[psychea]

I've been going through a lot lately and I have started having nightmares, almost every night. I wake up totally freaked out. Some times I can't figure out where the dream ends and the reality begins. The other night I thought I was awake thinking and then I was seeing these giant spiders all over my bed, I started screaming, felt completely disoriented, took me forever to figure out it wasn't real. I wake up with a feeling of doom every morning and I can't breath because of the tightness in my chest. I keep trying to meditate and deep breath but it's not working. I hate the idea of being medicated, I really do, but I'm starting to think it might be my only choice. I have struggled with depression in the past and I'm worried that it's creeping back in. Any suggestions? I'm taking vitamin Bs to help with anxiety too.

[moralfe]

I do not like meds either. I do know how the impending doom thoughts make you feel. Have you tried valerian root. That helps with anxiety also. I can tell you that what has helped me has been cbt therapy. It's like 15 sessions. I see your doing deep breathing but do you do it everyday on schedule or only when you feel you need to relax? It will not work if you do not practice. Do it even if you don't have to. Also try progressive muscle relaxation. That works but again you have to do it everyday even on the good days. The therapy teaches you how to change your though pattern to stop impending doom thoughts. Well they do come up sometimes but the way you react to them changes and does not cause you to fear them or panic. I hope this helps. Feel better.

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[healingme4me]

Dream Moods: Your Dream Symbol Interpretation

Waking up to a dream like that sounds petrifying. Do you analyze your dreams? Keep a dream journal? It helps by tapping into areas in your life, that are worth taking a look at, to help with the anxiety.

Is vitamin B, the only vitamin, you take? Have you tried multi-vitamins? Be cautious with valerian root, as like any prescribed med, herbal supplements, also have government fact sheets. Usually good, to know the pros and cons of anything, you ingest, whether prescribed or OTC.
Valerian — Health Professional Fact Sheet

If not open, to prescribed meds, as the tone of your post alludes to, it probably won't be, as effective. Because, there's the medicinal benefit plus placebo effect. The placebo effect can, sometimes matter. ((even if clinically proven to be effective, if that makes sense and I don't want to sound like I am promoting anything more, than a closer look at your dreams...))

[psychea]

Yes I have tried valerian root, and it does take the edge off, but not enough. Thank you for the suggestions, I used to be really good with meditation, but I have to say I've let all my good habits go, I'm probably becoming depressed again and being unconsciously self sabotaging. This dream with the insects, I have had it for years, it comes and goes based on my state of mind, but they feel like hallucinations more then dreams. I don't know what they are all about other then, my association to spiders is that they are terrifying and their movements unpredictable, so this implies that perhaps I feel out of control and scared in my life right now, I don't know?