Exhausting nightmares

Ive had them for years. As a small child I had frightening recurring nightmares and they have continued into adulthood - only the content has changed. Most nights I have very heavy busy dreams that are packed with unconnected people and places, almost like flashes of pointless information. These leave me exhausted, feeling more tired when I wake than I was before I went to bed, like I haven't slept at all.

But some nights are terrifying. I wake hardly able to breathe (probably the asthma) and sometimes even crying. Those dreams are very disturbing and stay with me sometimes for days.

Do you have some-one you can talk to in real life about what is happening for you? Nightmares/dreams are often our subconsciouses (?) way of trying to tell us something.

I experience the same thing. Some nights are worse than others. But I am always left feeling tired and exhausted, as if I haven't slept at all. My life is pretty good so there is no real reason for this. Wish there was a solution.

I use to have the constant/confusing ones but therapy seems to have quieted both my mind and dreams. I just have "regular" confusing ones now, most of which I don't retain much of. I remember when I realized, about 30-35 years ago that messy, uncomfortable dreams at night helped me be more together during the day (the mess taking place at night when it was "safe" for it to do so). Now that I've had "successful" therapy and things are quiet in my head, I don't think I "need" the activity at night as much.

Thank you for your replies. I haven't really spoken to anyone about my dreams as I really wouldnt know where to start. I did mention them to my psychiatrist about 6 months ago and I was told it was normal! The dreams are regular as clockwork, every night without fail. Often I only remember little bits but sometimes I remember it so vividly that for a good part of the day once ive woken up, I find it hard to distinguish between what is real and what was the dream. Bizarre! I was always told as a child that I had an overactive imagination, which showed through my childhood "invisible friends". I guess its just a continuation of that.

If only one night, just once.. I could dream about the lottery numbers...