Dreams

[Bookoffee]

I am having upsetting dreams that I can not wake myself up from. This morning I slept through my alarm for over a half an hour. Does anyone experience this? How do you wake up? Is there a way to stop dreams?

 

[risingsun]

am having upsetting dreams that I can not wake myself up from

I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering from bad dreams. I, myself, have terrible ones. I hear that blood-pressure med. Prazosin helps but I'm on too many medications as it is I think to be on it. I empathize with you. It's like one cannot find rest even in sleep because we are dealing with issues even there. I have been looking into getting a hypnosis cd to help me before bed, maybe one that specializes in dreams specifically or nightmares. Anyway, I'm sorry I could not be of more help except to say that I am there with you. I hope yours go away soon my friend. Best Wishes, Rising Sun

 

[Bookoffee]

No, please, you were great help! With my new CALM app, I could do 10 minutes of mediation and see if that helps. Thanks!

 

[passerine]

I suffer from nightmares that I have trouble waking up from, too. Medication has helped some, but I still get them. Sometimes I wake up in a flashback and get confused about where I am and whether I'm still dreaming or not. I have noticed, however, that the duration and severity of my nightmares depends a great deal on what I do before going to bed. So, I stay away from all triggering material in the hours leading up to bedtime. That sort of eliminates a lot right now since I've been so easily triggered. I just focus on safety and grounding and making my bedroom as comfortable as possible. Also, since my last hospitalization on a trauma and dissociative disorders unit I have been using a weighted blanket to sleep and it has absolutely helped with nightmares.

I'm sorry I don't have a better answer for you, but I suggest you bringing it up to your psychiatrist if you have one because there are medications that specifically address nightmares available.

Best wishes for a sounder sleep.

 

[Hashi]

Is there a way to stop dreams?

https://www.myptsd.com/threads/carrying-the-distress-from-nightmares-into-the-day.46007/#post-737423
Post #7.

One of the specific things I visualise (ie imagine/rehearse in my head - you don't need to literally picture it) is something waking me up immediately if a bad dream/nightmare is even approaching.

 

[Bookoffee]

@Hashi thank you, your post is very helpful. I will have to try.