PTSD-Related Nightmares

[Pixie]

I keep coming back to this thread and not knowing quite what to say or how to start.

I guess I'll start with the categories as I think of them... I have categorised them into three types.

1) Nightmares: I sometimes wake up by sitting bolt upright and can't breathe. Other times I have to just lay there terrified because I can't even work out how to get out of my bedroom and I've forgotten the layout of my own house. Sometimes my hubby will actually wake me if I am shaking and jumping about or hitting in my sleep. Usually, the nightmares are related directly to a memory and can be something that may seem benign but has the same effect anyway.

2) Bad Dreams: Not as bad as the nightmares. I wake up distressed but can make my way to my computer and remember the layout of my house. These ones are often the bizarre type ones as others have described here with themes rather than memories as such.

3) Daymares: These happen when I am fully awake and partially aware of my surroundings but it is like the visual is overlayed upon reality (I can see my surroundings but also the daymare). These are the worst of the lot because of the content and usually only occur at specific triggering times of the year (such as easter, halloween, and christmas etc.).

I also try my best to write all of these down but I rarely forget the detail so even if I don't do it as soon as I wake up, it is still vivid hours, days and months later.

A few weeks ago when I was trying to go to sleep, I got caught between wake and sleep as my mind replayed nightmare after nightmare going back years. There were over 25 nightmares that replayed in vivid detail as if they had never left my mind. I'm not sure if others have experienced this but it seems that my mind has them all catalogued to be cued up at a moments notice. :wall:

Pixie

 

[Lionheart]

Hi Lionheart:Hug_emoticon:
I'm wondering what emotions you experience during the dream and what the emotions are when you wake? I understand that writing about the dream content is difficult and that is absolutely fine, but perhaps looking at the pure emotion might help?
Nicky

The feelings involved are of shock, disgust, and horror.
I can write about the nightmare, I just don't want to put those images in other's minds. Especially those of you who are already having nightmares. The images are thanks to one abuse perpetrator who fancied himself to be fan of Satan, so you might imagine why I am reluctant to write about it here.

 

[Pixie]

Lionheart, I understand. My "daymares" are related to RSA and all of that stuff too. I've only ever written it out once for my psych to see but I wouldn't wish this kind of stuff on anyone...

Pixie

 

[bonnecanyon]

Lionheart

I'm so sorry that you are having to go thru this.

I wanted to say something to you tho - thank you for not sharing the details of your nightmares. I am not sure where this comes from for me - but I get terrified of those kinds of images. I can't imagine what it would be like to have that in your head and not be able to get it out!

I feel for you
BC

 

[Onefineday]

I have found that certain dreams would occur after certain situations had happened while I am awake. In the past if I was stressing then I would always have dreams that my mum was getting back with her boyfriend, now that I've 'moved on' from that and it's a past stress, I started having dreams that my mum is drunk. These aren't terrifying dreams about murder or anything, just 'reality'. Although very occasionally they will be more stressful, I think one of the last dreams I had of my mothers boyfriend he strangled me. And sometimes now when I dream about my mother she becomes possessed by something and attacks me.
I've also found (not so much with nightmares but in general dreams) that when I figure out the meaning to a repetitive dream, I won't dream about it anymore. I also have dreams that are stressful but I enjoy them. It's hard to explain. But I do have a lot of running away dreams, where I could be caught at any moment, but that freedom and adventure of running down the street with nothing but the clothes on my back, hiding whenever someone is catching up to me, or going through tunnels- under the roads, corridors... I always enjoy tunnel dreams, I don't know what it is about them but I love it. Maybe it's just hiding. I had a great dream last night actually, I can't remember what it was about though, I can just tell it was good.
Sorry I'm talking a bit random, I'm just reminescing. *sigh* Good times...
It's 6am now, I think it might be time for bed...

 

[Nicky31]

Hi Lionheart, :Hug_emoticon:

You can always talk it through with me on a PM if that would help, I'm sure other forum members would say similar or alternatively post it here and just put a warning as others do that it might contain triggers.

They are certainly tough emotions to experience. Do you feel like this when you wake from them too?

Nic

 

[Lionheart]

Hi Lionheart, :Hug_emoticon:
You can always talk it through with me on a PM if that would help

They are certainly tough emotions to experience. Do you feel like this when you wake from them too?
Nic

Thank you Nicky I may take you up on the PM if the nightmares get bad again and yes, I feel totally horrified by these types of nightmares after I wake up. I physically felt like I had been punched in the stomach for days afterwards. I have been sleeping in my clothes with the light on (blush) and so far, have had no more of these terrible dreams. *crosses fingers

 

[Nicky31]

Whatever helps and comforts you is good to go with Lion. Yes get in touch if you need to talk it through. I'm happy to help, but in the meantime I also have my fingers crossed that your nights stay nightmare free. :thumbs-up

Nic

 

[onebravegirl]

Hugs from Lions are Grrrreat!:rofl:
O

 

[dharmaBum]

Don't know if you've been in to see your doc yet, but the elimination of all stimulants (from allergy med & caffeine mostly) and the substitution of a beta blocker for a more traditional anti-anxiety med have med a tremendous difference for me. Plus processing as much trauma related info as I can and keeping weekly acupuncture treatments. I was having at least one nightmare and/or sudden hypervigilant waking a night a month ago, often 3-5. In the last two weeks since the switch, I've had only about 3 bad dreams, and they are more stress oriented than graphic shocker fear fests.

 

[NarcSis]

Nightmares, nightmares and more nightmares!!!!

Hugs from Lions are Grrrreat!:rofl:
O

That's just HILARIOUS, you sure know how to make me smile - I needed that! Thanks.


I suffer nightmares and much less than previously, night terrors. Hey adults are allowed to be scared too, don't knock it, I sometimes sleep with a light on or (blush) hug my Teddy bear. In reality, my teddy is never far from me when I sleep, my husband sometimes tries to steal him in the middle of the night but I wake up and tell him to get his own...lol.

Something has disturbed your sense of self, your sense of safety, the core of who you think you are - that alone is scary enough, the nightmares, well, they're your minds way of trying to process the trauma (so I'm told) although, sometimes they make no sense at all or the message seems a little wonky.

They are what they are and they can't hurt you...that being said, don't let anyone judge you for needing a light on or being afraid to go to bed. We've all been there.

 

[onebravegirl]

Hi Lionheart, :Hug_emoticon:

You can always talk it through with me on a PM if that would help, I'm sure other forum members would say similar or alternatively post it here and just put a warning as others do that it might contain triggers.

They are certainly tough emotions to experience. Do you feel like this when you wake from them too?

Nic

Count me in too Lion. If you want to start a Blog about this, I will be there for you!
O