Anyone else have nightmares?

Question

I always have nightmares but my new one is I am half alseep half awake & 2 hands come infront of my face like they r tryin to heal me & move down my face, I am numb & can't move or speak, then it feels like there are more hands & people all around me, I have 2 try really hard 2 wake myself up, anyone know what this could mean? I often have dreams like this includin one where I float above my bed or round the room, scary! also it feels like there is a spirit there of some sort it freaks me out...

I'm not on any medication, I eat healthy & not stressed or depressed...all my nightmares are kinda the same with spirits & not been able to move or speak, curious 2 c if anyone else has the same dreams...

Answer 1

EVERYONE has nightmares and the floating over the bed or floating around the room is a very, very common one.

Have you had your blood sugar tested? Diabetics and people with hypoglycemia are more likely to have scarey nightmares than healthy people.

Also, if it bothers you, drink plenty of water all day and don't let yourself get dehydrated. People who drink LOTS of water are less likely to dream or remember their dreams.

Answer 2

That's not just a general nightmare- it sounds like sleep paralysis.. But don't worry- its perfectly normal to experience sleep paralysis occasionally.

Sleep Paralysis is a natural bodily function that causes us to be paralyzed during sleep. It prevents us hurting ourselves or others during dreams. It's when it follows us into the waking state that it becomes a disorder.

SYMPTOMS

* Inability to move the trunk or limbs. This can occur at sleep onset or upon awakening.

* Hallucinations.These can be visual (You think you see something,)or Auditory (You think you hear things.) In some cases, the sense of smell is also involved.

* Feeling of pressure. Like someone sitting on you or holding you down. Fear Even outright terror may be involved.

* Occasional sensations of being Out of Your Body (OBE.)Floating or flying through the air. Feeling disconnected from your body.


CAUSES

* A natural state: Sleep Paralysis is a natural bodily function that causes us to be paralysed during sleep. It prevents us hurting ourselves or others during dreams. It's when it follows us into the waking state that it becomes a disorder.

* Stress and anxiety.
* Narcolepsy.
* Sleeping on the back.
* Puberty.
* Bipolar Disorder.
* Depression.

WAYS TO AVOID IT

* Talk to your doctor. He may be able to prescribe something to help.
* Keep on a regular schedule. Go to bed, get up and eat meals at regular times.
* Get some exercise. Even a short walk earlier in the day can help.
* Avoid sleep deprivation.
* Alleviate the stress in your life.
* Know you are not alone.
* Relax. You are not dying or going insane. As far as is known, sleep paralysis is not harmful.

* Read David Hufford's book. "The Terror that Comes in the Night" can help you understand this strange disorder.


While its happening- try to move a finger. just a little bit- that's one of the ways to break the paralysis.

Although its very scary- you will always wake up from it eventually.

Check out: http://sleepdisorders.about.com/od/sleepparalysis/Sleep_Paralysis_All_About_Sleep_Paralysis.htm

Its the best site I've found about this particular problem.

Answer 3

Are you on any medications at all? Some meds can increase or cause nightmares and/or hallucinations, and some can make it more difficult to awaken. If you are taking anything on a regular basis, check to see if nightmares or hallucinations is a possible side effect.
I have found that prayer before bed really helps with sleep issues. Even if you don't believe in God, telling yourself before falling asleep what kind of sleep you're going to have and what kinds of dreams are going to occur may help you.
And, yes, nightmares are very common.

Answer 4

The other night I dreamt that all the people I love all my friends and family is standing around my bed and talking to me,but Im so tired I can't hear a thing they're saying I'm struggling to keep my eyes open and then suddenly they all just start walking away. I try to get up to follow them but I'm falling asleep the whole time,then suddenly everything goes dark and at my door I see a woman with a long black dress on with long black hair and she has no expression on her face,she 's just staring at me.I ask her "WHAT???!!" but she just keeps staring,then I suddenly hear all my loved ones screaming with horror from downstairs and then the lightning strikes outside and suddenly everything's quiet and the woman disappeared. Then I hear someone whisper in my ear "You know..." and someone grabs me by the arm with a wet cold hand and then I woke up.

I recognise the woman in my dream but I don't know from where...

Answer 5

If these nightmares prevent you from being able to get normal rest, then talk to a psychologist. Because vivid frequently reoccuring nightmares are a clinical psychological illness. So talk to a doctor.

Answer 6

I have nightmares when I am stressed or if I eat cheese before I go to bed. Try to limit these 2 things before bed.

Answer 7

Yeah every 1 has nightmares.

Answer 8

I have nightmares quite often. Last nights consisted of me being in like a horror film sequel, but real. One that I have watched, that really scared me, but I dont remember which one. Theres this woman like person thing who is after us all. She kills a twin who suffers medically whilst the other twin is riding in a hotair balloon. The healthy twin finds his brother dead in the bathroom. The twins were only 5/6. I was a looker on at this point in my dream, and this event took place at a fiairground/theme park. Next thing I am in a garage with a bunch of mechanics and i was timed for fitting special nuts and bolts, after I proved myself I was re-cruited there. Then I was in a big mansion and there was twin girls of around 8 praising this woman thing, this woman killer looks at me and comes towards me, I start running...... Then I was at a lake side fishing with a male person about 40ish, but with the things you go crabbing with. After the extrodinary event of catching 2 fish by this method, we caught a really big fish in comparrison to the others, after laughing and joking at this we left the secluded fishing area that was covered by a large dropping tree and entered the open field. His son of 20ish saw us and we told him what we were doing, saying nothing happened that shouldnt have (as it was, we were only fishing) He sons starts to go mental and runs away. With that this woman killing thing kills the lad infront of me and his father rather nastily too. His father runs to the helicopter that we used as transport to get to this fishing lake/field and gets in. As the helicopter starts up, he too is killed by this woman killing thing, that exposed him to the helicopter being set on fire from the inside out. I watched, terrified as he tried to escape...... Then this woman killing thing looks at me again, but I don't feel in danger.

How odd, I woke at 5:14 feeling very peculiar. It took me ages to settle down again.

Answer 9

Sounds like sleep paralysis with astral travelling thrown in for good luck!!!

What is sleep paralysis?

Sleep paralysis consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset (called hypnogogic or predormital form) or upon awakening (called hypnopompic or postdormtal form).

Sleep paralysis may also be referred to as isolated sleep paralysis, familial sleep paralysis, hynogogic or hypnopompic paralysis, predormital or postdormital paralysis

What are the symptoms?

A complaint of inability to move the trunk or limbs at sleep onset or upon awakening
Presence of brief episodes of partial or complete skeletal muscle paralysis
Episodes can be associated with hypnagogic hallucinations or dream-like mentation (act or use of the brain)

Polysomnography (a sleep recording) shows at least one of the following:

suppression of skeletal muscle tone
a sleep onset REM period
dissociated REM sleep

Is it harmful?

Sleep paralysis is most often associated with narcolepsy, a neurological condition in which the person has uncontrollable naps. However, there are many people who experience sleep paralysis without having signs of narcolepsy. Sometimes it runs in families. There is no known explanation why some people experience this paralysis. It is not harmful, although most people report feeling very afraid because they do not know what is happening, and within minutes they gradually or abruptly are able to move again; the episode is often terminated by a sound or a touch on the body.

In some cases, when hypnogogic hallucinations are present, people feel that someone is in the room with them, some experience the feeling that someone or something is sitting on their chest and they feel impending death and suffocation. That has been called the “Hag Phenomena” and has been happening to people over the centuries. These things cause people much anxiety and terror, but there is no physical harm.

What else can you tell me about sleep paralysis?

Some people with disrupted sleep schedules or circadian rhythm disturbances experience sleep paralysis
A study found that 35% of subjects with isolated sleep paralysis also reported a history of wake panic attacks unrelated to the experience of paralysis
Sixteen percent of these persons with isolated sleep paralysis met the criteria for panic disorder

How can I stop the sleep paralysis?

In severe cases, where episodes take place at least once a week for 6 months, medication may be used.

You may be able to minimize the episodes by following good sleep hygiene:

getting enough sleep
reduce stress
exercise regularly (but not too close to bedtime)
keep a regular sleep schedule

What is Sleep Paralysis or Isolated Sleep Paralysis?

(From "Relationship Between Isolated Sleep Paralysis and Geomagnetic Influences: A case study" -Perceptual and Motor Skills, 80, 1263-1273)

"The isolated sleep paralysis event occurs most often at sleep onset. An individual, even though aware and maintains that he is awake, is atonic, and has great difficulty moving. This atonic state is similar to the atonia experienced during REM sleep. This experience also may produce great anxiety and fear, while the individual struggles to "wake up".

Individuals who experience sleep paralysis often report concurrent hypnagogic hallucinations. A commonly reported hallucination is the feeling of a presence or entity in the room in which the individual sleeps. At times this presence may seem threatening and evil giving rise to the folklore belief of the "night-mare," the "old hag," and the "incubi" ".
====================================
Suffered with it myself..it is scary but best way out of it is to RELAX and talk to yourself by saying relax I am dreaming. Then mentally relax all of your body starting with your feet and working your way up the body.

I used to see things above my head like faces saying things....like "aha...I've got you now" and I'd panic and try to scream to anyone to help but I couldn't even move a finger! Iearnt to trust myself and told myself to relax.....it worked and I'd wake up in the morning with no ill effects...I did outgrow it by the way....only lasted 3 years and was mostly due to stress.....I very rarely get it now but know the feelings when they start....the buzzing in the ears and the numb sensation on the arms and legs...I breathe deeply and relax and it goes......

Answer 10

i have very frequent nightmares, my psychiatrist said it is caused by post traumatic stress disorder.i have nightmares that my dead husband is trying to carry me away that hes lonely.i understand your fear.sometimes i am afraid to go to sleep.