Dreaming About Disasters And Catastrophic Events

[Deleted member 34060]

I did this apnea test a couple of years ago and it came out negative. See, what happens is that I'm lying there eyes closed with some real world thoughts and "Pictures" with it. But the Moment I doze away, those "pictures" kind of morph into catastrophic pictures right away. It feels as if this happens in a split second ...

 

[The Albatross]

How much weight have you gained since your last test? If it's not very significant then that may not be the issue... it could be the sub consciousness expressing primal stuff via nightmares. But honestly dude, just pause to consider that in the longer term, to manage what you're experiencing with alcohol consumption is a pretty bad idea?

What assistance are you getting from a medical doctor or shrink?

 

[Deleted member 34060]

Weight gain: not significant.
Alcohol: yes, it's not a good idea. By all means, no one has to explain that to me. Only that it is the only thing that prevents nightmares.
Doctor's assicstance: Nil. If you read my introduction, vertigo is my main problem. anxiety and related have developed later over the time. It's only those 1-2 EMDR sessions per month are helping.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

@FrankM I started therapy and the catastrophic dreams were so clearly vivid. I also had dreams about taking care of the baby and there was always chaos. I was responsible to clean everything up and it was a complete disaster that I was in.

In the dreams I could not make a noise to cry for help. Then in one dream a phone was in it and I could not use it because I did not know how to use it.

Then a dream would happen that I knew how to use the phone but I could not speak a sound and cry for help and so on and so on.

I remember the dream when I knew how to use the phone and was able to call for help and I was heard and believed. It never progressed to the point that help would come. But my confidence in myself was stronger at that point.

Meanwhile I was still having nightmares and some I clearly remembered and they were very surreal. This went on for about five years and then I started having different types of nightmares.

I was in therapy for a very long time so this was a long and drawn out process for me. I still get the occasional nightmare but I do not remember the most of them. If you have any more questions feel free to ask or pm me.

 

[The Albatross]

Yeah, I read it but likely didn't recall it... you also share though "but the next day is very bad of course, in particular as it makes my vertigo a lot, lot worse."

 

[Deleted member 34060]

@The Albatross: yes, it's a trade off. Or rather, it's like having to choose between pest and cholera ...

@gizmo: Thank you so much about for your reply. I perfectly understand the dreams about your baby. I've had dreams like this all my life. Maybe not as dramatic, but still. Being repsonsible for something and not making it. Having tos Show up somewhere at a certain time. But I never ever experienced anything like currently. It is as if I'm hovering in a helicopter 100 feet above and I see two small kids approaching an obstacle on their bikes at high speed and I just think "no, no, please not, watch out, don't do that !!!!" and ... POW !!!

Have you experienced anything like this ?

 

[Deleted member 12723]

@FrankM Yes I have had such bizarre nightmares of being warned of something or trying to help someone, but nothing like your helicopter dream.

 

[The Albatross]

So just to get this straight, you consciously choose to exacerbate your vertigo to sleep, though vertigo is your main physical complaint. Personally I'd re-examine that.

 

[Deleted member 34060]

So just to get this straight, you consciously choose to exacerbate your vertigo to sleep, though v...

Essentially yes.

The thing here is that I've learned to cope with the vertigo over the past 7+ years. It has become part of my life. So, it's bad and very annoying and everything, but it is almost a bit like "enemy mine".

But I haven't learned how to cope with nightmares yet. If I could get rid of the nightmares I'd happily pass on the booze. Of course sleeping pills, tranquilizers or other psychoactive drugs might help. Or maybe not. But they appear scary to me as the effects don't appear to be controllable. Beer is more "controllable".

Really, I said it before, I did have unpleasant dreams before, but this is a totally new dimension. And just the thought of those dreams are scary. But at the end I don't want to discuss alcohol. This is "self medication". I just want to get rid of the nightmares ....

 

[jacx]

I have nightmares like that about 3 nights a week. Usually it's about witnessing someone being injured or killed and not being able to prevent it. It's hard for me to express how distressing these dreams are for me. My therapist doesn't get it at all; if I bring the topic of nightmares up he attempts some kind of dream analysis. I find it unhelpful.

I have to agree with other posters that I don't think it's a good idea to use alcohol to cope with nightmares.

 

[Deleted member 34060]

@jacx: when and how did it start for you ? And for how long has it been going on ? Do you take any kind of medication ?

A bit off topic: I made exactly the same experiences with "classical" therapists. Appears to me as if they do with you just that what they've always been doing, no matter what you are telling them ...

 

[jacx]

@jacx: when and how did it start for you ? And for how long has it been going on ? Do...

I'm not sure when it started but it's been years for sure. Shortly after the trauma(s), I'd have dreams that were basically replays of the traumatic events. When those stopped happening so often, I started getting the disaster nightmares instead. Sometimes the dreams are less frequent (a couple of times a month). Right now, it's pretty bad. I've never identified real triggers for the nightmares though - I'm not under any unusual stress lately, for instance.

I take Risperdal for sleep, but it doesn't help with nightmares, just settles me down enough that I don't jolt awake at every little sound.

I couldn't find a trauma therapist who accepted my insurance. The guy I'm seeing is helpful a lot of the time, but sometimes it's just "You really don't get it, do you?" I've stopped trying to talk to him about the nightmares because I just get frustrated.