dreaming while awake (nightmare)

[arobot]

Has anyone ever had a nightmare while trying to fall asleep, but still fully conscious of their body and their surroundings?

I have difficulty sleeping. This is totally normal. I'm not concerned with it.
So I'm trying to fall asleep. And I entered the beginning of a dream. But what's weird is that I never lost awareness of my body or my surroundings. Anytime I wanted I could just sit up and be done with it. But I didn't do that. I watched it play out. There was DANGER. I was trying to mitigate the danger. I was trying to diffuse the situation. It wasn't working. The other people in the dream very much wanted VIOLENCE. It led up to this BIG DRAMATIC, and super QUICK ending. It felt like daydreaming. My body wasn't asleep, but my mind was.

That's my question.

What was it? Does anyone else do that? Is that just part of the whole cPTSD thing?

I've known I have PTSD for the last thirteen years. I feel like I just go this new, fun, exciting symptom I didn't have before. I called the psych unit, and they weren't as helpful as I wanted them to be. Just told me not to dwell on it, that it's normal. But I've never done it before. It's not normal for me. I got the impression they were busy, and wanted to keep the phone line open.

 

[Friday]

Has anyone ever had a nightmare while trying to fall asleep, but still fully conscious of their body and their surroundings?

Often.

I’d say, roughly, about 1/3 of the time… unless I’m doing the catnap / waking-doze thing, in which case it’s 100% of the time. Both fully aware of my surroundings, and even able to join in conversation… yet sleep paralysed & in full on REM.

Not just nightmares, though.

Is that just part of the whole cPTSD thing?

No idea. I learned to do it in the military / sleep anytime, anywhere, but I don’t remember if I learned to do it before or after trauma.

I've known I have PTSD for the last thirteen years. I feel like I just go this new, fun, exciting symptom I didn't have before. I

Aaaargh. I HATE that!!! It’s soooo frustrating.

The biggest “new” thing for me, was after 15 years, suddenly dealing with depression. 😵😵‍💫 Vexing as hell.

 

[RachelBigby]

It's common for symptoms to change, progress, or escalate. Something that never used to happen can quickly become a thing. Scary at first but you learn to live with it.

I've had some wacky sleep experiences.

 

[arobot]

After I thought about it, I realize that I have dreamt while aware of my surroundings before. Just never violent nightmares.

Thank you for lighting a candle in the darkness, for me. I try a lot, to do that for others.

I didn't reply before, because I had a lot to do. But I do appreciate it.