Hi Irish,

A couple of things that are happening to you, happen to me. Before I started having anxiety, I didn't really dream much, never have really. But since having anxiety, I have really really vivid dreams and nightmares. I have come to realise that my dreams are about things that I have been anxious about during the day and often about some of the crazy thoughts I have during the day. The dreams are always extremely exaggerated and vivid.
For example, My mum has been having a really hard time over me, she is more stressed than me about me! She went to the Dr and has been told she has dangerously high blood pressure. She told me this the other night on the phone and I became really anxious about it. That night, I had the most scary, upsetting dream that she had a heart attack and that people were telling me it was my fault for all the stress I put on her. I woke up crying and was really really upset.

I have also had some really scary nightmares about ghosts and people being posessed by ghosts etc.

I also am scared to go to bed sometimes because I don't want to have these dreams, they are so real and scary.

My psychiatrist told me that it is totally normal with anxiety to have really vivid dreams etc. I am not sure whether u suffer anxiety, but apparently it is just the thoughts and emotions experienced during the day that come out in dreams, and they are always exaggerated and way more real. So in that way, I know it doesn't make it easier, but it is totally normal, don't be scared, it is just your brain processing what has happened during the day etc, It can help with the recovery process.

I was taking Valium before bed for a while, and I don't think I had any dreams that I can remember. Not sure if you wanted to try that option?

I also listen to relaxation cd's in bed, they can really clear your mind and put you to sleep. It seems that if u go to bed stressed, u sleep stressed. So maybe a calming relaxation cd could help you, does me.

In regards to the coughing... When I am anxious, I dry-rech (don't know how to spell it!) a lot, like I am going to vomit, and I cough a lot. I think maybe it could be stress related. I just have a drink as soon as I start coughing, simple but it usually works. I get really bad and almost vomit, lol... I find that deep breathing and calming myself down works too.

Hope it all gets better for you!

Take Care

Kel