Unpleasant Dreams
 

Wondering if anyone else is having problems with vivid, unpleasant dreams. I wouldn't really call them nightmares, they are just not happy dreams. I usually have a few of these each night and I end up waking up during each one. Last night, I was running in one of the dreams and as I was waking up from it I could tell that I was breathing quickly as if I was running in real life. I wasn't gasping for breath, just breathing quickly. Sometimes I feel like my heartrate while I'm sleeping is faster that it is during the day and I wonder if it's due to these stressful dreams.

The nortriptyline that I started taking a month ago has helped relieve my dizziness and nausea, but sleep is one area that is not improving. I just dread going to bed because I know that I will be up multiple times throughout the night.

Is this a pretty normal pcs symptom? Anyone have suggestions on how to sleep more peacefully? I should add that I was having this problem prior to starting on the medication.

Are you breathing properly during the dreams? Could you be waking up as your need to breath has kicked in and the rapid breathing is to catch up?

You don't necessarily need to gasp for breath to recover from an apnea event.

I have what I call stressful dreams when I am not breathing correctly. They are full of conflict and anxiety.

I believe mine are caused by poor neck position due to a neck injury I suffered with my head injury.

Many medical supply/rental companies rent Pulse Ox alarm systems that can even record these events.

I've had some pretty unpleasant dreams since my injury as well. They also started before I was on any medication. I don't really have any advice for you...just thought I'd drop in and let you know your not alone on this.

Some of the dreams I have are very disturbing. A couple nights ago I had a dream I stabbed myself in the chest....I don't have thoughts of suicide, so I have no idea where that came from.

They don't happen often enough for me to be bothered by them. I have more of a problem with waking up...as I've been waking up disoriented (unfamiliar with my surroundings, thinking it's December when it's really January, etc.).

Yes, I have had crazy dreams ever since my injury. Very vivid and contorted (like one of those feature films where there is a totally unforeseen twist every 5 minutes).

Right after I started amitriptyline, I was sleeping more soundly and didn't have so many. But now that I've been on it a while, they are starting up again.

"They are full of conflict and anxiety. "

"Very vivid and contorted (like one of those feature films where there is a totally unforeseen twist every 5 minutes)."

Exactly. I know a lot of people here talk about fogginess but does any one else have a hard time being able to tell if they are awake or not or when these messed up dreams are real or not. Or feel like they can never really get to sleep but are never sure if they really are awake.

I had a period of unusually vivid dreams which I am certain were related to PCS.

me too
 

During the initial months of my PCS I experienced horrible nightmares. Most would include some type of injury to my head. I would wake up in pain..and and realized it was like my mind was trying to justify the pain. They were terrifying! I do agree 100% that they are related to pcs.

I still do have these occasionally.. but they got a lot better!

Well, I guess I'm relieved I'm not the only person experiencing these, but sorry others are suffering too.

Mark - I'm not sure if I'm breathing properly during these. I think I am, but I'm half asleep during all of this. I was just reading the thread posted by chitowndizzy regarding upper cervical neck injuries and wonder if this could be a factor too. My neck was very sore for a few days after my injury occurred. To this day it still "clicks" or "pops" sometimes when I turn my head in either direction. It also makes a "crackling" sound when I look up and down. Maybe this is a contributing factor to poor sleep.

I agree with the others about the "vivid and contorted" description. Sometimes my dreams will be alright, then something wacky happens out of the blue. Weird stuff.

Very vivid and realistic dreams. Takes awhile after I wake up to realize that it was just a dream. Usually linked to people I'm having a hard time dealing with.

I am having very vivid, hyper-realistic dreams that are messing up my grip on reality! I have dreams about things going on in my everyday life--mundane, regular stuff--that I am now having trouble sifting through to figure out what has really happened & what hasn't. Is this my personal issue, or can anyone relate? I mean, things as simple as returning a phone call are getting messed up. Last night (I think) I dreamed I was submitting a proposal for a contract at work. It took me until mid-day today to realize I hadn't actually done it. Or have I? I can't find evidence of it...but I don't know for sure. :confused: Grrr! This is maddening! Now I have to go to my boss & tell her that I'm not sure whether I did it or not. I have a memory of doing so, but I think it was a dream...I need a week off! Blah!

Yes, I too have very vivid dreams. Some not so pleasant. I also wake up with the whooshing sounds in my head. I understand how you feel. Wish I could give you the answers to stop them. Have you tried anti anxiety pills to help you sleep?

Yes. My dreams aren't necessarily unpleasant. I may dream about baking cookies with my kids, for example. Then I walk into the kitchen & say, "Hey, what happened to all the cookies?" and my family has no clue what I'm talking about. They are that real.

I do take amatriptyline 10mg, which is new since the onset of my PCS, and have been taking Lexapro (20mg) for a few years for depression. I am not currently having issues sleeping. It's the dreaming!

All my life I have had vivid, weird dreams. Scooby Doo and the Lunchbox Mystery was a dream I had when I was 10, complete with credits, animation, the whole 9 yards. Then when I started on Lexapro, my dreams took a more realistic (or less unrealistic) turn. Now, they are hyper-real. I literally cannot tell the difference between reality & dreams sometimes.

I have an appt & will discuss with my doc, but I just like to gauge anecdotal information too.

Yes, I've had weird dreams since my TBI. More so since being on all the drugs.

I'm not sure of everyone, but I don't dream with PCS visuals or effect. They are sometimes a little vivid and and some with elaborate theme, but I have never had a dream that I had a headache, or that my cognative state is out of whack, maybe I do and they don't linger in the memory when I awaken.

Yes, the Nortriptyline I'm on does contribute to what I call 'salad bar' dreams: little of this, little of that...

Last night I dreampt that I was trying to get back from Europe but had to take a 4 stop flight and I was going to my home state, not where I live now. Plus I was getting an adjustment from someone who put me in a Da vinci - like contraption. I'm still scratching my head on that one.

We should start a weird dream thread. I think I could probably add one to the list every day! lol!

I too experience the dreams of conflict, uncertainty and anxiety. Not every night, but often. I shared this with my neuropsychologist and she related them to the issues that are not resolved in my life right now.

I think most of us that are dealing with PCS have some anxiety over the continuation of our symptoms, and the impacts of TBI on our careers, relationships, etc. We are all seeking answers that aren't readily available.

I also think that we are in conflict with ourselves in feeling that our bodies (brains) have "let us down" by not recovering quickly enough.

The neuropsych often talks about grieving and sense of loss for the person that I was prior to the concussion. Sounds morbid and negative, but being able to be realistic about not currently being the person I was may help in my emotional recovery to heal. Doesn't mean I'm resolved to or giving up on recovering my preconcussion self.

My most common dream is fainting or falling or hitting my head in some way, which are very clear. But I also have the other, more vivid and disturbing dreams. I feel like I usually have them when I'm stressed or anxious. It helps to know I'm not alone. But does anyone else dream about hitting their head again often?

I only dream of hitting my head when I crash my jet-pack or hover chair. Some weird dreams can be a lot of fun.

Not too long ago I had a dream that I was in some foreign state/country and I was trying to get back home, or pay rent to stay there longer. I remember it being really snowy. Apparently cats were like gold there or worth a lot because for some reason I was trying to find stray cats on the street to sell them for a plane ticket or rent money.

Lol? Weird.

I actually don't mind the dreams at all..as long as they aren't about hurting people or dying.