Rare Night Terrors and Nightmares

Lx1x1x1 on 12/09/2017 - 02:48
Last edited 14/09/2017 - 21:59 by 1 other user

I dreams/nightmares I often don't remember them only about 3 or 4 over a space of 4 years and they only last a few seconds

all but the ones I do remember are violent and scary often involving death(brutal murders ) kidnapping of people I know sometimes they are so vivid and clean they re appear when I'm trying to sleep this then makes me nervous about sleeping when they have happened recently

Several times during the night I wake up frightened and/or in sweats. But have no idea
They come and go. I'll have many episodes a night for weeks on end and other times I won't have any for months.

I have a very healthy and fit lifestyle

Has anyone experienced this before and have anyway to help kinda prevent it if possible ?

Or any insight to why this happens ??

UPDATE - GP cleared me of any mental and sleeping issues

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • Baebs on 14/09/2017 - 10:15

    Kind of reminds me of this (Comic Dump) Junji Ito - Long Dream (fixed) https://imgur.com/gallery/mvyFF

    • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 10:17

      Nothing actually happens to me in the dreams

    • luffyex2010 on 14/09/2017 - 11:51

      Junji Ito a name I have not heard for some time.. Manga master of horrors….fish man and spiral horrors x_x

  • thord on 14/09/2017 - 10:23

    I have similar issues. Go to a sleep clinic. That's what I did. They will do an overnight study.

    • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 10:24

      I'd rather avoid any medical intervention if possible as they are so rare and haven't had any for three days

      Especially when I have no other sleeping issues

      I remember maybe 3 in total over the four years I've had them

  • Dogsab on 14/09/2017 - 10:35

    I experience something similar to you. I would say on average I have nightmares about 4 or 5 times a week, and on a night when I'm having nightmares I will wake up multiple times throughout the night and upon going back to sleep the nightmare will escalate even more. I end up waking up feeling like sleeping was pointless as I feel more tired than I was when I went to bed.

    My nightmares usually revolve around someone I know or love dying in a horrific way, for example my dog burning to death screaming in front of me, or my sister having both her ears cut off by a faceless man. Or they revolve around me being kidnapped, raped or killed.

    This has been going on since I was about 14 or 15 and I recognize it is related somewhat to some trauma I experienced in my childhood.

    While I know you have said you don't have any past trauma or mental health concerns generally the same tips which assist with reducing the prevalence of nightmares for those experiencing mental illness are pretty universal across the board.

    As everyone else has mentioned things like diet and exercise are good to help promote a restful brain. Other things that I've done that also help:
    - not doing any uni work or work work in my bedroom or even in my own home. If I need to do work I go out to the library and do my work there that way when I close my laptop at the library I know I am done thinking about it tonight and have the 20 minute drive home to mellow out.
    - not having polyester sheets on my bed. I know someone else said this earlier and I don't think it's do with the chemicals but that it makes me overheat.
    - get your iron checked. I was having really bad night sweats when waking up from nightmares (like think drenching my bed and having to put towels down, sweat all over places that don't usually sweat like behind my knees, my calves, the tops of my feet (???). Hasn't fixed it completely but getting my iron back up has helped somewhat.
    - do not sleep on your back EVEN IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SLEEP APNEA. I generally always wake up from a nightmare on my back and apparently the position decreases your oxygen intake which caused more vivid dreams or something.

    I hope you find something that works for you to at least reduce their prevalence. I've never found anything that eliminated them, so have mostly just had to get used to it. It's a hard position itself to be in as I found that the nightmares themselves contributed to my depression. Having to go to sleep and see people killed and myself hurt every night when sleep is meant to be a comforting experience was quite upsetting. I found that they made me anxious that something bad was going to happen in my waking life. So it was sort of the gift that kept on giving lol.

    Good luck!

    • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 10:39

      That's alor more severe then mine and I am really sorry to hear you suffer like that I couldn't imagine how awful that would be for you .

      I've had 3 or 4 in 4 years that I actually remember

    • luffyex2010 on 14/09/2017 - 12:27
      +1

      I can sense there is a lot of sadness and violence in you. Your dream theme,frequency is quite unusual as it is just plain horrific violence by a faceless man. I am just concern where or how this faceless man is created.

      You Dogsab is the one who needs help more than OP… very scary dreams you have and they are very abnormal.

      You should get help soon….are you a rape victim? if yes( no need to tell the world) Do ask for help but not here of course.

      Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia (RDVSA),
      http://www.rape-dvservices.org.au/Contact-Us/Our-Services

    • Cletus vandamme on 16/09/2017 - 01:21

      You should seek professional help dogsab. Youve clearly had some profoundly traumatic experience in the past. Best of luck beating whatever seems to be causing you pain.

  • lonix on 14/09/2017 - 10:59

    Ghosts in your house?

    • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 11:41

      As far as I know there isn't
      No ones died in my home

  • frostman on 14/09/2017 - 11:26

    I had a few of these before…no need going to a Psychologist, they will put you in a spiral of no exit.

    Its most likely movies/TV shows/games that you're watching/playing and are being manifested in your sleep.

    Try this:

    for 1 week, do not watch late night Movie/Tv shows play games with crimes prior to sleep.
    Also…1hr prior to sleep don't watch TV, read a book or just chat/talk to a partner/spouse/wife/husband/cat/plant then go sleep.

    You will realise that the issue is

    • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 11:41

      I honestly very rarely watch tv as it is
      If I do not they are not horror, violence etc as I hate them

  • luffyex2010 on 14/09/2017 - 11:27

    Who are you gonna call? 👻 busters

    Since the advises are all going into a loop might as well summarise all.

    Religion cross out
    I think 🤔 OP doesn't believe in ghost as she said many times she isn't religious.
    So cross out angel, Satan, ghost, spiritual remedies, and etc

    Videogames and TV cross out
    She doesn't watch TV especially GOT and she sucks at video games (according to her not my words lol)

    Medication and diet cross out
    She doesn't want any medication remedies and diet wise she is healthy.

    Depression Still under investigation
    She cannot relate anything to being stressful or any past traumatic experiences. Happy go lucky type?

    Exercise, Psychologist, Clinic cross out
    She is very healthy (F45 healthy? ^o^), don't need to be psycho more and no to clinics.

    ESP cross out
    She doesn't believe she is one of the gifted children. So no psychic powers to see the future.

    Lucid Dreams considering?
    Be in control of your dreams , this is the only way to stop your nightmares since you have crossed out the rest.

    or you could get a pet to keep you happy.

    They are very intelligent creatures and might wake you up as they have all these awesome abilities.

    Dogs know when you are sad
    Dogs can sense your attention
    Dog can sense the disease you might have
    Dog understand when you feel scared
    Dog know when you feel unfair
    Dog understand when suddenly you need other priorities
    Dog sense when you are angry
    Dog knows that you are a generous person
    Dog knows immediately when your back is turn
    Dog understand if you are a pushover
    Dog can sense if a women is pregnant
    Dog knows when you are taking them to the vet
    Dog understand that when you are grieving
    Dog knows if you are a good person
    Dog understand when you do not like someone

    Cats? they have the opposite of these abilities and the 9 life to keep you more busy.

    • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 13:16

      I wish I could have a puppy :( my parents won't allow it and we don't have any fences

      I did look into lucid dreams but not sure how well it would work as my dreams only last a matter of seconds and then I wake up and never have them again
      I've only remembered 3 or 4 dreams in a period of 4 years

  • KevinFine on 14/09/2017 - 11:54

    I logged in to reply.

    This may be a little left field for many but I can assure you I have been the guinea pig of this one.

    • Go grain and gluten free
    • Do not eat foods that contain MSG
    • If the ingredients contain numbers - they're chemicals and not food
    • Sleep by 11pm latest
    • Reduce to one coffee a day (prefer early morning)
    • Use a good probiotic to improve gut health

    Hope that helps…(take with a pinch of (Himalayan) salt

    • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 13:14
      +1

      Go grain and gluten free
      Pretty much am
      Do not eat foods that contain MSG
      I don't
      If the ingredients contain numbers - they're chemicals and not food I don't my diet pretty much consists of food that comes from the ground or was once alive
      Sleep by 11pm latest
      I do
      Reduce to one coffee a day (prefer early morning)
      I don't drink coffee
      Use a good probiotic to improve gut health
      And I do or have yoghurt as was I. Antibiotics for 3 months

      Thanks thought

  • skillet on 14/09/2017 - 12:36
    +1

    Try sleeping cold really cold. I find I get weird dreams when it's too warm.

    What are you wearing when you sleep? Whats your room temperature? Unplug that electric blanket.

    • spacebaboon on 14/09/2017 - 12:47

      I've just logged in, about to post the same thing. It's almost a definite thing that I'd have dreams, often nightmares, if it's just slightly too warm.

    • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 13:12

      Don't have an eletric blanket .
      I have a small heater that turns on to 21 degrees at about 5pm turns off at 11pm and back on at 5am in the morning and I sleep in a oversized tshirt

      • skillet on 14/09/2017 - 13:23

        Try sleeping cold tonight, no heater, you may shiver a little when you first jump in the cold bed so add extra 15 minutes for winding down. If your quilt is thick it should keep you nice and warm. If it's unbearable then add a layer of blanket on top or wear a little more.

        • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 13:26

          It'd rather not sleep colder when it gets to below zero where I live.

          As mentioned above I haven't had any dreams for two nights.

  • playon on 14/09/2017 - 13:11

    Hi mate,

    My son now 6 years old had night terrors on a regular basis (pretty much daily) from about 1 yo through to 2 2 1/2 yo. Spoke to many Dr's nothing they suggested really helped.

    A friend of ours is a naturopath & she recommended we try magnesium within a few days of using it his night terrors stopped he would sleep straight through the night for my wife & I it was a godsend.

    https://www.mrvitamins.com.au/fusion-health-magnesium-advanc…

    This was the brand she recommended hope this helps. Good luck mate

    • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 13:12

      Already take it as I suffer from sever cramps but thankyou :)

  • ozzzie2005 on 14/09/2017 - 13:45

    I would say if possible change the direction you position your bed. If the head points east or south, it should be fine. Avoid sleeping in a position where head points to North. Also, try sleeping in other bedrooms/hall for a change.

    • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 14:02

      I can't change where my bed is it only fits one way but don't think my head sleeps to the north 🤔🤔

      • ozzzie2005 on 14/09/2017 - 14:29

        Well, try sleeping in other room or another side of the bed.

        • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 15:22

          I kinda sleep in the whole bed if that makes sense haha and no other rooms unless I wanna sleep on the couch

  • TheNeo on 14/09/2017 - 13:47

    Not sure whether this would help; but you can give it a thought…

    Since you very well know that you have a lot of nightmares, try accepting that, instead of trying to change it. I mean, if you can tell yourself that you are going to have nightmares again & again, but do also tell yourself that it is okay to be so… If you can try not to worry about it; it might be easier, and I also think you will get over it eventually… When you have a nightmare, it might still wake you up; it could have been a real bad scary one; but the moment you wake up, tell yourself it is okay. And try to sleep or do something else; but try not to worry about the aspect that a nightmare woke you up yet again!

    Not sure whether I have been able to get the idea across; sorry, if it came across weird.

    I will also share a weird experience which I went through, for many years, during my twenties. I used to have this strange kind of dream. I still don't know whether it was a dream, or whether it was something actually happening. I am trying to wake up after a sleep; I can hear everything happening around me (or at least that is what I thought); but I can't move a bit! I can't talk; I can't even open my eyelids. I want to get up; I can hear everything, but I just can't move.

    This used to happen to me many times, years ago. It was really scary; that feeling that you are completely tied up within your body, when you try to wake up. I thought it was like my brain was awake, but my body was still asleep! Pretty hard to explain; but, it was really scary!

    Anyway, after lots of such episodes, I kind of got used to it… it still used to occur, but it slowly became less of a worry, whenever it happened. I also found a way around it. When it happens, I would try to relax; I stopped trying to wake up immediately. I would tell myself that it is fine, I used to give myself some more time to get up (I think it would be only a couple of seconds, I don't know for sure). I used to lie for some more time, and then try and wake up, trying to do a sudden jerk with my body; and it used to work. That conscious little jerk, that I do, used to get me back up & running.

    Till date, I don't know whether it was a dream or whether it was something actually happening, during my mornings. I am sure it must have been some kind of a sleep disorder; but never went to any doctor for that. Had tried some internet searches also; I think I found a few other people also posting such experiences. It wasn’t that common, but it was not just me either!

    Anyway, I eventually got over it. Never happens to me these days; must have been at least 10 years since the last episode.

    I know I deviated from your actual question; but just thought of sharing my experience and how I went about it… in case it helps you or anyone else here!

    So you get over it soon… Cheers!

    • luffyex2010 on 14/09/2017 - 13:57

      -_- Didn't expect it to be so common…its called sleep paralysis.

      I have experienced that too, like some of the members in this topic.

      Think of it like you have over exert the mind and in the process the communication of the body and mind sort of disconnects for a while as the brain is working in process.. like the hourglass in old windows or the circular animation in modern windows ^_^

      • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 14:01

        That sounds creepy as (profanity)

        I usually am really good with going straight back to sleep but this week it happened 5 times in a row but only remember the dream once and went back to sleep straight away except once

        I've legit only had maybe 3 or 4 since my first one over 4 years ago so it's very rare

        • luffyex2010 on 14/09/2017 - 14:08

          Girl you are very healthy, just need to find a way to get rid of the bad dreams/nightmare …you need to learn how control your mind telling yourself its a dream …….and be in charge of your dreams so the nightmares will go away.

          or

          Sex is a good remedy…..usually you will be too tired to dream after that and sadly you need to find an activity partner and for the males…they will probably die if he do it too much X_X .

          Not sure if that's the real reason why women outlive men lol

        • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 14:26

          @luffyex2010:

          My dreams to not last long enough to control it's only a few seconds

          Haha no interest in sex

        • luffyex2010 on 14/09/2017 - 14:30

          @x1x1x1:
          O_O no comment.

          May the force be with you always

        • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 15:23

          @luffyex2010:

          Haha I only have sex with people I'm in a relationship with and as I am not in one I have no interest in it

        • luffyex2010 on 14/09/2017 - 15:32

          @x1x1x1:

          lol of course….not asking you to get random partners with possibility of std, hiv, and all other packages as that's just plain reckless and irrational.

        • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 15:57

          @luffyex2010:

          That's why ya wrap ya willy 😂

        • luffyex2010 on 14/09/2017 - 15:58

          @x1x1x1:
          lmao you funny girl

          FYI to highschool boys: Shrink wrap doesn't work ok!

        • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 19:05

          @luffyex2010:

          Haha no don't fall for the shrink wrap trick 😂😂

    • hackseed on 15/09/2017 - 08:02

      Stop calling it sleep paralysis - it actually real spirits.
      The same experience by multiple people adds to that statement.
      The only way to rid yourself of those is to throw out any "spiritual" items around the house like dream catchers, tarot cards, incense, etc
      and….. I wont continue without being labelled out of touch.

    • Serapis on 16/09/2017 - 03:35

      I totally get this, I had the same issue as you :)

      When it happens, I would try to relax; I stopped trying to wake up immediately. I would tell myself that it is fine, I used to give myself some more time to get up (I think it would be only a couple of seconds, I don't know for sure). I used to lie for some more time, and then try and wake up…

      Your method works but when you tried this, did you ever get a weird electrical buzzing sensation in your brain / mind? Always felt like something is trying to get it, but it's not like a being or presence but more like a strange buzzing thing that intensifies if you try to fight it…

  • neosin on 14/09/2017 - 21:07

    Stop watching horror/scary movies, scary games, etc

    Get a dog and sleep with the dog guarding you!

    Now I sleep like a baby every night :)

    • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 21:26

      I'm not alloawed a dog :( I wish I could would love a little puppy

      • neosin on 14/09/2017 - 21:33

        :(

        Maybe one day :)

        • x1x1x1 on 14/09/2017 - 21:48

          Yeh when I move out of home and I have my own place

          We don't have fences here so it would be able to run around outside and that would be cruel

    • Serapis on 16/09/2017 - 03:31

      Dogs can also make things worse… sometimes in a sort of waking nightmare situation, they can bark or growl and it just further validates the presence of something in the room / house which makes the experience a whole lot worse

  • [Deactivated] on 14/09/2017 - 22:42

    Sleep on your right and don't eat cheese in the evening.

    • x1x1x1 on 15/09/2017 - 09:12

      Can't eat diary and what's sleeping on your right do ?

      I do snyway though

  • hackseed on 15/09/2017 - 07:58

    Get your hands on a herb called MUGWORT.

    Make a tea out of it and drink it for a week..
    You will never have a nightmare again.

    Personally, I used to have similar dreams and also dreams where I cant control the outcome (running away on the spot, falling, etc)
    After mugwort I have been able to control what happens if I ever dream at all.
    Good luck!

  • Cusack on 15/09/2017 - 09:41

    Here's some absurd advice. It looks like you're not doing anything wrong. So maybe it's time to do do the opposite of people's suggestions. Try watching a horror movie and play violent video games just before bed. Maybe your mind is craving some drama so it plays it out in your dreams. Ever watched The Animal with Rob Schneider? :)

    • x1x1x1 on 15/09/2017 - 09:51

      There's a reason I don't watch them. I hate horror things always have they creep me out way to much

      And no I haven't

  • Twolate on 15/09/2017 - 10:06

    I've seen more than 1 situations where the cause of bad nightmares were from items such as dream catchers and those Midde eastern evil eyes. If you have any, get rid of them

    • x1x1x1 on 15/09/2017 - 10:15

      Dream catchers are pretty as but 👌

  • superkieu on 15/09/2017 - 10:12

    It seems you have tried everything a normal person would do.
    may be the problem was not in the mind, but rather with the body.
    Sometime you cannot fix the "in the box" problem until you take a step outside and have a look.
    Here is another way to look at the symptoms.

    http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/principles/sevenemotions.html

    I do agree with that article that our body and our emotions are directly linked.

    • x1x1x1 on 15/09/2017 - 10:16

      Mmmm that's a different take on it

    • x1x1x1 on 15/09/2017 - 15:44

      So if something wrong is with that body part it would cause that emotions effect

      • superkieu on 18/09/2017 - 11:30

        Yes.

        our organs and our emotions are linked in a figure 8 sort of way. The effects flow back and forward.

        Examples:
        1. when we are calm, we automatically breath slowly. If we are nervous, we can deliberately breath out slowly to bring calm ourselves down.
        2. when we are happy, we tend to laugh a lot. On the opposite way, if we find something to laugh out loud about, it will trigger some of the happy feelings for us, even if we are grumpy at that moment.

        Our organs have physical operations functions as well as emotion functions.
        Example
        1. The kidneys.
        - they circulate body fluids (the heart circulate blood).
        - they are our internal thermostat
        - they also directly related to fear

        ever wonder why many kids (up to 9 years old) who have random nightmares but these would magically disappear once they reach 10 years or so?
        It's because the emotions part of the organs are developing - up to 8 years old for girl, 9 for boy. From time to time, the body would stress-test your organs. If body stress test the kidney, it would push the fear emotion to the limit. This would cause the poor kid to have nightmares, wake up petrified, and wet in the paint. All this should typically stop after the kid gets to 10 years old.
        the kidneys also set your body core temperature. one set heat (heater), one set cold (aircon).
        If your kidneys are not balanced and one is dominant, you will be one of those people who complain the office is cold all the time or the office is hot all the time.
        If your kidneys are balanced, you can tolerate both heat and cold - those cool people who do not complain.

        x1x1x1, when you have your next nightmares, please ignore the vision, but do your best to remember the feelings that the dream brought to you. I reckon your body is trying to tell you something.

        My guess : one of your organs is out of balanced. It is getting weaker but not broken.

        • x1x1x1 on 18/09/2017 - 23:47

          Ahh that's interesting but unfortunately not a cause in my case .

  • Venthriloquist on 15/09/2017 - 23:38

    Dreams is sometimes just a residue of ur reality, and not to be taken literally.
    Death normally associate with your emotions or personality.
    Hence to dreams abt death could mean that you recently giving up or changing part of urself.

    However in dreams how u intrepret the symbols or signs could mean different things for others. So the question what does death and kidnapped means to you..? Did someone or an event have taken away a part of you in real life that it manifested into your dreams?

    One way to overcome the fear of night terrors is to practice waking up in dream, realising that you are only dreaming and being able to control it. Practise lucid dreaming, its do able.

  • Serapis on 16/09/2017 - 03:27

    Do you do the murdering / kidnappings or does it happen to you instead?

    When I don't get enough sleep, I sometimes get thrown into a state of sleep paralysis and those can get pretty scary. Normally starts with me sleeping, waking up in cold sweat for some reason but not being able to do anything but watch. Sometimes things get scarier…

    Had one where I was paralyzed and I could feel someone was hunched over in the corner of the room, staring / watching me sleep. I could feel their malice but I was completely helpless.

    Had another one where I was paralyzed on my back and it felt like something humanoid was crawling up through my sheets from the end of my bed. That figure then went out of the sheets, hovered over me, opened its mouth and proceeded to swallow my face. All I saw was pitch black, tried to scream but nothing came out and I jumped out of bed in cold sweat a minute or two afterwards. Heart rate was around 160 bpm and didn't try sleep again till the sun came up.

    If I'm tired and I don't try to sleep, this will sometimes manifest itself into the real world and I'll see shadowy figures walking around the place if it's at night, most of which are neutral but some feel malicious and will follow / watch you.

    I manage my sleep a lot better these days so thankfully haven't had these issue for a while now…

    • x1x1x1 on 16/09/2017 - 09:08

      As mentioned above numerous times nothing ever happens to me in the dreams I am just a on looker

  • DiscoJango on 16/09/2017 - 10:01

    ill post this again as i really mean it: if im too hot (too many heavy blankets) ill have really bad dreams. bad in the way like "saw" horror movie style stuff.

    • x1x1x1 on 16/09/2017 - 10:10

      If you have already posted it no need to post again

  • full0085 on 16/09/2017 - 10:38

    Ahh! Cobras!

  • naomieve on 17/09/2017 - 08:33

    Long shot, but: night terrors can be more frequent if you have narcolepsy or excessive daytime sleepiness. These are often not identified & diagnosed until people are in their 20s and later. Here is a simple questionnaire devised by sleep disorder professionals, that will help you figure out if this is even worth considering: http://www.sleepservices.com.au/epworth-sleepiness-scale/ Ultimately it's diagnosed with a sleep test where you're hooked up to various machines that go beep, and then get to nap during the day.

    Also, there's a peculiar symptom of narcolepsy: cataplexy. In moments of extreme emotion (e.g. anger, surprise), the person loses muscle control. When I get the giggles really badly, I feel my body slump, my arms go limp, I've even fallen over if there's nothing to lean against. Cataplexy only happens with narcolepsy, so it's a great indicator.

    I have had similar horrific night terrors that had nothing to do with my real life. Murder, suicide, gore, horror, stuff that I literally wake up screaming from. After I was diagnosed with N, and went on meds, they've gone from once or twice a fortnight, to once or twice a year.

    Doctors are often under-trained and under-experienced in diagnosing genuine sleep disorders, so if N/EDS is something you think you might have after you read more about it, you may need to push for a referral to a sleep specialist.]

    Good luck either way!

    • x1x1x1 on 17/09/2017 - 08:49

      Thanks for the very long and informative reply but this has already been mentioned numerous times but I don't have any other sleeping issues as mentioned numerous times in this post

      Your little link doesn't work either

    • x1x1x1 on 18/09/2017 - 23:49

      That just takes me back to the home page ? 🤔

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