[Fhawn]

Night terrors

I now take medication to block my dreams…most of the time they work.

I have night terrors. They seem to be the same theme. A evil shadow figure that is male there to do me harm/or kill me. Always in my bedroom hovering over me. When I wake up half asleep the shadow dissipates …I’m screaming and trying to climb of the bed to get away. My husband has had to hold me down until I’m fully awake and aware it was another dream. I think it comes from PTSD and being a violent crime survivor…perpetrator was male. What are your thoughts?

[Eyes of Blue]

Any shadowy form in a dream, human or otherwise, can basically be regarded as an idea in your own mind which is unenlightened or unintelligent. As you have referred to a shadow “figure”, the unintelligent idea may be seen as actually making some sense in your mind. The fact that this is a male figure also confirms that the idea in question could be seen as logical to you. As this figure is sensed to be evil, it would emphasize the negative and unenlightened quality of the idea you are terrorizing yourself with. An unintelligent, negative idea is being sensed as having the ability to hurt you in some way or even be able to completely emotionally devastate you. (kill you)

This idea seems to hang around in a threatening manner (hovering over me) in a personal situation (in my bedroom). [As the bedroom appears to be one shared with a husband, the idea most likely pertains to the marital relationship. Do you perhaps fear the idea of unfaithfulness?] When you acquire some conscious awareness (wake up) – in this case an awareness that gives you at least partial peace of mind, (wake up half asleep) the idea that terrifies you would simply disappear. The sense of horror that this unintelligent idea is giving you is driving to leave a situation in which you could rest completely at ease. (screaming and trying to climb out of the bed)

You may need to use your mind (represented by your husband) to restrain your emotional urge to leave a position or attitude which gives you peace of mind until such time when you are fully conscious and aware that the idea that has been terrifying you comes from/of your own Dream World, i.e. it comes from using overly imaginative and emotional thinking. (My husband has had to hold me down until I’m fully awake and aware it was another dream)

[kvinneakt]

What meds are you taking? Do they work well? Have you tried others? Do you take a "sleeping pill?"

Sorry. Another one with a similar story. I should put in a new thread...

Good luck to you. These damn hallucinations are very disruptive. I would have never known from reading about it. It's like the difference between a sinus and a migraine headache.

Night terrors is a phenomenon that has been around forever. Much proper medical literature can be found online about this. I've had them since I was a kid. About 10 times a year. They don't scare me anymore....well after I come out of them I mean. I usually wake myself up because my breathing in horror is so loud. Then I go...wow...another one of those...friggin' intense!!!...and go back to sleep.

The general theme is one of impending doom. Sometimes i can see the room but it's different somehow and i know something or someone is about to do me in somehow...I'm damn horrified...it's so real.

I did a lot of reading on this over the years. I don't put any mystical meaning behind 'em because the science is so interesting. All cultures have their variants and the phenomenon as I mentioned is as old as man.

Like to know why I'm answering this thread? I was just exploring parts of the forum i don't usually frequent and saw this post. I had one last night! First one in about 3 months. Yesterday I felt really out of sorts all day. Harder than usual to concentrate and overall felt like crap. I feel quite back to normal today. Fascinating topic and still much a mystery altho they're doing some heavy studies on it. Back in NFLD night terrors are referred to as 'the old hag'. i think it's an old irish or english term. Google night terrors and do some reading on it all. Aside from the moments of absolute freakin' horror I think they're very interesting. i should add i'm not in the least superstitious. I attach a biological reason for them existing moreso than completely psychological and not mystical at all. Many many people have these. Pretty common thing.

Good luck with yours. don't let them get to you. I'm thinking it's something pretty normal...unless you're having them constantly...how many do you have say a month?