[Redsoft]

I realize I can Google this, but I have the tendency to take things too broadly when I'm worried. I'm kind of banned from WebMD by friends and family, haha. Anyyyyway.

I'm concerned I may have (a? not sure if there are multiple types) nightmare disorder. Does anyone have experience with this subject? I did a quick search just for the definition, because honestly I'd never heard of it until registering for PC, as it's in the list of reason's/afflictions.

I realize, or at least it seems, to be pretty rare, at least based on the numbers Wikipedia provides... But I have been experiencing nightmares virtually nightly (it's just short of a celebration if I don't have one) for probably 7 to 8 years. This isn't to say I don't also have good dreams, but they are just another portion in the pool of my imagination at night. It began and coincided with the beginning of my depression problem, which in the beginning also included insomnia for quite a few months.

I almost never have trouble falling asleep unless I've been having a string of particularly horrifying nightmares, at which point the reason is because of dreading another.

It is normal for me to wake up multiple times nightly, whether it's because of dreams or not anymore. Not to go the bathroom or get water or eat or anything, but just wake up. Again, I usually don't have trouble going back to sleep, but it disturbs the cycle I'm sure.

Even if a nightmare isn't particularly "scary," they may be extremely uncomfortable and un-restful where I wake up sweating, there was at least one time where I yelled, shaking, or crying. These uncomfortable ones include things like being stuck in slow motion or being unable to move my body when everyone/everything else is normal. Or being in large crowds (unrealistic) and trying not to be trampled or feeling exhausted from trying.

Some are even just awkward social situations, even though that sounds silly probably - I have social anxiety and I usually wake up with sore muscles after these, I assume from tensing up. I'm not even sure that I can really say these dreams wouldn't be "scary" to most, as I feel like I am used to the issue, jaded.

And of course, I do have "true" nightmares that are scary and exhausting.

I wake up tired every day, and didn't realize this number of nightmares wasn't even remotely common... Maybe it's just under-diagnosed...? I don't know.

Honestly, I'm not looking so much for common suggestions on how to get to sleep or wind down - trust me, I've tried very, very many. I even trained myself to lucid dream when I was younger, and it ended up a nightmare, as it were. I guess I'm wondering about the not-so-common ones, ones that people normally hear and think, "Yeah, right."

Or maybe what kind of doctor to go to, or if I should just keep going forward with my psych. After describing the types of dreams I had, he said it was serious enough to consider, deep down if I hadn't (if I was suppressing anything), if I've ever been in violent situations or even abused at any point - I haven't, luckily.

Has anyone experienced this or at least something similar and found medicinal remedies? Even when I've tried things like melatonin, chamomile, warm milk, other natural stuff (which I'm all for)...when I've had colds and taken NyQuil or Tylenol PM or Benadryl...I MAY get a dreamless sleep if I'm lucky with a cold, but usually my sleep is just prolonged.

I'm afraid of seeking prescription meds, as I am wary of becoming dependent on another drug to live, but I guess being dependent is probably better than being exhausted every day. . . If anyone has had luck there, please suggest.

Thanks for sticking out the read.

[avlady]

I can relate as I get nightmares ever since I was around 5 years old, as the years went by they never subsided, I always thought it was normal, nobody ever knew although as i never told anyone. I thought my sister would make fun of meif I mentioned it, She was older than me and would fight pshysically if I even talked in front of other people-I'd have to get a hairripping fight from her if I didn't act the way she wanted me to and the fights were on days we ran into each other in the neighborhood.Therefore she bassically stunted my growth(just kidding)both emptionally and pshycially.I think Ihave the nightmares as It is like a fight waiting to break out I dream about wars, earthquakes, natural disasters, people not getting along, and also have recurring dreams of terrible things that happened to me in real life too.Any insights? avlady

[Thunder Bow]

Get more in touch with your feelings, and don't over analyse them. Your dreams are your feelings trying to emerge.

[Redsoft]

Feelings? What are these "feelings" you speak of?

[Thunder Bow]

Your Feelings.

[Redsoft]

To be serious though, I do really examine my dreams for what their meaning is to me and try and search myself. It is quite possible and I'm sure common that my emotions are released in my dreams rather in waking, as I do hide most of my problems from I'd say 98% of the people I know. As few and far between as they may be, my emotions are something I am in touch with, when they emerge.

I've even been asked my doctor's and therapists (not in a hostile way) what I expect to receive from therapy, because I have a really lucid understanding of my emotions, personal causes and effects, triggers, etc... Of course, I tell them that I don't know, and that's the problem. Something is wrong, that is certain, but why it can't be reigned in is the problem. I'm just worried whether at this point the lack of sleep in daily life is just creating a cyclical effect, where even if they started from something(s) specific, they are now just being perpetuated by limited functioning as a whole.

I feel like if there is actually a way to treat the sleeping problems separately, even at first, that would help, just so I have the energy to stand up straight and shake the sleep from eyes for some personal clarity, physically and mentally speaking.

[wendigo]

Hello,

I have also suffered from debilitating nightmares from an extremely young age and have also suffered from depression like yourself among other things. I've done quite a bit of research on the subject.
What you are experiencing could be nightmare disorder but before you can be diagnosed ALL other factors must be proven to not be causing the nightmares. Depression can lead to more nightmares and insomnia as well. Infact, even minor anxiety can lead to nightmares which makes diagnosing Nightmare Disorder extremely difficult. Another thing, as of now it's very hard to treat but there have been some pilot studies done to treat nightmares using lucid dreaming techniques and visualization before falling asleep. I'd look into those as an option! They take time and practice (and haven't worked for me..) but they've worked for others.

Hope you can get some sleep soon.

[Redsoft]

Thanks, wendigo. Maybe I'll see about breaking out the lucid dreaming techniques again... Freaky business. I've been able to do it, or at least start off in a lucid state, but things would always end...not-lucid. This was years ago now, though.

[Pikku Myy]

I wake everyone up... especially my husband with screaming... or talking about wiered things.... Hugs