Discussion
Nightmares - anyone have them? Seem to be having more recently. I've just turned 39 - and in reasonable health. Don't have any new medication which might have triggered it (take some stuff for asthma on an ongoing basis). Ironically, my two kids (3 and 7) are sleeping quite well at the moment, after many years/months of either one or the other waking at night and disrupting my sleep...
You have my sympathy. I have experienced nightmares my whole life. Horrific ones. Quite frequently as a child, less so as an adult, but often enough that my partner isn’t surprised by my waking up screaming and thrashing. I have no idea why. There are some triggers (I’m careful what films I watch on telly, for example) but no real link I can find to what’s going on in the rest of my life, like stress or anxiety. I learned long ago to live with them - I see them as quirky and a bit interesting, and I don’t worry that they have any significance. I also have a couple of recurring dreams that I can clearly link to things I’m worrying about or wrestling with, but they’re just a bit sad and unsettling, not frightening.
Is there any aspect of it you are particularly worried about?
Is there any aspect of it you are particularly worried about?
Sid's Dad said:
You have my sympathy. I have experienced nightmares my whole life. Horrific ones. Quite frequently as a child, less so as an adult, but often enough that my partner isn’t surprised by my waking up screaming and thrashing. I have no idea why. There are some triggers (I’m careful what films I watch on telly, for example) but no real link I can find to what’s going on in the rest of my life, like stress or anxiety. I learned long ago to live with them - I see them as quirky and a bit interesting, and I don’t worry that they have any significance. I also have a couple of recurring dreams that I can clearly link to things I’m worrying about or wrestling with, but they’re just a bit sad and unsettling, not frightening.
Is there any aspect of it you are particularly worried about?
I'm Sid's dad too. Apologies for the slight tangent. Is there any aspect of it you are particularly worried about?
OP, almost the exact same for me. Reasonable health, 52, no kids, low stress lifestyle, and no medication. Over the years I've woken a few time a year from a nightmare but towards the end of 2020 they seemed to be recurring more often, like every few weeks or less and the severity started to increase. I'd wake up kicking out with a sort of ghoul figure slowly looming over me and I'd try and scream out but couldn't. The last and worst was just before Christmas. I semi-consciously woke up with such a start and force that I somehow threw myself out of bed and across the room. I lost my footing and spun over, crashing my head into the dresser drawer knob and cut my head open quick badly. It was touch and go that I took myself to ER for a stitch or two. I saw stars for a second or two for sure. A cold compress eventually stopped the bleeding.
I have no idea what these are stemming from. I was quite shaken and took myself to my doctor. He's referred me to a sleep specialist but I haven't gone yet. I tried thinking if it could be a change in eating habits before bed and the only thing I could think that changed was eating peanuts for a short phase! I am still not sure of the root cause, and haven't had any more since, nightmares nor peanuts.
I have no idea what these are stemming from. I was quite shaken and took myself to my doctor. He's referred me to a sleep specialist but I haven't gone yet. I tried thinking if it could be a change in eating habits before bed and the only thing I could think that changed was eating peanuts for a short phase! I am still not sure of the root cause, and haven't had any more since, nightmares nor peanuts.
As many have said my experience with nightmares has always been diet or substance related.
Orange juice or cheese close to bed = nightmares
When I smoked at uni = weird dreams
I’ve had a recurring dream all my adult life about being on public transport trying to get somewhere or home, but being unable to (trains not properly labels or running right, being at the wrong station, that sort of thing). Weird and not quite a nightmare.
Orange juice or cheese close to bed = nightmares
When I smoked at uni = weird dreams
I’ve had a recurring dream all my adult life about being on public transport trying to get somewhere or home, but being unable to (trains not properly labels or running right, being at the wrong station, that sort of thing). Weird and not quite a nightmare.
jakesmith said:
I’ve had a recurring dream all my adult life about being on public transport trying to get somewhere or home, but being unable to (trains not properly labels or running right, being at the wrong station, that sort of thing). Weird and not quite a nightmare.
This type of dream is not uncommon. I have similar but involves lifts & trying to get to the right floor of a building. No matter which lift I take I can't get there.GT03ROB said:
jakesmith said:
I’ve had a recurring dream all my adult life about being on public transport trying to get somewhere or home, but being unable to (trains not properly labels or running right, being at the wrong station, that sort of thing). Weird and not quite a nightmare.
This type of dream is not uncommon. I have similar but involves lifts & trying to get to the right floor of a building. No matter which lift I take I can't get there.geeman237 said:
OP, almost the exact same for me. Reasonable health, 52, no kids, low stress lifestyle, and no medication. Over the years I've woken a few time a year from a nightmare but towards the end of 2020 they seemed to be recurring more often, like every few weeks or less and the severity started to increase. I'd wake up kicking out with a sort of ghoul figure slowly looming over me and I'd try and scream out but couldn't. The last and worst was just before Christmas. I semi-consciously woke up with such a start and force that I somehow threw myself out of bed and across the room. I lost my footing and spun over, crashing my head into the dresser drawer knob and cut my head open quick badly. It was touch and go that I took myself to ER for a stitch or two. I saw stars for a second or two for sure. A cold compress eventually stopped the bleeding.
I have no idea what these are stemming from. I was quite shaken and took myself to my doctor. He's referred me to a sleep specialist but I haven't gone yet. I tried thinking if it could be a change in eating habits before bed and the only thing I could think that changed was eating peanuts for a short phase! I am still not sure of the root cause, and haven't had any more since, nightmares nor peanuts.
I’m no expert, but this sounds like sleep paralysis. Seeing things and unable to move/scream. Not sure what triggers it, but if you research it you might find some parallels you can relate to and identify? I have no idea what these are stemming from. I was quite shaken and took myself to my doctor. He's referred me to a sleep specialist but I haven't gone yet. I tried thinking if it could be a change in eating habits before bed and the only thing I could think that changed was eating peanuts for a short phase! I am still not sure of the root cause, and haven't had any more since, nightmares nor peanuts.
mike74 said:
GT03ROB said:
jakesmith said:
I’ve had a recurring dream all my adult life about being on public transport trying to get somewhere or home, but being unable to (trains not properly labels or running right, being at the wrong station, that sort of thing). Weird and not quite a nightmare.
This type of dream is not uncommon. I have similar but involves lifts & trying to get to the right floor of a building. No matter which lift I take I can't get there.mike74 said:
I also frequently get what I'd call ''stressful situation dreams'' rather than actual nightmares... the most common ones are being involved in a heated argument with someone, or driving my car but having no control over it (usually whilst reversing for some reason) or my dog being on the other side of a busy road and I'm panicking that he's going to run in to the road to get back to me.
Driving in reverse with no control is very common in my dreams, stamp on the brake pedal and nothing happens. I have real nightmares after drinking 6 or more pints of draught Guinness, have done for yearsMy wife has suffered from night terrors for about 15 years, sometimes having as many as 4 in one night. After years of seeing a variety of consultants she eventually got referred to a sleep clinic. After spending a night in the clinic all wired up and the consultant looking at the results she was given a diagnosis of night terrors and restless leg syndrome, apparently there is a link between the two. She was also advised that restless leg syndrome can be helped by ensuring the is no iron deficiency in the blood and she now receives periodic iron infusions, all carefully monitored by our local hospital. She still does get bouts of the night terrors but they are nowhere near the intensity or frequency that they once were.
jakesmith said:
Quite comforting to read others having similar experiences
Indeed! My OP came from waking up on Monday morning feeling pretty unsettled after what probably falls into the ''stressful situation dreams'' rather than actual nightmares that Mike74 mentioned - and the sleep paralysis definitely sounds 'next level'!.Over the years i've had plenty of the "can't get there on time" type of dreams - often in the context of something I have on the go - a big meeting or somnething, but these are probably only a handful of times a year.
More recently it's been more like dreams which leave me waking up feeling stressed/anxious/upset by the content (which is quite varied from one night to the next, often more like a storyline in a film, than connected to anything 'real' to me) - with the negative feelings hanging around for a good while after waking up - maybe an hour or so.
It's not a big problem, but it does seem odd it's happening - although obviously life is a bit on the stressful side at the moment what with homeschooling, lack of social contact, disruption to work time, etc, etc.
If you want to experience wacky dreams, i would highly recommend Malarone, an anti-malarial drug. I took this for about a week whilst working in Africa, then had to shift onto different medication. I have never experienced dreams or visions like I did on these bad boys!!! Irvin Welsh books wouldn't have a look in!! 
I’m not a doctor, but I’d be inclined to suggest that it has something to do with diet, perhaps a particular food/supplement that you’re body is sensitive to, or lacking?
I’ve been taking Wellman vitamins for the last month or so and without fail, I now have a dream every night. There have been no other changes (apart from cutting out the crap) so I’m thinking that it must be those.
I’ve been taking Wellman vitamins for the last month or so and without fail, I now have a dream every night. There have been no other changes (apart from cutting out the crap) so I’m thinking that it must be those.
johnpsanderson said:
jakesmith said:
Quite comforting to read others having similar experiences
Indeed! My OP came from waking up on Monday morning feeling pretty unsettled after what probably falls into the ''stressful situation dreams'' rather than actual nightmares that Mike74 mentioned - and the sleep paralysis definitely sounds 'next level'!.Over the years i've had plenty of the "can't get there on time" type of dreams - often in the context of something I have on the go - a big meeting or somnething, but these are probably only a handful of times a year.
More recently it's been more like dreams which leave me waking up feeling stressed/anxious/upset by the content (which is quite varied from one night to the next, often more like a storyline in a film, than connected to anything 'real' to me) - with the negative feelings hanging around for a good while after waking up - maybe an hour or so.
It's not a big problem, but it does seem odd it's happening - although obviously life is a bit on the stressful side at the moment what with homeschooling, lack of social contact, disruption to work time, etc, etc.
The whole stressful situation dream, feeling out of control (e.g. lost in a building which isn't complex on layout!) and feeling stressed when I wake up all exactly same here.
ben_h100 said:
I’m not a doctor, but I’d be inclined to suggest that it has something to do with diet, perhaps a particular food/supplement that you’re body is sensitive to, or lacking?
I’ve been taking Wellman vitamins for the last month or so and without fail, I now have a dream every night. There have been no other changes (apart from cutting out the crap) so I’m thinking that it must be those.
Interesting - I have started randomly chomping on whatever vitamins we have in the house, which is a mix of having one of the kids multi-vitamins in the morning, and popping some vitamin D and B, as well as some cod liver oil. Not handfuls of the stuff, just one one day, maybe a different one the next. I will do some trial and error to see what happens.I’ve been taking Wellman vitamins for the last month or so and without fail, I now have a dream every night. There have been no other changes (apart from cutting out the crap) so I’m thinking that it must be those.
johnpsanderson said:
Interesting - I have started randomly chomping on whatever vitamins we have in the house, which is a mix of having one of the kids multi-vitamins in the morning, and popping some vitamin D and B, as well as some cod liver oil. Not handfuls of the stuff, just one one day, maybe a different one the next. I will do some trial and error to see what happens.
Probably a whole new thread in itself but I'd be careful taking a multivitamin and others on top. Many multivitamins will give you everything you need so you could be overdoing it. Maybe as their kids ones they will be lower doses but I'd read the labels.ben_h100 said:
I’m not a doctor, but I’d be inclined to suggest that it has something to do with diet, perhaps a particular food/supplement that you’re body is sensitive to, or lacking?
I’ve been taking Wellman vitamins for the last month or so and without fail, I now have a dream every night. There have been no other changes (apart from cutting out the crap) so I’m thinking that it must be those.
It's the Zinc, well known to cause vivid dreams.I’ve been taking Wellman vitamins for the last month or so and without fail, I now have a dream every night. There have been no other changes (apart from cutting out the crap) so I’m thinking that it must be those.
This might sound strange, but I often can't wait to get to sleep as I have some amazing vivid dreams, most nights, they play out like movies, but I'm the main character, and seem to last for hours and hours, almost like I can live a second life in my dreams. Luckily the vast majority of them are just weird scenarios, but there are a few that are deeply unsettling, but not in a horror movie kind of way, just feel an enormous sense of dread, luckily these are rare.
I can often remember the entire dream and could write it out exactly like a film script if I wanted to. It's a funny old thing the human brain.
Mrs G29 often has nightmares though, and will wake us both up screaming and often in tears, I don't envy her.
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