Are You Able To Go Back To Sleep After A Nightmare?

[Copper Princess]

The last few nights I have gotten at least 7 hours of sleep. No nightmares but that has stopped. Here it is 4:30 am and I am awake. Shakey, tears flowing from my eyes, and heart racing like I just ran 5 miles. No way am I going back to sleep. It is going to be a long day.

Do you always wake up when having a nightmare or do you sometimes finish the dream? Are you able to go back to sleep after a nightmare (s)?

 

[Netsy]

I usually wake up about 4pm to 4.30pm with nightmares... it seems a lot of us do this at the same hour ? is this something that has been researched at all? My nightmares are triggered by anything that is associated with television which relates to horror, violence and other stuff that has happened in the day. Last year the nightmares were so bad, that I recorded them thinking that if I died in my nightmare and didnt wake up I would have a taped record, but I have never gone back and listened to the story as its too hard - I told my Psychiatrist how I have coped and he looked at me in disbelief. The nightmares were so real that I felt I would not wake up and still believe it. The doctor gave me medication Seroquel and Lyrica which has helped me now to get some hours sleep but it doesnt always work. When I do have a nightmare, I get up, and make something to eat (comfort eating) - then try to go back to sleep, its sometimes pretty difficult and I have put on heaps of weight. Sometimes I wake up yelling but cant remember then why. Has anyone else there done the crazy thing of recording? Do you also comfort eat or is it the brain telling us to eat to survive???

 

[physicist13]

I often finish the dream... sometimes I don't really remember having the nightmare (and def don't remember what it was) but I know I did because I wake up DRENCHED in sweat.

Sometimes I can, and sometimes I can't (go back to sleep). It sucks being up so early and just being exhausted.... hope your day goes okay :hug:

 

[Fadeaway]

If I am aware of the dream, I usually wake up, and there is no hope for going back to sleep. Apparently I have nightmares I don't remember though.

 

[Missycat]

I sometimes wake up startled and upset , shaking and scared, on some occasions i have awoken and been out of bed. Sometimes i dont actually remember the nightmare or dream. In many cases i struggle to get back to sleep so i have a sleep app and a mindfulness app on my phone , these help me relax and calm me enough to sometimes be able to get more sleep. I do suffer with insomnia so usually get less than 5 hours sleep ( on a good day) .

 

[Engineer]

I am unable to wake up during a nightmare so, I am scared to sleep. Every time I close my eyes I see it happening again. So, instead I just stay up until exhaustion kicks in and I fall asleep quickly before my mind has a chance to think about it.

 

[Freedomfighter]

The last few nights I have gotten at least 7 hours of sleep. No nightmares but that has stopped...

Yeah, sometimes I do know there was a nightmare, sometimes I vocalize during, sometimes I can not remember the subject matter. Then there are some nightmares that are very clear. Often when going back to sleep then another nightmare follows, hate when that happens.
I try to concentrate on things that make me happy after a nightmare: taking a mental stroll on the beach, reminding myself what it feels like to stick my feet into the warm beach sand, I guess something like that is grounding and then I can go to sleep again.

 

[The Albatross]

Yes most of the time except I have sleep apnea (so can be back asleep in 10 minutes max or less) and two sibling cats who ground me when they pick up I'm having nightmares... one lays on my feet and audibly purrs... the other will head but me til I rouse looking to be petted and if that doesn't work she'll bite me which will get me out of the nightmare (either way) and I can pet her til I go back to sleep.

I don't really comfort eat and am / have been more prone to go the other way... meal skipping and some anorexic tendencies as a young woman is a way for me to exert as sense of control... or was. I don't do that anymore.

 

[Parley]

I have ended up on the other side of the room a time or two but most of the time, my husband wakes me. He likes to cuddle and I focus on our breathing to calm me. If I can relax before suffocating~ I sleep. If not, I sit in the dark and wait.