Nightmares night and waking up in a flashback...

[SeekingAfrica]

This hasn't happened in a while. I had mixed dreams all night about different times in my life. The last dream sort of evolved into random childhood memories from around the time I was abused. They weren't bad memories, more the normal parts of the day with this underlying feeling of dread about what would happen at night and not being able to tell anyone. And very vivid, too.

I woke up with all those memories spinning in my head and being unable to move. I knew my alarm went off, I knew I had to get up and I couldn't. And then I started getting flashes of memories of the actual trauma, really short and fast, like a shock to my system and I felt nauseous, and weak and I still couldn't move. Finally I got out of it like resurfacing from water- gasping for air and scratching the bed trying to hold onto something.

I ended up trying to follow my usual morning routine while gasping for air like when I have panic attack. Eventually calmed down, but it took quite a while. An hour, at least. And when I get like that I stop being able to remember what day it is, or what I'm supposed to be doing, everything in the present just sort of fades. I mean usually it's more full memory, and takes even longer, this time it was just few pieces and it still took me so long...The last time I had this issue it was full blown when I was first dealing with it, and then it was happening regularly. But then I really was more concerned with my health and also my schedule was different and so I took the time when I needed it. How do you guys deal with such mornings? If you have them? I feel so out of balance now, and it's so hard starting my day.

 

[AliciaEff]

I’m sorry that no one has replied to this yet!

I’m not sure how much advice I can give you because my mornings have not been the same. What has happened similarly to me is waking up and not knowing where I am briefly, or forgetting my nightmare until something triggers it later in the day and it suddenly all rushes back in a sort of flashback style. However, neither of these last very long.

I’m sorry you’re going through this. Do you have a doctor to talk to about medication or other treatment options? This seems like something that will take more than some deep breathing to get through.

 

[crackinthequandary]

This hasn't happened in a while. I had mixed dreams all night about different times in my life. The last dream sort of evolved into random childhood memories from around the time I was abused. They weren't bad memories, more the normal parts of the day with this underlying feeling of dread about what would happen at night and not being able to tell anyone. And very vivid, too.

I woke up with all those memories spinning in my head and being unable to move. I knew my alarm went off, I knew I had to get up and I couldn't. And then I started getting flashes of memories of the actual trauma, really short and fast, like a shock to my system and I felt nauseous, and weak and I still couldn't move. Finally I got out of it like resurfacing from water- gasping for air and scratching the bed trying to hold onto something.

I ended up trying to follow my usual morning routine while gasping for air like when I have panic attack. Eventually calmed down, but it took quite a while. An hour, at least. And when I get like that I stop being able to remember what day it is, or what I'm supposed to be doing, everything in the present just sort of fades. I mean usually it's more full memory, and takes even longer, this time it was just few pieces and it still took me so long...The last time I had this issue it was full blown when I was first dealing with it, and then it was happening regularly. But then I really was more concerned with my health and also my schedule was different and so I took the time when I needed it. How do you guys deal with such mornings? If you have them? I feel so out of balance now, and it's so hard starting my day.

so, what's it like when its "full on, full memory"? So, I'm wondering about the paralysis on reawakening. Have you ever heard of "hypnopompic or hypnogenic Hallucinations"? I work with many people who have experienced trauma. I find that many of those have visuals, say a shadowy figure before or after going to sleep. I would also be curious if it's a type of dissociation. I understand it's a flashback, but is this more unusual when it's like this?