To Sleep Perchance to Scream

Kids, I'm losing it.

Many of you probably think I've already lost it but, I assure you, the mental melee you've witnessed over the last nearly-three years is perfectly normal.

For me.

Sooo...here's the thing. I have bad dreams. A lot.

Aaaand...they aren't really bad dreams. They're nightmares.
Every. Friggin'. Night. Mares.

Sometimes, when I'm really on my game, I get night terrors, which are absolutely charming. I wake up with all the physical symptoms of actually being terrified.

Poor Hub. YOU try sleeping beside that every night.
:: clean it up boys, that wasn't an invite ::

This is where the mildly humorous portion of my post ends and I actually - maybe for the first time - reach out to all y'all.

So... bad dreams are par for the course when you have an anxiety disorder. Which I do. Which nearly everyone in my family does. It's hereditary.

Let's face it, my maternal great-grandfather - WHO, just for fun, died in an insane asylum - didn't do anyone a favor by passing on these damaged genes.

You'd think that after ::mumble:: years of this abnormality a person would give themselves a good case of hysterical insomnia and avoid sleep.

But not yours truly. I usually fall asleep in .0005 seconds and sleep like the dead. Until, ironically, I dream that I'm dying, at which point I am WIDE awake.

Do I take meds? Seriously? You must be new here. Welcome.

The issue...scratch that. The most recent issue is that said dreams are getting worse. A lot worse. Starting to worry me worse.

I had to contact our good bloggy friend Jen today because she starred in one spectacularly bad dream last night. Which is a first. I usually only nightmare about people I've actually met.

So I'm asking all of you: what do I do? I've changed my evening routine umpteen times: Eat earlier. Eat later. Wine with dinner. No wine with dinner. (PS - that's never the solution). No to red meat and spicy food, yes chamomile tea and yoga...yada yada.

Before I subject myself to medical - or mental - evaluation, does anyone else face this particular challenge? What helps? Anything?

Although, commitment to the ol' Loony Bin is starting to sound pretty good right about now. Because, I seriously need some rest. I wonder if Dziadzia's old bed is free....

Image Credit: http://inobscuro.com/gallery/nightmares-81/

Comments

Jennifer said…
If I didn't get these things myself, I'd find it a bit odd. But yes, I have them too. Usually when I'm on antibiotics or something similar. Anything foreign to my body makes my sleep go nuts. And 9 times out of 10, they're about my husband. He loves that.

The good news is nothing tragic has happened to me so far, as long as you don't count the Packers debacle yesterday.

Here's to better sleep!
I'm so sorry - I wish I had the answer to this. I have occasional bad dreams but not on a regular basis. Mine is usually linked to ice cream before bed - who knew such a sweet treat would turn so evil at night.

Honestly I don't think it would hurt to sit down with a professional and discuss what is happening. I wouldn't say it's mental but something in your subconcious is clearly pulling at you when you sleep.

I wish I had the answers, I really do.
Nina said…
You might talk to a pulmonologist. They can get you into a sleep study and see if you have a sleep disorder that's causing this problem. Before you go to the anti-depressants/anti-anxiety meds. Your problem could be akin to sleepwalking or something. Sleepwalkers have extremely vivid dreams. I hope this helps!
wineandroasts said…
Nurse Nina: Now THAT's the kind of thing I was looking for. Something that I would neverinamillionyears think of on my own.

Thanks to everyone! :)
Nina said…
I'm so glad to know I'm good for something! ;) I hope you get some answers soon!
Baby Boy said…
I seem to recall a night you described as being sane. wasn't it when you won $1000 on a wheel of fortune slots? maybe you need to gamble more...
Malisa said…
These suggestions are NOT...I repeat...NOT from personal experiences! :) Xanex gives my "friend" horrible nightmares...or so she tells me. Don't know your age, but when my "friend" went through menopause, the nightmares of death began...nothing a little Cymbalta couldn't fix. Well, that's what she said! Hope this helps! Nightmares are miserable!
alejna said…
Oof. (Sorry I have no advice or suggestions.)

That sleep study suggestion sounds promising. I've always been intrigued by those.

I used to have nightmares as a kid. Come to think of it, I used to sleepwalk, too. I'm not sure when/how that stopped.