[I_miss_my_kitty]

i've been having alot of nightmares and weird dreams lately and I always wake up having panic attacks, i'm not sure whats causing the nightmares. Its frustrating because I have difficulty falling asleep and when do I wake up because of a nightmares and I'm afraid to go back to bed. I'm not sure whats happening.I'm confused.

[CedarS]

I've been challenged by nightmares for a long time now, I still have them but I'm able to relax usually pretty quickly after.

Some things that helped me: good therapy, watching my coffee intake, building the habit of giving myself soothing msgs when under stress, making my bedroom safe and comforting, and using my imagination to rewrite the nightmare story.

As I wake up from a nightmare I slow my breathing down and tell myself that this too shall pass, I've survived this before and I will again, I'm alright. Then sometimes I imagine that I'm the author of the story and I go back and rewrite it. If I'm being chased or assaulted in the nightmare, I go back with support and tools, I win.

[I_miss_my_kitty]

thats nice cedar

I spoke to my counsellor about it she told me to keep a writing pad nearby and write down what I remember. I tried to do that last night but i'll try again. I need to work on the panic attacks.

[CedarS]

Writing things down sounds great! You might just get a few words down the first few times, then with practice you will get a little more, even a few words jotted down will help.

[I_miss_my_kitty]

so part of the axiety attacks results from my fears and changes happening recently. I'm turning 18 on Sunday and on the Friday I will be leaving for college, i'm scared and worried, excited a little, i'm worried mostly because I have to make sure my grades are perfect because i can't loose my scholarhip and i need to get more scholarships because my mom just spent all the money she has on the first semester, i'm not sure where the rest of the money will come from soo its up to me. I'm pretty scared.

[Sannah]

Hi, I'm glad that you are figuring out what is causing your anxiety. Have you had trouble with anxiety before?

[I_miss_my_kitty]

yeah i stuggle with social anxiety. and i have panic attacks sometimes just never had them because of nightmares.

[Sannah]

Is anyone else anxious in your family?

[I_miss_my_kitty]

i don't think so.

[Sannah]

I have recovered from anxiety and I think that people become anxious because they didn't get to experience security while growing up.

[requiem]

Bear with me. I don't mean to make light of the subject but, when people get hot they have nightmares. I know it's true for children. I babysat kids who would wake up hot and sweaty and frightened. I'd strip back a blanket, remove socks, and voila, peaceful sleep without waking up ever half hour. I swear it works.

But the problem is, when people get anxious, we get hot. So I guess you have to deal with the problem to keep it from making you anxious, so you won't get hot and won't have nightmares.