Flashback In My Sleep?

[FabulousEnding]

My boyfriend said I woke up fully in my sleep last night, sat up, said something to the person in my bed I thought it was in a state of complete terror, he reassured me in my sleep that it was him, and then apparently I said okay and laid back down and went to sleep. I have nearly no memory of this happening and anything I recalled I thought I very faintly dreamt. I said to him this morning I've never talked or moved in my sleep before. He said no you weren't asleep you were completely awake.

What was that? I had a dissociative episode laying in bed with him in the dark two nights ago. Something super small triggered it and 85% of me was dissociated and 25% was fighting off a full episode. I thought he was my dad and that I was going to get sexually hurt, which I have no memory of and always thought he'd never go that far (even though he's straight up fantasized about murdering me). No idea if this is connected or not. He was woken up from sleep last night so he doesn't remember what I was saying to him.

 

[blackswan]

It sounds like a night terror - a nightmare that happens in non-REM sleep when your body is still able to move (dreams mostly occur in REM sleep when our brains switch off muscle control). They happen sometimes, usually in the first half of the night. Have you perhaps been more tired or stressed than usual recently? Or started or changed medication? If it's a once off, it's not anything to worry about :)

 

[FabulousEnding]

No more tired or stressed than usual. My only source of stress has been the three dissociative flashbacks I had this week, and returning memories of things I didn't even know happened.

 

[blackswan]

To be blunt, that sounds pretty stressful! I get sleep paralysis when I'm emotionally worn out - wake up from a dream but my brain switches on before my body does so my body is paralysed for what is the longest (and scariest!) two minutes of my life. The occasional once off occurrence of these "parasomnia" experiences is pretty standard for being a human being though, but if they happen often or are causing problems then head to your family doctor and have a chat.

I hope next week is less tumultuous for you :) sounds like this one has been a doozy!

 

[FabulousEnding]

I looked up the night terror thing and I found what's unique about those... People in a night terror cannot be comforted, and will not respond. My boyfriend's voice and reassurance he was there is what woke me out of that state, and I laid back down. Based on what he said it sounded like I thought a man came into my bed in the middle of the night to hurt me.

Earlier when someone knocked on the door I started panicking about intrusion. Wtf is happening to me??

 

[blackswan]

I learn :) I've worked in sleep for a long time but forgot about the inconsolable criteria, sorry.

Parasomnia behaviour is much more common in people with PTSD. I reckon it's almost like hypervigilance extends into sleep but gets all confused in dreams. You sound worried about it though, so maybe have a chat with your T or doctor :) they will be able to give you much more personalised information and recommendations.