Gruesome Night Visions

[Casey_03]

I use the word "visions" in this thread though that's not exactly accurate. I am in my second trimester of pregnancy and under a great deal of stress, really a ridiculous amount of stress, and i am wondering if that is what is causing me to have very unpleasant intrusive thoughts at night. I often wake up around 2 am in a panic and can't fall back asleep until around 6 or 7, and the whole time I'm awake it's like my mind if just a hurricane of dark, terrible thoughts. Last night, for example, I started to worry about an upcoming flight i'd have to take for work. Suddenly I had these gruesome images in my mind of plane crash victims; it was insanely graphic and i felt like i was rummaging through the wreckage and bodies myself, but i couldn't block out the thought. And it was weird because the "visions" were intrusive, I didn't consciously lead myself to such thoughts. All i thought was, "oh, i'll have to fly." And suddenly I was bombarded with grisly images of death and I couldn't turn them off. What is this? Is this just severe anxiety? Has anyone else had this? I should also stress that these aren't dreams, i'm fully awake.

 

[Jnean]

Yes, you are not alone. Are you seeing a therapist at all? I used to do this exact thing actually. More in a bit...

 

[Jnean]

When i was in my abusive relationship always at night while trying so desperately to fall asleep, worst case scenarios would come to mind and i would visualize terrible things. I am sorry your having to go through this, maybe talk to your doctor and talking to a therapist could also be helpful. You could be really stressed and not even know it, i dont do this anymore if its any consolation. I do have anxiety but i have nightmares now while i am fully asleep. I see a therapist and a psychiatrist which is crucial currently in my healing.

 

[Jnean]

what I meant to say was you could be even more stressed than you even think you are however this did stop for me at some point. I feel bad for you. It's so scary that when you do realize it isn't real you still can't stop yourself and it stresses you out even more that you can't stop. And you want to know if everyone is okay or not for hours, that's what happened to me that is. Or it would feel so real that I would effect my mood all day. Anyway I am trying to make sense this morning. Sorry. Maybe do something that makes you feel grounded in a safe place or, visualize you with all those people alive and well walking on 3k for a cause that you are interested in, or call a hotline each time so they can help bring you back to reality. Thanks for reaching out. This is a good place to do it.