Nightmares and unpleasant dreams - how to cope?

DWR · ‎01-05-2015

For a few weeks now I have been having nightmares and unpleasant dreams all through the night, usually more than 2 a night. I get to sleep at a decent hour and wake up completely drained and in a terrible mood.

A lot of them I don't remember yet they've put me in a bad mood all day. Sometimes its about people from work, if we had a fight or they said horrible things to me or about me. The dream felt so real its hard to forget the fact it was a dream. Which makes me analyse over everything they say to me and how they say it.

On top of this, my nail biting habits have gone a bit far. I have been biting the skin on my fingers to the point they bleed. Its an unconscious habit that I'm finding hard to stop.

I am seeing a therapist next week (first time with this person), which is making me nervous, which will most likely fuel these dreams and habits.

Koru · ‎02-05-2015

Hi there....i too have depression...and just last night, had yet another nightmare. I also chew and pick my nails so much that it hurts to pick things up, or do anything because my fingers are sore and nails chewed off to the skin underneath.

Yet i have to hold down a full time job where i am in direct contact with the public; having to be 'up' all the time is getting harder and harder....i come home and cry like a baby some days....i just feel so drained from putting customers needs first....its my job, i know. But as i can't afford a holiday in the last 2 years, im just getting incredibly run down, which brings me back to my initial point; my nails cop it!

Thanks for sharing your story, i feel better for sharing mine 🙂

Chris_B · ‎05-05-2015

Hi DWR and Koru, a couple of similar threads you might find useful - a few of our members are experiencing similar issues:

Anxiety + nightmares, are they related?

Antidepressant related nightmares

DWR · ‎05-05-2015

Koru

It sounds like we're in the same boat. I know I'm lucky to have a full time job, a home, family. Which makes it all the more upsetting to feel this way. Its a vicious circle that is very hard to break.

Thanks Chris B, Ill check those out.

Also during the day I occasionally have visions of explosions, roof caving in, car crashes ect. When things seem to calm, like an impending doom. Sometimes I will be talking to someone and they will just start bleeding uncontrollably. I must emphasis that I am not the person doing these things in my visions, nor do I ever intend to hurt anybody or anything. I cant control this and I havnt told anyone about it.

Dennis38 · ‎07-05-2015

Hey Koru

The visions sound like a lack of sleep to me, or deep sleep, after a while lack of a deep sleep will start to screw with your brain. As for handling the nightmares there is a trick to it which I know has helped several people.

First off takes about a month to fully kick in, as this is not a fix me fast, sadly there is no quick fix that truly works. Second for the first week or so you are going to feel a bit foolish but that passes as you will find that this does work. Its a matter of simply retraining the subconscious brain.

Every night before you go to bed, about 5 or 10 minutes as you lay in bed and feel yourself starting to drift off simply tell yourself, either out loud or in your own mind (some people have found that hearing their own voice helps better then simply thinking this) "I am going to sleep, dreams can not hurt me, if I have a dream I do not like, the dream will stop and I will be taken to a safe place. " We have our own safe place where ever you feel the safest is where your mind will take you, and while in this place, NOTHING can harm you in any shape or form.

If you put the time and energy into this, you will find that in about two weeks to a month you will find that the nightmares will be a lot easier to control. As for the visions talk to your GP or counciler about these!

DWR · ‎08-05-2015

Thanks Dennis38, I think your replying to me.

Ill try any suggestions at this point and I wil try this one.

This past week my dreams have been of my usual day, getting up working ect. Its so real, as if it has been a whole day. Then I wake up and realise I have to get up for another day of work. As you can imagine its been very draining.

I am seeing a therapist today so I really hope we can work through this.

Zan · ‎08-05-2015

Gi'dayDWR - I know what those dreams are like, the worst ones being when you've dreamt all night that you've been at work only to find, when you wake up, that it was just a dream and although thoroughly exhausted have to go to work and do it all again. I found that those dreams only happened when stressed or work was so backlogged to the point of actually requiring another employee (if only).

As for the "Horror story nightmares and day visions" have you tried turning off your TV ... even the news -- and if you really do need a news hit, get it from the radio only? I found TV (and horror DVD's) really brought out the worst when on anti-psychotic medication ... and when drinking alcohol prior to sleeping. (I've since quit both and have now been what I call S.A.D. free (S)moke (A)lcohol (D)rug free (including pharmaceuticals) for nearly 10 years (and it's the best thing I've ever done). I've also chucked out the TV. It's worked for me ... which is all I can say really!

Hope your therapist helps. All the best.

Cymru · ‎10-05-2015

Hi DWR, can I ask if you take antidepressant medication and if you've change dosage of late. The onset of bizarre dreams is a common side-effect. As is restless sleep can a factor too. You might chat with your GP. Equally, there is a long history of dream interpretation and an equal history that such is bumpkin. If you read Pat Barkers Regeneration trilogy there is a lot about accessing dreams by the eminent neurologist John Rivers. My own counsellor puts much weight on dreams. Whereas my partner feels it is random firing of neurons in sleep and at best the brain rearranging memory in sleep. My mother was able to recall dreams in great detail such that I could follow easily what she described. I have had a reoccurring set of dreams for as long as I recall (or is it I dream that I have the same dream for a long time?) My childhood suburb appears from a particular perspective, a house (that moves and arranges itself) which seems familiar but I've never lived in it (and from the time frame of my 40s) along with my late father and late wife (who seem to be from my 30s). Oddly, my late mother has never appeared. I'm also disappointed that my dear middle son who died a short while ago has never appeared. I'm not sure what any of this might mean, but I suppose unresolved relationship issues (there was a lot with both father and wife). One view is that there images, impressions represent different aspects of our own psyche and nothing to do with the people place we remember from dreams. The other idea is as I mentioned; the brain rearranging stored memory. Another is about sex as everything is always about sex. Our dream state of sleep is very short and about when we are waking (although it seems longer) Some folk wake while the dream state continues so are unable to distinguish dream images from ordinary life; taking up to half an hour for the dream state to fade. I wouldn't worry too much. Avoid caffeine, sweets and alcohol at night,and read rather than watch TV of an evening. And if it persist seek professional advice. All the best Russell.

White_Rose · ‎10-05-2015

Dear Cymru and DWR

I have a great belief in dreams. My GP tells me that we experience different types of dreams during the night. The early dreams we forget as we progress to other dreams. I cannot remember the order of the dreams, but the content varies. Next time I see her I will ask and try to remember.

The last dreams of the night (actually early morning) are the ones we remember. There is an accepted medical process where we can wake up but feel paralysed and the dream may continue briefly. I have experienced this and it is quite frightening. The feeling that something is happening but you cannot move or do anything is nasty.

I try to remember my dreams and over time I find I can often make sense of them. I used to see a psychiatrist who would get me to describe the dream and decide what it meant. I suspect that dreams have no intrinsic value if viewed this way, it's the meaning it has for us. Even so the psych would give me a few pointers once in a while if I was stuck. Once I got into the habit I found it very useful. It's like receiving messages from yourself.

Now before you suggest I adjust my medication, I don't dream every night. I cannot always interpret my dreams, although if I remember them for long enough sometimes the penny drops much later.

I really want to know how I can get better and what is stopping me. No one else can get inside my brain and know what I am thinking. Sometimes I wonder if I know what I am thinking. So these dreams often help me understand myself.

So DWR don't be scared. Use your dreams to get to know yourself. It's a great tool.

Mary

Cymru · ‎11-05-2015

I agree Mary, that seeking to understand dreams can be helpful and we need not fer them.But I sympathize with those who suffer nightmares and try to avoid sleep because if the pain. This is an area where professional help îs required. I'll draw comfort from you idea that with some focus and work we might get a little more insight into ourselves via dreams. Although, I've come to accept professional advice that my depression stems from undue guilt. It is just that I actually believe I have enough to be guilty about. I let down my late wife, children ... My middle son died recently. I understand I could not prevent his suicide at that particular time ... but I was still responsible. His mother didn't trust me ... and perhaps she was right to do so. I'm certain if she had not died, my son would have lived. So understanding myself seems a curse ... I'd be better not knowing. I hate dreams.