Afraid to sleep.?

Question

When i go to sleep, i get really bad night terrors where if i don't try and wake up i will die. Most of my dreams are of me being attacked or chased. I know when i'm dreaming because i try and move my body but this never happens until near the end when i'm about to be hurt. i tell myself over and over to wake up but it hardly ever works and i start to panic and i wake up crying and screaming. I have these dreams atleast 5 times a week. for the past 6 months. and now they'r really starting to get to me. The first one i had was when i lived witha friend. i went to bed but woke up, i could not move any part of my body even though i was awake. all i coudl do was move my eyes. And sitting on my legs was a figure which seemed to be unnatuarl. and kept moving closer to my face stretching out ts hand over my neck and laughing. i dont no how long i was like that for but it felt like ages and i was crying and screaming. finally i moved my body and it disapeared. Any help apprciated.

Answer 1

pray before sleep!! keep a bible near to you!! angel always with you when u trust god!!

Answer 2

I have had that similar experience since I was a child. I wake up but my arms and legs are restrained. And sometimes there would be something horrible holding me down or breathing loudly, or just slowly taking hold of me. about 13 years ago I was in my living room watching I love Lucy. I fell asleep but then I awoke again. But I could not move. I looked up at the television and sure enough, it was I love Lucy. And I actually for the first time did not fight the restrained feeling, but just laid there and watched the show on TV. It was a huge lesson for me. I am no longer afraid of that feeling anymore. It seems to be a natural safety device that keeps you from hurting yourself while you are sleeping. I have noticed that this happens more often with the type of food I eat. Have you started doing something different. I usually pull out of this paralyzation by twisting myself forcibly one way. It is like peeling yourself off a huge piece of fly paper.
But I want you to know that still sometimes I do have bad dreams with this feeling of being restrained.

Answer 3

I have or had terrible night terror like the ones you are describing. My MD said i was holding in all my anger and anxiety throughout the day and when i went into rem sleep, that is when my emotions would come out. The best thing he did i take 2 mg of Xanax 2 hours before i go to bed. The greatest thing is i haven't had a night terror since.

Good Luck. Go to your MD, you might have a different problem you might need to go to a sleep specialist. Get yourself some help so you can get some sleep.

Answer 4

I hear you...I experienced this frequently throughout my childhood and into my teenage years...they went away toward the end of high school. I would get what I now consider to be panic or anxiety attacks during my slumber, often resulting in elevated heartrate, paralysis, and an aversion to going back to sleep. I think it is safe to say that you won't die (I'm still here)...the body has a way of protecting itself from extreme (psychological) trauma.
The feeling of paralysis is there because you think you are awake, but you are actually still asleep or partially asleep...the subconscious is still in control, resulting in all your muscles not responding as if you were fully awake.
Being chased in your dreams is a very common manifestation of insecurity...in my case, it was an overpowering friend that tended to ask me to do things a lot and I developed some internal resentment. I should have practiced being more upfront in saying no more often (I tended not to stand up for myself.)
My best guess is that most of my anxiety was caused by insecurity (self-esteem, the pressures of school, stress within the home, the uncertainty of the future, my lack of control, 'adversarial' friends, etc.) Most of these things will clear up as you get older. But the bulk of my insecurity was taken care of after realizing that I was not in control, but even better, my life was in the hands of God...and I'd much rather let Him be in control than me.
As for the figure...it is most likely your mind playing a game with you. But there is a remote chance that there is something spiritual going on. If you have a pastor or a friend who has gifts of prayer, invite them over to 'cleanse' your room....it's not a haunting.

Here are some tips to help rest better:
- Avoid sugary snacks and drinks in the latter part of the day. If needed, cut down on drinks with caffeine.
- Make water your primary beverage. It's okay to enjoy a soda or juice once in a while, just don't rely on them for your main hydration.
- Avoid foods that break down too fast (sugary and starchy foods)...avoid junk foods, highly processed foods, or 'convenience' foods...favor whole foods, fresh vegeatbles and fruits, and whole grains.
- Don't go to sleep too close to dinnertime. Allow at least 2 hours of no eating before you go to sleep. Do at least one active activity between dinner and sleeptime.
- Exercise more during the day...this will make your sleep more productive and will also serve as an outlet for your stress. It's the stress that contributes to your anxiety attacks. Consider Yoga.
- Cut down on watching movies or books that contain terror. These stories can leave long lasting images in your mind that are very difficult to get rid of. Watch or read more light-hearted ones instead.
- Get together more with a family member or friend who will listen to your frustrations...but be sure the conversations are balanced...try to draw the other person out also. You can feel a lot better when you are helping others with their struggles as well.
- Bring this up with your doctor during your annual exam...they always have good ideas to remedy the situation, preferably without medication.


Hope this helps

Answer 5

Night terrors are frightening episodes during which a person sits up, screams, and flails about. The eyes are wide open, and the heart races. Episodes usually occur during non-REM stages of sleep. Night terrors are more common among children. Children should not be awakened. They usually stop having episodes when they become older. Episodes in adults are often associated with psychologic problems or alcoholism. Treatment with certain benzodiazepines, such as clonazepamSome Trade Names
KLONOPIN
, or tricyclic antidepressants, such as imipramineSome Trade Names
TOFRANIL
, may be helpful.

Nightmares are vivid, frightening dreams, followed by sudden awakening. Children and adults can have nightmares. Nightmares occur during REM sleep. They are more likely to occur when a person is under stress, has a fever, is excessively tired, or has consumed alcohol. Treatment, if necessary, focuses on the underlying problem.
_________

The excerpt above is from the second source below especially see the fourth source for information about sleep disorder studies (as shown below):
_____________

Science Wakes Up to Sleep Disorders

People with all types of sleep disorders are sent to sleep laboratories for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. The following symptoms may prompt a referral to a sleep laboratory:

Excessive daytime sleepiness
Insomnia
Dependence on sleep aids
Pauses in breathing
Severe snoring or choking
Nightmares
Sleep abnormalities as witnessed by a sleep partner

An initial evaluation at a sleep laboratory may include the following:

A sleep history, often including a sleep diary
A general medical history
A physical examination
Blood tests
A laboratory sleep evaluation

Two examples of laboratory sleep evaluations are overnight polysomnography and a multiple sleep latency test. In overnight polysomnography, a person spends the night in a sleep laboratory with electrodes attached to the head to record brain activity. With this information, sleep stages can be characterized. Other bodily functions, such as heart rate and breathing pattern, are also monitored and recorded. This procedure is used to detect sleep apnea and movement disorders during sleep (parasomnias). In a multiple sleep latency test, a person spends the day in a sleep laboratory, taking four or five naps at 2-hour intervals. This test is used to detect daytime sleepiness, especially that due to narcolepsy.

Answer 6

Drink a glass of warm milk. It turns out there’s a scientific basis for your grandmother’s old-time remedy. Milk contains tryptophan, a chemical that may promote sleep in some people.
Have a light snack, but only if you’re hungry. Going to bed hungry can affect your sleep. High-carbohydrate snacks, such as crackers, pretzels, or a plain bagel, are good bedtime snacks. But be careful not to overeat; indigestion can interrupt sleep.
Stay out of bed until you feel tired enough to go to sleep. Whenever you’ve been lying in bed for 20 minutes and can’t fall asleep, go into another room and do something relaxing, such as reading a book. Return to bed only when you’re sleepy.

Answer 7

Have you spoken to a dr. about your night terrors? These are really severe sounding. If you can talk to a dr about this, then, they doctor might be able to give you a light sedative to help you sleep a more restful sleep. This is just so horrible for you. I really hope that you speak to a doctor soon, as this is not healthy in any way for you.............and is scary, as well.

Answer 8

Maybe you should see a phsychiatrist. Or if you do not want to take that route change your routine before you go to bed. Watch a comedy or something. Go for a jog. Something so you are not so active in your dreams, and you are relaxed.
Good luck and sweet dreams!

Answer 9

recurrent dreams? maybe it would help if you see a psychologist to help you trace back the cause of these. a counselling by a priest or a pastor may even help because there may be some issues in your subconcious that you have to settle.

together with these, try to have relazation exeercises before you sleep. one way is by meditative prayer.

Answer 10

Get a dream interpretation book..philosophy book..read about sub conscious and conscious
Find out why or what triggers your brain to have such dreams
Once you figure out why we have dreams nightmares and blah blah..Once you understand most likely you won't have thoughs dreams or they won't be so horrible...

Answer 11

You are having nightmares not night terrors. Talk to your physician, change your routine at night, and call a mental health professional.