I realize I can Google this, but I have the tendency to take things too broadly when I'm worried. I'm kind of banned from WebMD by friends and family, haha. Anyyyyway.

I'm concerned I may have (a? not sure if there are multiple types) nightmare disorder. Does anyone have experience with this subject? I did a quick search just for the definition, because honestly I'd never heard of it until registering for PC, as it's in the list of reason's/afflictions.

I realize, or at least it seems, to be pretty rare, at least based on the numbers Wikipedia provides... But I have been experiencing nightmares virtually nightly (it's just short of a celebration if I don't have one) for probably 7 to 8 years. This isn't to say I don't also have good dreams, but they are just another portion in the pool of my imagination at night. It began and coincided with the beginning of my depression problem, which in the beginning also included insomnia for quite a few months.

I almost never have trouble falling asleep unless I've been having a string of particularly horrifying nightmares, at which point the reason is because of dreading another.

It is normal for me to wake up multiple times nightly, whether it's because of dreams or not anymore. Not to go the bathroom or get water or eat or anything, but just wake up. Again, I usually don't have trouble going back to sleep, but it disturbs the cycle I'm sure.

Even if a nightmare isn't particularly "scary," they may be extremely uncomfortable and un-restful where I wake up sweating, there was at least one time where I yelled, shaking, or crying. These uncomfortable ones include things like being stuck in slow motion or being unable to move my body when everyone/everything else is normal. Or being in large crowds (unrealistic) and trying not to be trampled or feeling exhausted from trying.

Some are even just awkward social situations, even though that sounds silly probably - I have social anxiety and I usually wake up with sore muscles after these, I assume from tensing up. I'm not even sure that I can really say these dreams wouldn't be "scary" to most, as I feel like I am used to the issue, jaded.

And of course, I do have "true" nightmares that are scary and exhausting.

I wake up tired every day, and didn't realize this number of nightmares wasn't even remotely common... Maybe it's just under-diagnosed...? I don't know.

Honestly, I'm not looking so much for common suggestions on how to get to sleep or wind down - trust me, I've tried very, very many. I even trained myself to lucid dream when I was younger, and it ended up a nightmare, as it were. I guess I'm wondering about the not-so-common ones, ones that people normally hear and think, "Yeah, right."

Or maybe what kind of doctor to go to, or if I should just keep going forward with my psych. After describing the types of dreams I had, he said it was serious enough to consider, deep down if I hadn't (if I was suppressing anything), if I've ever been in violent situations or even abused at any point - I haven't, luckily.

Has anyone experienced this or at least something similar and found medicinal remedies? Even when I've tried things like melatonin, chamomile, warm milk, other natural stuff (which I'm all for)...when I've had colds and taken NyQuil or Tylenol PM or Benadryl...I MAY get a dreamless sleep if I'm lucky with a cold, but usually my sleep is just prolonged.

I'm afraid of seeking prescription meds, as I am wary of becoming dependent on another drug to live, but I guess being dependent is probably better than being exhausted every day. . . If anyone has had luck there, please suggest.

Thanks for sticking out the read.