Whimper through unremembered dreams

[GwenDR]

I don't have nightmares. At least, I do t remember doing it, except occasionally. But there's been a few nights, once or twice, where I was having a really bad, anxiety filled dream when my wife wakes me and tells me i was whimpering and turning.

But it has only happened those few times. Except that she just informed me that it happens all the time, more often than not when she's awake after me, but usually she can't wake me. She thought I knew, but I didn't.

This came up in conversation while talking about how I avoid going to bed. I stay up late just because I don't want to go to bed. I was avoiding it because I felt safe alone with just me, and nothing to do, and sleep meant mornings which are stressful. But not because of nightmares. But now in wondering if I do have nightmares more often and am not remembering them.

 

[Deadman]

We all dream. We all have nightmares. Most people forget them even before they wake.

Nightmares are not a bad thing. They are usually the brain's way of trying to make sense of past difficult events or 'practicing' for future bad situations. Unless they are interfering with your life I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Quarantine Queen]

The best advice I got for nightmares whether remembered or not is the change the story when you wake up. Maybe you remember the nightmare when you are awake and are having anxiety about it. The advice I received was to change the nightmare in your mind to the way you wish things would have turned out. If you saw someone killed imagine that you saved them, if you were assaulted imagine that you got away or had them arrested before anything happened. If you don't remember the nightmare but have that horrible feeling when you wake up like something dreadful happened do the same thing. Think of a dream you would like to have whether its eating a sundae, winning a race or having a great date with the hot person next door.

I used to have nightmares all the time and my husband would have to wake me up because I was often yelling in my sleep. I would have anxiety afterwards for days at times whether I remembered the dream or not. Often I wouldn't remember and there would just be that horrible feeling. I faithfully tried this method and it worked to decrease my post-nightmare anxiety considerably. I even do it through out the day not necessarily right when I wake up. Give it a try- I know its tough.