Sleep and waking up from nightmares

[Orangetoast]

Hi everyone, last month and a bit I’ve been having trouble with my sleep. I’m on a high dose of an TCA from my anxiety, depression and sleep. Last month and a bit my sleep has gotten worse than usual and I’m woken up from bad nightmares most nights. I’m 31 and never suffered with nightmares at all? It’s like my body wakes up in a panic attack and I’m shaking. Normally happens around 4am ish. Has anyone had this happen to them suddenly? I have had some bad events happen in life over the last 5 years could this be influencing this? Oh and I don’t normally recall the dream I was happening, just that it wasn’t pleasant.

[quirkywords]

Orangetoast, I find your name intriguing!!

Welcome to the forum.

I can relate a bit to what you have written, but I have had bad sleep for decades. I had terrible nightmares a s child. Now I am restless and if I do sleep I have very vivid dreams not nightmares byt disturbing so I wake up exhausted.

I had a bad event happen to me about 8 weeks ago and have slept even less than my normal bad sleep.

Are you going to any therapy that may cause youto be thinking about things that then occur in dreams.

Have you spoken to your doctor as to whether the medication you are taking may affect your dreams?

Thanks again for your post.

Quirky

[Orangetoast]

Thank for the reply Quirky, sleep issue are just the worst. The medicine I take daily I’ve been on for about 3 years. I have noticed a few side effects coming up of late but no I haven’t spoken to my doctor about this yet. I’ve been to a therapist a few years ago with no real positive outcome. But I can’t go back to them anyway as the have closed their practice permanently. Maybe some else maybe better but I’m not sure? I’ve had a family member pass away last Christmas Day. Maybe I’m not processing that very well too.

[Doolhof]

Hi Orangetoast,

Welcome to the community here. Like Quirky, I would suggest having a talk to your Dr about your nightmares. I guess there can be multiple reasons for you experiencing them.

When you wake from the nightmares, what do you do next? Are there ways you can calm yourself down again?

It might help to Google "Sleep Hygiene". Strange name, don't let it put you off. Some sites have some beneficial ideas on how to improve your sleep.

I find the more I think I won't sleep the worse it is to get to sleep!

Hope the nightmares reduce and disappear. Hope your Dr has some ideas for you.

Regards from Dools