Nightmares

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Samara

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Hi, I know you are all going to think I'm not on the sane side of the tracks, But I have a little problem. For the last 3 nights I have been having nightmares, and I'm normally the one that has a bad dream maybe twice a month, like every blue moon. So that is why it concerns me. As some of you might know; I am claustrophobic, which is a condition where you are afraid of being in small spaces and being in a huge crowd. That's what my dreams have being about, they all had me feeling that in it, but each time it got worse, last night I swear I was suffocating, now I am so afraid of going to sleep because of what I think I will dream about.
Has anyone been in a similar situation to me? Does anyone have any advise? I would really appreciate cause I don't know what to do.
 
I'm not sure about this but I'm gonna make some suggestions for you to think about.

1. Have you moved your room around lately? If so, it could be that you aren't used to the position of everything in your room.
2. Have you watched anything that might have triggered it. i.e. Panic Room, etc.
3. Have you been in the situation that you may have felt claustrophobic in the past week? If so, that could have something to do with it.
4. Have you eaten a lot of cheese before going to bed? I know it's silly but it can cause nightmares.
5. Is there something that you will be doing in the near future that you are nervous about? Perhaps travelling in a confined space or something like that?

I don't know if this is going to help but it sounds like it has been something external that could have triggered the dreams. If it is none of the above then you might want to go and see the doctor about it because of your phobia. If not then why not try some relaxing techniques before going to bed? Like having a bath with aromatherapy salts in it, or reading a nice book. Perhaps you should write down these dreams and get them out in the open.
 
Poor old you 🙁.

There are many theories about dreams from Freudian psycho-sexual stuff to the one where your brain is looked at like a computer and your dreams are just its way of ordering, processing and archiving the day's events. I tend toward the latter and I think that what happens in your day-to-day life will appear in some way as part of your dreaming.

I'm by no means an expert but if your dreams are troubling you to such an extent I think there must be something going on in your life that is causing them to be nightmarish. You may need just to sit down, think about what it might be to solve the problem or talk it through with a good mate, or it may be that you feel you need to consult someone qualified in such matters - starting with your GP.

Robert Winston had a progamme on the BBC recently called "How to sleep better" and the web site ( HERE ) for it seems to have tips on getting a good night's rest. There may be something there to help.
 
That's awful hon so sorry! I'm not sure why they would have sprung up all of a sudden, everyone else seems to have good advice as to why.

As to what you can do...well...I have nightmares too. And my hubby taught me this little technique. He taught me how to control my dreams. So you basically say, in the middle of a frightening part, "STOP!" and make everything stop. Then, you give yourself superpowers, whether it's to sweep your hands and make the crowd disappear, or make the confined space open up or whatnot. For me, it's superstrength and I can beat whatever foe is attacking.

It may sound silly, but you have to remember that they're YOUR dreams, so why shouldn't you be in control of the world and the people in it?

It definitely takes some practice but if you go to sleep remembering to do it...you may find that you CAN do it.
 
Crikey, I'm impressed Jen - I've always wanted to be able to do that, ever since I read it was possible.

What m'learned fellow mod is describing is called Lucid Dreaming (see HERE for details). It sounds like a good solution if you can achieve it.
 
I used to do that Points, and I never knew what it was... I love dreaming...


But yea, theres a point to my post... I used to have really bad nightmares when I was younger... Same thing, claustrophobia. I was told to hold something while I'm sleeping, that makes me secure. At first, it worked, but if I didn't hold something (my pillow), then I'd have the nightmares. After a while, I didn't need the security anymore, and I can have normal dreams without it.
 
Mr. Pointy
Mr. Pointy
Sounds like good, simple advice - now where's my teddy bear :)
Oh, I'm so sorry! Nightmares suck. I had a dream where I was attacked by a mailman....Anyway, not about me.

I find that slowing things down before going to bed, like, lowering the lights for an hour before bedtime, listening to soothing music or reading really helps in warding off bad dreams. Also, both before bed, and as soon as you wake up from a nightmare try this: (I've never done any "real" meditating, but I've always found these techniques calming) Close your eyes and breathe slowly. Imagine your energy scattered over the room, and imagine pulling into yourself slowly, until it is fully contained back in your body. Pull it together even more until it makes a single line through your center. (this is what I always thought of as "centering yourself") Or, you can try turning the lights on low or off completely and tensing and relaxing your whole body, beginning with your feet, then your legs, then your arms and hands, then your whole body (we used to do this at the end of play rehearsals and I was always ready to sleep after doing it) Also, I've found that if I clean my room sometime during the day (even if I just take out the trash) I sleep a lot better (that may just be me: neat freak)

But if you've tried EVERYTHING you can think of and they just aren't helping, you may just have to talk to a medical professional about it.
 
I know how tuff nightmares can be, so I'm really sorry for you...

I'm no dream expert but these are my experiences:
When I have nightmares I can usually figure out what causes them, (like if I'm stressed or have some hard decision to make). When I'm in a nightmare period I have to be very careful about what I do before I go to sleep, I have to take things slow so that I'm relaxed when I go to bed. I always try to avoid rushing to bed at all because it either makes me unable to sleep or gives me nightmares.

I think that dreams are really personal, so is the reason behind them. So the best one to figure out why you have these dreams are yourself...
 
the cheese thing isnt actually true, and is apparently very good for interesting dreams. cheese and coffee, thats when the evilness starts.

i normally only get a nightmare every third dark of the moon which is pleasant.

i have been known to on occasion lucid dream but i don't know how to trigger one.
 
Mr. Pointy said:
Crikey, I'm impressed Jen - I've always wanted to be able to do that, ever since I read it was possible.

What m'learned fellow mod is describing is called Lucid Dreaming (see HERE for details). It sounds like a good solution if you can achieve it.
Click to expand...

Yes yes THANK you Mr. P...I had forgotten to mention that it is in fact Lucid dreaming. Seriously it did take a while to master but if you have those rip-roaring realistic can't get ANY rest nightmares (as I was) it is WELL worth the effort involved. And it gives you an incredible sense of empowerment being in a world that is completly at your will and whim.

Very Illyria-ish (pre-power-drain!) 😀

LOL I was just reading that article Mr. P, and I'm an oneironauts LOL how cool!!! 😀
 
so after reading Links of the Pointyâ„¢ i took the pages advice on trying to get lucid namely look at your watch then look away and look back.

after lying in bed for half an hour i found myself in a very familiar dream state. looking around i see black. why? because im dreaming im in my bed!

so feeling very silly checking my watch when i know im awake i do so anyway. i look away and go to look back when i think "this is very silly im so obviousely awake!" and give up.

i then went off to a street and was able to teleport, although unlucidly
 
Jenny
Jenny
LOL sounds like you're half way there! LOL
Thanks everyone for your replys. I really appreciate the help 🙂

I'm by no means an expert but if your dreams are troubling you to such an extent I think there must be something going on in your life that is causing them to be nightmarish. You may need just to sit down, think about what it might be to solve the problem or talk it through with a good mate, or it may be that you feel you need to consult someone qualified in such matters - starting with your GP. Robert Winston had a progamme on the BBC recently called "How to sleep better" and the web site ( HERE ) for it seems to have tips on getting a good night's rest. There may be something there to help.
Click to expand...

I have done that, the 4rd night I had a bad dream I was at my freind Belinda's house and told her about it. That really helped. And thanks for the link 🙂



As to what you can do...well...I have nightmares too. And my hubby taught me this little technique. He taught me how to control my dreams. So you basically say, in the middle of a frightening part, "STOP!" and make everything stop. Then, you give yourself superpowers, whether it's to sweep your hands and make the crowd disappear, or make the confined space open up or whatnot. For me, it's superstrength and I can beat whatever foe is attacking. It may sound silly, but you have to remember that they're YOUR dreams, so why shouldn't you be in control of the world and the people in it?
Click to expand...

That dosent sound silly at all. I have tried that heaps of times, but when I'm asleep I never quite know that I am, sometimes I even wake up and think "phew that didnt happen" but I will really try that technique tonight.


I find that slowing things down before going to bed, like, lowering the lights for an hour before bedtime, listening to soothing music or reading really helps in warding off bad dreams. Also, both before bed, and as soon as you wake up from a nightmare try this: (I've never done any "real" meditating, but I've always found these techniques calming) Close your eyes and breathe slowly. Imagine your energy scattered over the room, and imagine pulling into yourself slowly, until it is fully contained back in your body. Pull it together even more until it makes a single line through your center. (this is what I always thought of as "centering yourself") Or, you can try turning the lights on low or off completely and tensing and relaxing your whole body, beginning with your feet, then your legs, then your arms and hands, then your whole body (we used to do this at the end of play rehearsals and I was always ready to sleep after doing it) Also, I've found that if I clean my room sometime during the day (even if I just take out the trash) I sleep a lot better (that may just be me: neat freak)
Click to expand...

Thats a good idea actualy I have a medertation tape, i will play it tonight and that might help..

You may need just to sit down, think about what it might be to solve the problem or talk it through with a good mate.

Robert Winston had a progamme on the BBC recently called "How to sleep better" and the web site ( I'm not sure about this but I'm gonna make some suggestions for you to think about.

1. Have you moved your room around lately? If so, it could be that you aren't used to the position of everything in your room.
2. Have you watched anything that might have triggered it. i.e. Panic Room, etc.
3. Have you been in the situation that you may have felt claustrophobic in the past week? If so, that could have something to do with it.
4. Have you eaten a lot of cheese before going to bed? I know it's silly but it can cause nightmares.
5. Is there something that you will be doing in the near future that you are nervous about? Perhaps travelling in a confined space or something like that?
Click to expand...

One of the nights I sleeped at someone else's house and it didnt change 🙁
I just have one thing that i can think could have trigged it, At this new work I started doing once a week starting last friday, theres this walk-in freezer and I always get nervous going into it, as I dont know what would happen if the door locks behind me.. Do you think that might be it?

And thanks everyone else, all your reply's made me feel a lot more safer tonight 🙂
 
Samara said:
That dosent sound silly at all. I have tried that heaps of times, but when I'm asleep I never quite know that I am, sometimes I even wake up and think "phew that didnt happen" but I will really try that technique tonight.
Click to expand...

It sometimes helps if you start off by going to bed 'dreaming' as in imagining something in your mind...a situation, environment, etc. Even start off in one of your bad dreams. Keep at it hon....good luck!
 
guess what? I havent got it for the past 2 nights 🙂
friday night I went to bed and realised why it might happen, I keep all 5 doors in my house and my window closed, i opened all the doors and windows besides the front and back, and read before I went to sleep, and had some music on and insense stick ligted up and I was fine, I am really grateful for helping me everyone you guys are great 🙂
 
I'm so glad that worked!!! Hopefully you'll be off having happy snoozy dreams from now on!
 
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