NeuroTalk Support Groups - I've been having strange dreams

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Bipolar Disorder (https://www.neurotalk.org/bipolar-disorder/)

- - I've been having strange dreams (https://www.neurotalk.org/bipolar-disorder/163321-ive-strange-dreams.html)

I've been having strange dreams

I dreamed that I was under total control of a dominating type person,and I couldn't get away. I was trying to get away from the person,and I rolled off the couch,and woke up suddenly.:eek: I'm a big guy,and I don't know what it's like to be dominated. After that dream I sort of do now.

I've had other strange dreams too,but this was the only dream where I rolled off of the couch,or bed. It might be the medication,but that's all right. The medications are very beneficial. There are a few side affects that I'm living with,but the medications only help a little.

Some of these dreams feel so real. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Dear Friend,
I had an intense disturbing dream last night. Usually I can forget my dreams but I guess I woke up in the middle of it. Maybe it was good that you rolled off the couch and woke up so that the dream stopped.

M

Hi Mari. Yes. It was like I was paralyzed,and tried to move with all of my strength,and I roled onto the floor. I was trying to get away from a dangerous person. I woke up immediately. Dreams are strange.

The dream was not anything that I think of. It came out of the blue. BF:hug::hug::hug:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brokenfriend (Post 840736)

Dear Friend,

Next time, move one finger. That can wake you up from this state. You probably do not need to move your whole body. Were you sleeping on your side? Back?

What you experienced was probably Sleep Paralysis:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis
Also:
http://dreamsnightmares.com/sleepparalysis.html

Quote:

Sleep paralysis is now being studied as an explanation for terrors in the night, which have been experienced by people across all cultures and for thousands of years.

Sleep paralysis is a condition in which someone, most often lying in a supine (face up) position, about to drop off to sleep, or just upon awaking from sleep realizes that s/he is unable to move, or speak, or cry out. This may last a few seconds or several moments, occasionally longer. People frequently report feeling a 'presence' that is often described as malevolent, threatening, or evil. An intense sense of dread and terror is very common.

Quote:

Cheyne believes sleep paralysis to be an hallucination created by physical things occurring in the body as a result of a dysfunction or malfunction of the normal R.E.M. state of sleep. This malfunction may be brought on by life stressors or sleep deprivation. Cheyne has also discovered a much higher incidence of sleep paralysis for those who sleep on their back. He has found that changing sleep position can reduce the incidence of these nightmares. He also suggests getting up and physically moving around after having an episode as several can occur in one night.

http://www.end-your-sleep-deprivatio...paralysis.html
Paralyzed at Night: Is Sleep Paralysis Normal?

Quote:

What causes sleep paralysis? To answer this question it's necessary for you to know a bit about REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the stage of sleep where most of your dreams occur. Every night during REM sleep the body shuts down virtually all muscle activity to prevent you from acting out those dreams. Your brain is extraordinarily active as you dream, as you might be able to imagine if you think about the complex environments and actions it is conjuring. The only thing that prevents your body from moving to carry out the scene your brain is living is a mechanism that kicks in to paralyze it.

This mechanism is referred to as REM atonia, or REM sleep paralysis.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mari (Post 840739)

Mari Thank you for the wealth of information on sleep disorders,and paralysis.

When I woke up from the dream on the floor,I had a area of skin on my arm that was red,but I didn't break the skin. I hit some furnature on the way down. I think that the pink area was on the upper part of my right forearm.

I'm not sure,but I may have hit the floor on my right side,and ended head up. I may have been in the head up position before I fell on the floor. In the end of that dream I remember that I sort of felt paralized. I remember pushing myself real hard to get away from the danger,then ended up on the floor. I woke up completely,and walked away.

I was thinking,"Good Gosh. What a dream!!!" BF:hug::hug::hug:

Dear Steve,

these types of "dreams" are typical in sleep paralysis. it is actually an in-between state when you are waking up or falling asleep. the "dreams" are sometimes called hypnagogic (falling asleep) or hypnopompic (waking up) hallucinations. they are often characterized by an ominous/menacing/evil presence in the room, or even on top of you, and a sense of pressure on the thorax.

i had these happen before, but a particular dose of seroquel, and the antidepressant effexor (individually) caused me to have these regularly and multiple times a night. if this happens to you, please contact your doctor.

trying to move a finger, or open your eyes, is a good attempt to break out. however it doesn't always work. sometimes, your brain gives you the feedback that you moved, when in fact you did not.

however, now that you know what is going on with these states, you may be able to gain greater lucidity during these states, which is what has helped me most:

i try to stay calm and keep reminding myself that none of the threats are real, and that everything will stop naturally. the "dreams" can be extra-ordinarily vivid, so it can be hard not to let fear overcome you, but try to "let go" and just remind yourself the experience is self-limiting. it will end either in waking, or in sleep.

i am sorry you are experiencing this. i know how awful it can be, but awareness of the process will help you, i am sure. i am glad you didn't damage yourself too badly falling off the couch. :o:eek:

((( gentle hugs )))

~ waves ~

Vivid dreams can be terrifying, sorry that you had such a dream.....
hoping that you don't have it again.
bizi

I can relate to a few bad dreams. The kind you wake up in a sweat, and real glad it was just a dream. I am glad you didn't hurt yourself rolling off the bed! When I get a bad dream, I get up, move around a bit, and tell myself again, it was just a dream. They can be quite disturbing, and I have woken myself up with tears before. No more for any of us.....ginnie

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brokenfriend (Post 840741)

I may have been in the head up position before I fell on the floor. In the end of that dream I remember that I sort of felt paralized. I remember pushing myself real hard to get away from the danger,then ended up on the floor. I woke up completely,and walked away.

Friend,

That is an intense experience. I used to have those. The benzos seemed to help.
Try sleeping on your side. Some people do better on their sides.

Our brains are amazing territories that still have to be mapped and charted.

M

I thank you all for your input,and encouragement.

Somethings going on in my mind. It's not anything unusual. I had another dream that I can't remember. Then today I became obsessed by a fearfull bunch of thoughts,and I remembered that yesterday I had a different obsessive group of fearful thoughts.

I thought about yesterdays obsession,and realized that this is also an obsession,so I let them go. The subjects where different.

It seems like these obsessions come in threes,in my mind. Strange stuff.

At one time I was waking up with panic attacks. That was a scary time. That was back when I wasn't on to much medicine. That was a difficult time in my life.

These obsessions are like a minor panic period of intense worrying. I try to divert my thinking to another subject if I can.

Space movies like Battlestar Galactica,Star Trek,Stargate SG-1,and programs like that help me to think about something else. There are less,and less of these programs now. BF:hug::hug::grouphug::grouphug::hug::hug: