dreams, nightmares, dreams, nightmares!

joy jenkins · Post by **joy jenkins** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:06 am

Hi once again, first I would publicly like to thank Mary for helping me find my way around the computer and enabling me to leave posts. I am suffering terribly with dreams/nightmares, every single night. Last night was horrible, I put off going to bed because I dread what is ahead. I woke up this morning about 3 a.m. after having a horrible nightmare, feeling so scared and upset, actually almost in tears. I got up and watched some T.V for a couple of hours and took a couple of clonazepam to calm me down. Finally went back to bed and was dreaming again (not quite so scary) but all the time until I finally got up about 10 a.m. When I first get up I am still feeling anxious and have my little routine of putting on the kettle, switching on the T.V., going out on to the balcony to check the weather - little things but they seem to calm me down slowly. That first cup of hot tea is lovely (very English I guess)! I am retired, 69 years old and living alone. My fear now is is there something really wrong with my head?! It all seems so strange. Any suggestions? Love hearing from you.
Joy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:27 am

Joy - Is it possible a medication is causing the nightmares? I've had that happen on certain medications in the past and I had just horrible nightmares. When my doctor switched my medications the nightmares stopped. It may be worth looking into. Just a thought.

Laura V · Post by **Laura V** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:09 am

Im going to agree with Mary, I have had crazy horrible dreams with certain meds. I've also experienced a series of crazy dreams in one night due to my mind being exhausted by depression and anxiety.

PLEASE go to the Dr. and re evaluate your meds! also, tell the doc whats up!!

best wishes:)

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:20 am

I have been experiencing nightmares the last few weeks. I am not on any medication and my theory is that my mind is going through an adjustment. I used to spend my days thinking negative thoughts and upsetting myself, now that I'm learning to think more positively while I'm awake, I think some of those negative thoughts are being expressed through my dreams. I believe this will go away once I get more used to and better at postive thinking. I went from being a complete negative thinker for 20+ years to a positive thinker in a few short weeks. I think my brain is trying to figure out what's going on.

Having said that, I do believe you should go to the doctor if your nightmares are so bad they are interrupting your sleep.

kjgeiger7061 · Post by **kjgeiger7061** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:52 am

Hi Mary, thanks for responding to my post. I too have thought about medication causing these nightmares, I know this can happen a lot. But right now I am only taking the tranquilizer Clonazepam so didn't think that would be the reason - but who knows? I have taken in the past about every anti-depressant there is and nothing has really worked for me except for prozac years ago and that was amazing but only lasted for a short time. I am taking tylenol for tummy aches, headaches but don't think that should do anything, should it? I am at a loss. I'll look up clonazepam on the internet and see what the side effects can be, also am seeing my psychiatrist on Monday so will discuss it with him then. Please keep in touch.
Joy

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:30 am

Someone once told me that dreams were like us whispering (or yelling!!) to ourselves while we sleep....I think what that means is that often we are working things out when we are least aware of it. I have had the nightmare thing too...and have tried NOT to interpret them but to see what they say to me about my life....have had a ton of "rescue" nightmares where I am supposed to save someone and I just can't do it. Realized that much of my stress in my life came from believing I was supposed to fix everything and rescue everyone.....good feeling to accept that I can't do that.....on the other side, some of the other folks ahve mentioned that meds can mess you up...so can certain foods....but my take is that our dreams and nightmares are somehow little clues about our hopes and dreams and even our fears. They do not mean we are crazy....just very human.

Hang in there..

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 3:48 pm

For anyone stuggling through these issues, there's been such an encouraging discussion on "God's Answers For Anxiety, Depression & Obsessive Thoughts", it's on most Christian radio stations, and <A HREF="http://www.pointofview.net/site/PageServer" TARGET=_blank>http://www.pointofview.net/site/PageServer</A> is the link to their web site & you can listen online even if you missed today's broadcast, it was simply wonderful!!!!
Blessings,
Fairlight
PS I too love a cuppa tea, I use a lovely old
copper kettle for mine! Try Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime with Valerian, or Chamomile, it helps me sleep soundly, along with a page from my Bible in Psalms!