific nightmares from which she had difficulty waking up. She spent weeks having them before she thought to check the potential side effects and sure enough-nightmares. She got her doc to change it and she's been fine since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Stress can play a big part on how well you sleep. I have horrid, vivid, in color, clear dreams that I can remember all the next day when I'm under a lot of stress. I also wonder if a sleeping aid would help you sleep more restfully. I'm not familiar with OTC meds though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I have sleep apnea and if i ever fall asleep without my CPAP, i have bad dreams. Ds had terrible nightmares on singulair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mnemosyne Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 How are your stress levels? Your diet? You could try supplementing with some magnesium at night. Deficiencies may cause nightmares. Melatonin may be useful as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I wouldn't try melatonin - it's well known for causing vivid dreaming and sometimes nightmares. I'd really be pretty reluctant to try any type of sleep aid - As others have noted, medicines, supplements, etc are often a trigger. Even food items for some people, so a diary might help (what you ingest vs how you dream). You might also note activities like books read, shows watched, etc. just a thorough record of the day. Do you have a cold or anything? Dimetap used to give my nephew horrible dreams and make him an all around crazy person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I don't think they tie directly, violence = violence, not. Stress can be a culprit. I'm so sorry. We have a family member who has horrific dreams. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca VA Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 (Christian Content) I would surround myself with Christian music, Christian movies, and Scripture CDs. That is what I do when I feel evil influences around me. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Whatever things you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I find that I get into a bad dream cycle. I dream about something then I think about it all day and that makes me dream about it again that night. So I have to redirect my thoughts. And yes medications can affect dreams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted February 13, 2013 Author Share Posted February 13, 2013 We do have a good bit of stress (though I think I'm handling it quite well, if I do say so myself). It is a lot. I'm NOT stuffing. I simply have decided I can't control what I can't control. I feel I did the right thing disrupting placement on the three children. I know the investigations will be closed; it just takes time. My kids will get back to normal "in time." I'll make the phone call, it'll be over with, and it won't be a big deal....seriously. And Monkey....well, then there is Monkey's situation. I'm not taking medication currently other than estrogen and thyroid. Same as it has been for a year (well, thyroid longer). I got a pretty significant cough lingering after the flu. Maybe that is causing different sleep. Maybe I should just give myself a week for everything except for Monkey to calm down. I just can't believe how awful these dreams are. Seriously. When I was a kid, I saw Silence of the Lambs (don't remember it; but remember the feeling). It's like that. On the edge of your seat, ready to be grossed out and scared, worried that those things really do happen in this world, blech! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 This might sound stupid, but I tell myself "This is a dream. Wakeup" and that's it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmamaz Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 I have read that you can learn to wake yourself up from bad dreams. You can also try calming self-talk as you fall asleep - like do a full body relaxation and focus on positive images, like your family together in a beautiful place and everything is safe and happy . . . or you can come up with a sort of 'safe word' that you can say to wake yourself up - i know i read that somewhere a long time ago. w one of my kids we told him to call his dad to come protect him if anyhting scary happened in his dream. you can learn to get some control Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Given what you've been dealing with I would say stress is the culprit more than anything else. I'm quite sure that in some way you are feeling tortured yourself over all of this. Anything you can do to release some of the stress might help. That's going to look different for everyone. Light exercise might help some people, a bubble bath might do more for others. The stress probably isn't going to go away until the situation is resolved, but there may be ways to lesson the impact somewhat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie Sue Posted February 13, 2013 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Try L-Tryptophan or 5-HTP before sleeping. It doesn't "knock you out" but it definitely helps with REM sleep and dreaming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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