How do you handle nightmares? I've been taking stuff that helps me sleep to ward them off, but nothing is working now. My dreams have always been incredibly vivid and I almost always remember them. So when I have nightmares they are especially horrible. I'm a mess today becuase last night was the worst one I can remember. It wasn't just one nightmare, it was three, and each one was worse than the last.

I could probably handle one nightmare a night, or even more if I could wake up. But what happens is that I slip in and out of sleep without waking fully enough to get up. Each time that happens I start a new nightmare or the one I woke up with takes another horrible turn. I usually can't make myself wake up. It's like a stupid sci-fi movie I once saw where criminals are hooked up to some kind of virtual reality and forced to live through what they did to their victims over and over again. I get full color, sound, feeling (I feel pain in my nightmares, intensely), and emotion. It is literally torture and I'm terrified to go to sleep.

I'm thinking I'm going to have to call a psychiatrist. I don't think my OB is equipped to handle this. But if anyone that has dealt with nightmares has a suggestion , please, please share.

By the way - this isn't an occasional thing. It's been every single night since we got our diagnosis unless drugs have made me comatose. That's almost 3 months now.

I don't have any advice really but if they're happening every night you probably need to see a pshychiatrist. I've had a few (5 or 6 maybe) and that's been bad enough.

I hope you can find some relief somewhere. Are they the same nightmares over and over? Mine tend to involve water or my husband leaving me.

Maddie x

I'm sorry you're having such horrible nightmares. I have a LONG history of them as well...though they are surprisinly not terrible right now (huh?). Nightmares can actually be a type of sleep disorder (especially when you feel you can't wake up or feel paralyzed). It means you're not getting into the proper sleeping state when your body actually does 'paralyze' itself (in essence). You would probably benefit greatly from a sleep study to see what is going on....and then working with a sleep specialist or pyschiatrist to help. Don't let your doc just put you on Ambien or brush you off....Ambien causes INCREASED nightmares and just masks symptoms. Also, poor sleep can make depression and other issues much worse.

Not trying to be bossy here, hope this info helps you though.

Thanks, Eve. I didn't know nightmares could be a sleep disorder. That sounds exactly like what I get. And I've always known that I don't get enough REM sleep - but insurance won't pay for a sleep study so I've never had one. I'll check with my new insurance and see if they will cover it.

Maddie - no, they are always different. I think that actually makes it harder because I never know what new horrors are waiting for me when I close my eyes. I swear it is like a Freddy Krueger movie.

I hope you get some relief soon....I absolutely know the fear of closing my eyes to sleep. It is a terrible. terrible feeling. Sleep is the one 'escape' it seems, to our situation...to not have that haven must just be horrible.

Yup, had reoccuring nightmares for about 4 months after the boys died. Drugs (antidpressants not Ambien), therapy and acupuncture all helped. You need to call someone and talk. I'm so sorry, it sucks.

other people have recurring dreams about appearing in public stark naked or having to write their final exams again, my recurring dream is that I wake up bleeding and the whole nightmare begins again.

*thinking of you lady* Hope your nights get a little easier.