Nightmares :(

fwan · Oct 16, 2008

I am hoping someone is able to tell me something before i go to the doctor like a mad woman.
For the past week i have been waking up screaming while having nightmares.

The whole week i dreamt of spiders, they did not harm me, they either walked around me or on me, ive also seen cream coloured snakes around the house in my dream, in all different sizes.
Last night was the worst, i dreamt that scorpions were crawling all over me, and then there was just one on my stomach and it was lost in the bed. I freaked out so much from my dream that i actually jumped out of bed and took me a while to realise that none of it was real!
I havent had a decent night sleep for over a week now, i am afraid of sleeping. I don't know if its anxiety causing it, or if i have bad energy around me!
If someone has any good tips how to get rid of it let me know!

strange_wings · Oct 16, 2008

Feel like an outsider or uncomfortable in your current situation for any reason? Worry that maybe something or everything could go wrong?

Face what's bothering you and the dreams should stop. Though If you looked at the one scorpion thread last night that could have caused the scorpion dream.

fwan · Oct 16, 2008

hmm thats odd because since i faced the facts thats when i have been getting the nightmares.

I hope things are better when the kitties come out of quarantine tomorrow

carolpetunia · Oct 16, 2008

Oh sweetheart, I'm so sorry! That must be just awful! A few thoughts:

1. I assume you haven't actually encountered any spiders lately, have you? If so, maybe you could set your mind at ease about this by having an exterminator out. (One who knows how to safeguard your kitties, of course.)

2. Have you started any new medications or supplements, or stopped anything you had been taking? Sometimes a change in body chemistry can cause odd responses like this.

3. And finally... I know you're thrilled about your wedding, but is it possible that on some unconscious level, all these changes are scaring you a bit? For that matter, the tension of such an important event approaching is bound to cause anxiety, no matter how happy you are about it. Do you think maybe your subconscious is just dealing with that anxiety by focusing it on something it's okay to be scared of (spiders), instead of something you know you shouldn't be afraid of (your wedding)?

Let me suggest something that may seem silly. Okay, it is silly. But sometimes symbolic gestures work! Maybe you should go to a dimestore and buy some of those little plastic spiders (they're everywhere now, for Halloween) and destroy them! Cut 'em up with scissors, pound 'em with a hammer, whatever. Once the spiders have been symbolically defeated, I bet they won't appear in your dreams again.

But if they do -- remind yourself in your dream that you can destroy them, just as you destroyed the plastic ones! Assert your power over the spiders, and anything else that tries to disturb your sleep. You can do it!

theimp98 · Oct 16, 2008

Well you just moved back home right?
maybe the stress along with there are some bad spiders and snakes there is causing you to worry some?

that is just my guess,

epona · Oct 16, 2008

It sounds to me like it could be night terrors, the most common form is to hallucinate bugs or snakes, and jumping out of bed screaming is the usual reaction. The main difference between nightmare and night terror is that a night terror will continue for either seconds or minutes after waking, whereas a nightmare ends upon waking up. There is often a period of confusion afterwards, and your physiological reaction is greater (much higher heart rate etc caused by adrenalin than is caused by a nightmare). The other difference is that nightmares usually occur more than 90 minutes after falling asleep (during REM sleep) whereas night terrors occur earlier within the sleep cycle, often within an hour of dozing off.

Common causes of night terrors - stress, ear infection, exhaustion, being too hot while sleeping, eating a heavy meal before bed, and some medications. But it's in no way a psychological condition - you've not lost your marbles.

Good Night Terrors resource

cococat · Oct 16, 2008

My suggestion to get rid of these is try lucid dreaming. You can google it to learn more.

Also you can try some melatonin, a supplement.

swampwitch · Oct 16, 2008

It is possible to teach yourself to go lucid in your dreams and then you can change the dreams and the endings. I had nightmares and night terrors as a young child, with simultaneous asthma attacks. I couldn't even catch a breath to scream. The lucid dreaming worked great; I was able to change the nightmares and calm myself down.

Hope you get rid of the nightmares soon.

p.s. Oops, just saw this was already suggested... all the more reason to try it!

strange_wings · Oct 16, 2008

Originally Posted by Epona

The main difference between nightmare and night terror is that a night terror will continue for either seconds or minutes after waking, whereas a nightmare ends upon waking up. There is often a period of confusion afterwards, and your physiological reaction is greater (much higher heart rate etc caused by adrenalin than is caused by a nightmare).

So does that mean all the dreams I have that I'm at work, wake up from and take a few minutes to realize that no, I'm not at work are actually night terrors?

I hate those dreams. To actually look around your own bedroom and not recognize it is a terrible feeling.

A couple of years ago I was laying in bed half asleep from a nap, I felt something crawl across my face that turned out to be a centipede - I knew exactly what it was crawling on me, too many legs to be anything else.

. For the next few nights I kept waking up thinking something was crawling across my leg.

Whether this is real life anxiety or not, maybe washing all the bedding and cleaning the bedroom could help put the dreams to rest?

...pun not intended there.

swampwitch · Oct 17, 2008

Another difference between night terrors and nightmares (from my experience with them) is that the night terrors are much more real. When dreaming, you know on some level that you are having a dream - things often don't quite add up in dreams or nightmares.

Night terrors, however... you live them. Some people even act them out while having them. They are as real as anything that happens in the day time.. The only way I could get out of a night terror was to startle my physical body by SCREAMING. (With the asthma attacks, I couldn't scream to get out but by becoming lucid I could change the endings.)

Awful things... bad memories...

sweets · Oct 17, 2008

Snake

To see a snake or be bitten by one in your dream, signifies hidden fears and worries that are threatening you. Your dream may be alerting you to something in your waking life that you are not aware of or that has not yet surfaced. The snake may also be seen as phallic and thus symbolize dangerous and forbidden sexuality. The snake may also refer to a person around you who is callous, ruthless, and can't be trusted. As a positive symbol, snakes represent transformation, knowledge and wisdom. It is indicative of self-renewal and positive changes.

Spiders

To see a spider in your dream, indicates that you are feeling like an outsider in some situation. Or that you may want to keep your distance and stay away from an alluring and tempting situation. The spider is also symbolic of feminine power. Alternatively, a spider may refer to a powerful force protecting you against your self-destructive behavior. If you kill a spider, it symbolizes misfortune and general bad luck.

To see a spider spinning a web in your dream, signifies that you will be rewarded for your hard work. You will soon find yourself promoted in your job or recognized for your achievement in a difficult task. Spiders are a symbol of creativity due to the intricate webs they spin. On a negative note, spiders may indicate a feeling of being entangled or trapped in a sticky or clingy relationship. It represents some ensnaring and controlling force. You may feel that someone or some situation is sucking the life right out of you.

To see a spider climbing up a wall in your dream, denotes that your desires will be soon be realized.

To dream that you are bitten by a spider, represents a conflict with your mother or some dominant female figure in your life. The dream may be a metaphor for a devouring mother or the feminine power to possess and entrap. Perhaps you are feeling trapped by some relationship.

Scorpion

To see a scorpion in your dream, represents a situation in your waking life which may have been painful or hurtful. It is also indicative of destructive feelings, "stinging" remarks, bitter words and/or negative thoughts being expressed by or aimed against you. Your dream forewarns of a self-destructive and self-defeating path. The scorpion is also a symbol of death and rebirth. You need to get rid of the old and make room for something new. Alternatively, the scorpion may also represent a person who is born under the astrological sign for Scorpio.

To see scorpions floating in water, suggests that you need to let go of some pain and learn to accept the situation. You may be going through the three-step process of denial, acceptance, and finally moving on.

EnzoLeya · Oct 17, 2008

I know that antidepressants cause nightmares, that was my first guess. I really don't know other than that.

Maybe it's because your getting married in 21 days

JK. But that would cause a lot of stress, and maybe the reason for your nightmares.

fwan · Oct 17, 2008

Originally Posted by Sweets

Snake

To see a snake or be bitten by one in your dream, signifies hidden fears and worries that are threatening you. Your dream may be alerting you to something in your waking life that you are not aware of or that has not yet surfaced. The snake may also be seen as phallic and thus symbolize dangerous and forbidden sexuality. The snake may also refer to a person around you who is callous, ruthless, and can't be trusted. As a positive symbol, snakes represent transformation, knowledge and wisdom. It is indicative of self-renewal and positive changes.

Spiders

To see a spider in your dream, indicates that you are feeling like an outsider in some situation. Or that you may want to keep your distance and stay away from an alluring and tempting situation. The spider is also symbolic of feminine power. Alternatively, a spider may refer to a powerful force protecting you against your self-destructive behavior. If you kill a spider, it symbolizes misfortune and general bad luck.

To see a spider spinning a web in your dream, signifies that you will be rewarded for your hard work. You will soon find yourself promoted in your job or recognized for your achievement in a difficult task. Spiders are a symbol of creativity due to the intricate webs they spin. On a negative note, spiders may indicate a feeling of being entangled or trapped in a sticky or clingy relationship. It represents some ensnaring and controlling force. You may feel that someone or some situation is sucking the life right out of you.

To see a spider climbing up a wall in your dream, denotes that your desires will be soon be realized.

To dream that you are bitten by a spider, represents a conflict with your mother or some dominant female figure in your life. The dream may be a metaphor for a devouring mother or the feminine power to possess and entrap. Perhaps you are feeling trapped by some relationship.

Scorpion

To see a scorpion in your dream, represents a situation in your waking life which may have been painful or hurtful. It is also indicative of destructive feelings, "stinging" remarks, bitter words and/or negative thoughts being expressed by or aimed against you. Your dream forewarns of a self-destructive and self-defeating path. The scorpion is also a symbol of death and rebirth. You need to get rid of the old and make room for something new. Alternatively, the scorpion may also represent a person who is born under the astrological sign for Scorpio.

To see scorpions floating in water, suggests that you need to let go of some pain and learn to accept the situation. You may be going through the three-step process of denial, acceptance, and finally moving on.

That nailed it, i tried searching online but the results came out different!

Last night i didnt dream at least not that i remember, i did wake up a few times but it was peaceful!
T&K came out of quarantine today, i hope by them being there its going to be better

sarahp · Oct 17, 2008

Hooray you have the kitties!!!!

I get really vivid nightmares when I'm too hot. They completely freak me out, they seem so real, and I wake up and can't get back to sleep because I'm too scared.

It's so silly, because I feel completely safe, but at night, everything scares me.

Nightmares :(

fwan

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strange_wings

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fwan

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carolpetunia

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theimp98

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epona

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cococat

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strange_wings

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swampwitch

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sweets

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