[vacantangel]

How do you stop nightmares? I'm *really* exhausted today and have had a couple of naps. During my first one I had a nightmare about one of my phobias. Have no idea why, this phobia is not something that I would ordinarily have to deal with. In fact, can't even remember the last time I've encountered what the phobia is. During my 2nd nap, my phobia nightmare continued but with FAR more intensity. It was absolutely HORRIBLE!!! I woke up in an extremely anxious state. I tried deep breathing and that didn't help. I couldn't take my anti-anxiety med cuz it would only contribute to my exhaustion. I also woke up with a migraine headache. Thankfully after a period of time my state of anxiousness went away on it's own. I'm still soooooooooooooooo exhausted. I can barely keep my eyes open BUT I can't get the visuals of my last intense phobia nightmare today out of my head.

I don't want to go to sleep, I don't want it to continue. I don't know how it could possibly get any worse than it was the last time. But even if the intensity didn't escalate further, I still don't want this nightmare to continue.

How can I go back to sleep and either not dream at all or dream about something pleasant, like some HOT guy!!! I can't go through any more of that nightmare. But these horrible visuals have been in my head all day.

Desperately needing but I won't allow myself to. I'm practically falling asleep typing this but I'm gonna do whatever I can to force myself to stay awake. I just can't continue with that nightmare.

Suggestions PLEASE!!!

[gardenergirl]

Oh sweetie, I'm sorry you are dealing with this. The only suggestion I have is to try to process the nightmare while awake. Look for things in it that might relate to something in real life that is frightening you or upsetting you. And try to "solve the problem" of the nightmare while awake. Come up with a solution to it. Slay the dragon. And then when you start to go to sleep, remind yourself of your mission...to slay the dragon. Tell yourself you are capapble, you have the armor, and you have the courage and ability. Whatever the task is in the nightmare, once you complete it, it should go away.

But I believe that all dreams that are vivid and that evoke an emotional response and/or that you remember so much are trying to tell you something from your unconscious. So try to think of what this dream reminds you of. Anything and everything. It will eventually come to you.

I hope sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, how about a nice soothing bath or a cup of tea?

(((AG)))

gg

[jmo531]

I know how you feel angelgirl. My anxiety would wake me up out of a sound sleep for months until I could no longer sleep at at as I accosicated my panic attacks with the night. This made me more exhausted and actually worse off.
I t took me months to get bak to a normal schedule, so I know how difficult and anxious this situation is for you.
I agree with gardengirl. I understand these nightmares are very painful and frightning to you but I think if you try to process them while you are awake it might take some of the intensity out of them.
My T always tells me that if I face my fears head on and deal with it eventually the fear will become less and less to where I am no longer afraid. I'm still working on that one. I have lots of fears I'm still dealing with.
Anyway, please try to rest as much as you can, even if it's only and hour here and there so your not so exhausted it effects you in other ways. Maybe lay down and set your alarm clock for two hours and slowly increase it until your feeling more comfortable.

I dunno...just a thought. Take care angel. I will be thinking of you with good thoughts.

[vacantangel]

I'm not sure what the nightmares relate to. I had an intense feeling of being completely helpless and overwelmed to the point of being paralyzed with fright.

Am I supposed to look at how I felt and discover what is making me feel that way in my life? What about the object of my phobia, does it play any part? Gonna do a little net search on that item and it better not be bad. My visuals are already horrible and make me cringe in fear.

jmo - sorry to hear you are going through a similiar situation. I can't imagine dealing with it for months. I'm trying to get through my first night. I REFUSE to sleep.

[jmo531]

((((((((((ANGEL))))))))))

I feel for ya sweety, I really do. I'm not having the sleeping problem now, but I was up until then end of January. Like I said, it went on for months, I guess it started in Novenmber. It was hell. But you will overcome it. You a strong girl. I think researching it is also a good idea.

Keep me posted. K?

[vacantangel]

I think staying awake is a GOOD idea.

I just did a net search on my phobia item in dream analysis. I am NOT liking what I found out at all. Now I'm even more frightened and don't want to go to sleep. I'm so scared, I'm literally shaking.

[jmo531]

Angelgirl,

I am so sorry. I feel terrible for you. Not sleeping is the worst. I'll be here for a while if you want to talk.
Take care. Like I said before, I'm thinking of you and will be throwing good vibes your way, right now!!!!!!

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDDDDDD VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[vacantangel]

Thanks for the good vibes. I'm still shaking. Do you have any phobias?

[vacantangel]

I did a search on the predominant thing in my dream, my phobia item, it has multiple meanings depending on how I felt. Since my feelings were paralyzing fear to the point of almost blacking out, that is not a good sign. Do you do dream analysis Fury?

[jmo531]

Do I have any phobias?
Oh yes Angel. I will list them. Keep in mind they are in no particular order. Some of these have to do with my OCD too so, here it goes.

Heights
Ocean water
High bridges
Death
Fear of going crazy (My Pdoc said that is really a phobia)
The number 6 ( i cringe even when I write it)
I have a phobia about meds and contamination.
I hate to be chased cause I feel like I am in grave danger.
I also have a fear of going to visit my father. This is the house I grew up in and where I endured all of my abuse.
I know that phobia's are very hard to deal with. I hate them and the one's that I have listed cause me substanial anxiety.
The Ocean Water is pretty bad. I went on vacation with my hubby and kids the summer before last and he dragged me inthe water against my will. He thought I was overreacting to the water and I screamed and yelled and cried until he let go. Everyone in ear shot on the beach looked at me like "What the hell is wrong with her".
So I completely understand.

Life sux!!!!!!!

[vacantangel]

Yes, I read that while I was researching. That's why I'm staying AWAKE!!! I REFUSE to put myself through that again. I've never been so terrified in my entire life as I was in that dream. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

[vacantangel]

How mean of your hubby, he must not understand the intensity of the fear that you have with phobias. I also have many phobias, some you have on your list too. This phobia that I dreamed about is not on your list. I just can't go through that again. I can't, I won't. I was so gripped with fear I thought I was going to pass out in my dream.

[jmo531]

Im sorry angel. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to . When and if your ready, I will be here.
I don't think my hubby fully understood the intensity of my fear. But I tell you, he got an ear full after we went back to the hotel room. LOL.
I have a gun phobia as well. When I was`17 there was an incident with my ex hubby and a gun. I this day, I hate guns, the thought, the sight and to even talk about them is painful.
You take your time and work through this at your own pace. Like I said, when your ready to talk about it, I am here for you.
When you decide to sleep, please remember to have SWEET DREAMS of hunky lucious rooms full of Brad Pitt, Jude Law, Ben Affleck and any other man that peeks your interest. LOL

[vacantangel]

Would you mind talking about it with me in PM or private chat (although I don't know how to set that up)? I just don't want to trigger you in any way. That's why I have not given any details on the forum, as to not trigger anybody. That's also why I asked what if any phobias you have because if you have this particular one then it would be too horrible for you to hear. This particular phobia is a very common one, I think I read tonight it is within the top 3. Are you up to it? Please feel free to say no if you are at all aprehensive. The last thing I want is for someone else to be suffering too.

[vacantangel]

I just looked and the support chat room is vacant if you have time and feel up to it. No obligations sweetie.

[vacantangel]

I'm still awake, determined not to sleep. Just was doing a net search on the phobia item in my dream. It's creeping me out. I can't even read this stuff anymore. I can't analyze this dream by myself, just reading about the symbols is too triggering. I give up on the analysis part. I've just gone through an extremely hard emotional week, it's probably related to that cuz there are ongoing emotional issues to deal with still. I even had a very creepy spiritual thing happen on Wednesday that scared the crap out of me. I found out on Thursday that my niece experienced the exact same thing in the same place as I did the week before but was afraid to say anything out of fear of sounding Just too weird and freaky. I am determined I'm not going to sleep.

I'M NOT!!!

I'm sooooooooo tired, too tired to even sit up anymore. I want desperately to lie down but I don't dare. I would fall asleep within a few seconds and I can't do that, I won't. How long can I possibly force myself to stay awake? And I'm still literally shaking from fear. DAMN phobia.

[vacantangel]

[JayL]

what is your phobia? J>L

[vacantangel]

I don't know if I should say on here. It's a very common phobia. I just don't want to trigger anybody. I certainly could never give details of the dream on the public forum. I'm still triggered by the rememberance of them myself. I'm still so creeped out by my nightmares and I want to sleep so badly.

[gardenergirl]

AG,
I'm not usually one to use dream dictionaries. When I mentioned processing your dream while awake, I meant just thinking about it and thinking about what it reminds you of. My T does this with me in sessions. He doesn't interpret them, and we don't use symbolic meanings. We just use whatever comes into my head about the dream and go from there. He believes, and this makes sense to me, that our dreams are trying to tell us something from our unconscious. The language of our dreams is made up of associations from our own mind, not necessarily from something that is common to everyone else.

So what the dictionary said about your dream may or may not be what your mind is trying to tell you. The tough part now is that since you've looked it up, that is in your mind now too. So if you try to free associate to the dream, that may come up as well.

Sorry if I was not more clear in my original post to you. And I'm sorry you had such a fright. I hope that it is beginning to wear off and that you are able to get some rest soon.

((((AG)))))

gg

[jmo531]

((((((((((ANGELGIRL))))))))

I am so sorry. I just got your reply from last night. I always told you if you wanted to talk about it that I would be there for you. Now I feel like I havelet you down because I left last night.

Please forgive me. I dont know how to set up a private chat either. Lately I have been having trouble even getting into the chat at all. My puter is a peice of poop.
Angel, I just wanted to tell you I am sorry and I will be there for you if you need me. OK? Let me know.

Love,

Jen

[LMo]

Angelgirl, I think staying awake is a horrible idea. You can't be calm if you are sleep-deprived.

Yoga or meditation would be a good way to clear your mind for sleep. Have you tried that?

And what does your therapist say?

[roxxy]

Angelgirl,
I hope you finally got some well needed rest. The odds you would dream about the same thing are very slim I would think....I would hope.
Let us know how you slept. I find dreams to be very interesting!!!

(((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))

roxxy