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Distressing nightmares
Has anyone ever woke up crying because of a nightmare that genuinely upset/distressed them?
I've had a few of these since I began suffering from insomnia; when I eventually get to sleep sometimes I have nightmares which frighten me. I haven't told anyone else because it can be embarrassing sometimes to admit a nightmare has upset you; some think that only kids can get upset by them. Anyone had experience of this?
I've had a few of these since I began suffering from insomnia; when I eventually get to sleep sometimes I have nightmares which frighten me. I haven't told anyone else because it can be embarrassing sometimes to admit a nightmare has upset you; some think that only kids can get upset by them. Anyone had experience of this?
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Reply 1
Yes I have.
I once had a nightmare where I died, actually died, in a car crash.
It was so vivid it took me months to get over it and for weeks I couldn't sleep if I was alone!
I still won't drive a car or even sit iin the front seat because it frightens me and I believe it is the way I will die.
You aren't alone.
I once had a nightmare where I died, actually died, in a car crash.
It was so vivid it took me months to get over it and for weeks I couldn't sleep if I was alone!
I still won't drive a car or even sit iin the front seat because it frightens me and I believe it is the way I will die.
You aren't alone.
Yesterday morning I woke up frightened because of a horrible dream I had, it was about my family turning their back on me because they thought I was mentally ill. I was put into a cell and my mum and grandparents went into a bank to talk to the manager to discuss loans so they could pay for me to be treated. I tried to escape, I thought I could make that morning's uni lecture but I couldn't get out.
I woke up crying because suddenly being in halls felt like being in a mental asylum and it took me some time to calm down.
Wasn't a nice feeling.
I woke up crying because suddenly being in halls felt like being in a mental asylum and it took me some time to calm down.
Wasn't a nice feeling.
Reply 4
You see, your sub conscious thoughts appear as your dream/nightmare, whatever, which I think you already know. But, at times it appears as something you have seen,done-may not have thought about it actively but may be had it in the back of your mind,rather passively.
I remember someone who used to get nightmares watching things on TV- the kind where you mix everything up(Alien, predator-oh that's a film now Alien vs Predator) every night and like you would wake up crying and stuff. Problem was the programs and she does not watch things that emotionally upsets or frightens her anymore.
Do you have too much stress in your mind? Without going into details the reasons behind your stress may be are the very reasons why you have these nightmares. Your dream of getting locked up in a mental asylam seems like one that stems from insecurity of a past action of yours>>>>>or may be just like the best of us you are having another dream/nightmare.
Having a bad nightmare, waking up crying is one thing but if you are getting paranoid about these nightmares in real life then you should do something about it.Everyone is unique and may be if you are finding it too difficult see a psychiatrist or something, and if you are then stop watching things that frightens or upsets you.
I remember someone who used to get nightmares watching things on TV- the kind where you mix everything up(Alien, predator-oh that's a film now Alien vs Predator) every night and like you would wake up crying and stuff. Problem was the programs and she does not watch things that emotionally upsets or frightens her anymore.
Do you have too much stress in your mind? Without going into details the reasons behind your stress may be are the very reasons why you have these nightmares. Your dream of getting locked up in a mental asylam seems like one that stems from insecurity of a past action of yours>>>>>or may be just like the best of us you are having another dream/nightmare.
Having a bad nightmare, waking up crying is one thing but if you are getting paranoid about these nightmares in real life then you should do something about it.Everyone is unique and may be if you are finding it too difficult see a psychiatrist or something, and if you are then stop watching things that frightens or upsets you.
Reply 5
I keep having weird horrible dreams, First one was that I got hit by a car and it felt really real that I thought I could feel the gravel on the ground. Then I got shot, which was the worse dream because it felt even more real than the car, I spent days checking my stomach. The last one I had last week was that I got stabbed, although that wasn't as bad as the other dreams
Reply 6
I have distressing dreams. But they are suppressed memories. I sometimes see myself react in them. But mainly they are like flashbacks and I see everything again 
Reply 7
i have had dreams in the past where my dad is dead and i am at this funeral that was about 6 yrs ago and more recently that im at my grandfathers funeral and that was the worst as he is astually ill
Reply 8
I have very vivid dreams very realistic encorporating the 5 senses in such a realistic way that I actually feel the pain if I get hurt it's a blessing and a curse really.
I generally try to think before I go to sleep about things I would want to happen (plausable things though) for example someone you like in an intimate way being intimate with you (not necessarily sexually) and I eventually dream of something nice.
You should look into lucid dreaming in could be a load of crap to be honest but it's about becoming aware that you are dreaming due to simple tests. You do stuff like everytime you enter a room read something on a book, look away then look back in dreams the text will usually change and if you get used to this when you are awake you will do it in your sleep.... apparently.
Kinda started to go on here, so yeah check out lucid dreaming if that doesn't work try thinking of things you want to happen whilst going to sleep.
Hope the advice has been useful ^^
Patrick
I generally try to think before I go to sleep about things I would want to happen (plausable things though) for example someone you like in an intimate way being intimate with you (not necessarily sexually) and I eventually dream of something nice.
You should look into lucid dreaming in could be a load of crap to be honest but it's about becoming aware that you are dreaming due to simple tests. You do stuff like everytime you enter a room read something on a book, look away then look back in dreams the text will usually change and if you get used to this when you are awake you will do it in your sleep.... apparently.
Kinda started to go on here, so yeah check out lucid dreaming if that doesn't work try thinking of things you want to happen whilst going to sleep.
Hope the advice has been useful ^^
Patrick
I used to see quite a bit nightmares when I was younger and they were horrible. Usually ended up with me being tortured or my whole family killed. I still see nightmares occasionally but very rarely nowadays.
What helped me was some techniques concerning lucid dreaming and techniques how to deal with your dream characters. Next time something physically threatens you in a dream turn to face them and fight them. I usually kill any nasty characters but you can really do what you want with them. Or if being in a horrible situation try to distance yourself away from it and imagine a new place. I usually imagine that I start flying and then I rise above the nightmare into a new and pleasent level of dreaming.
You will just have to try and when you are dreaming understand that it is a dream and that you are in control. Easier said than done and it demands alot of practice. One good way to do it is when you do wake up from a nightmare, just lie in your bed and think about what could you have done to make it better. Then let yourself drift back to sleep and continue the dream and end it in your victory or escape etc.
If you google lucid dreaming on google you will find loads of information. I found one that looked alright as well --> http://www.dreamviews.com/
What helped me was some techniques concerning lucid dreaming and techniques how to deal with your dream characters. Next time something physically threatens you in a dream turn to face them and fight them. I usually kill any nasty characters but you can really do what you want with them. Or if being in a horrible situation try to distance yourself away from it and imagine a new place. I usually imagine that I start flying and then I rise above the nightmare into a new and pleasent level of dreaming.
You will just have to try and when you are dreaming understand that it is a dream and that you are in control. Easier said than done and it demands alot of practice. One good way to do it is when you do wake up from a nightmare, just lie in your bed and think about what could you have done to make it better. Then let yourself drift back to sleep and continue the dream and end it in your victory or escape etc.
If you google lucid dreaming on google you will find loads of information. I found one that looked alright as well --> http://www.dreamviews.com/
Reply 10
Anonymous
i have had dreams in the past where my dad is dead and i am at this funeral that was about 6 yrs ago and more recently that im at my grandfathers funeral and that was the worst as he is astually ill
I used to have similar dreams, my dad had a brain tumour 8 years ago and it left him mentally/physically disabled and he keeps getting worse and worse. A few years ago now and again I had dreams where he died and to make it even worse, he would take a bad turn and end up back in hospital, I actually thought it was my fault somehow. But I've stopped having them dreams now, I only them once in about 6 months now.
It's really horrible to experience, but I talked to my friends about it and it helped a little bit
Reply 11
Oh I've had some dreadful nightmares. My mum died a few years ago and I've had loads involving her. The worst one was where she died in the house and was buried in the back garden, but I didn't believe she was dead and got so upset and wound up that the body was dug up again. After the body was dug up it was revealed that she wasn't dead and she got better again.
The reason that's a nightmare for me is because I woke up and of course she wasn't better again, in reality she was still dead. It still really upsets me thinking about it now, I haven't thought about that one for ages. If I dwell on nightmares like that then I end up really distressed.
Another nightmare that always sticks in my memory is a weird one. I was walking down the pavement on a housing estate and there was a short woman standing in front of me. For some reason as I walked past her I brushed her hand and I then noticed that she looked as though she had a mental problem like downs syndrome or something and she started following me. At the time it really creeped me out. I remember the scenery being really calm and silent and there was no-one around but this woman following me with a smile on her face.
I also used to have recurring nightmares where I would be chased by something that could never be defeated. The woman I explained above was part of this. Monsters like zombies and things like that would just keep coming after me and there was nothing I could do about it.
Nowadays I get similar types of dreams, but since I'm in a better mental state I think I have a more positive outlook on them. For instance, the other night I had a dream about a bloke that dug up a corpse and fell in love with her. She was an old lady and was rotting and stinking but he got her dressed up and took her out. He really loved her for some reason. His friends didn't like her and I think she turned against them and somehow they defeated her. It was quite sad really, but I woke up feeling quite amused.
When I was really young, probably about as young as the age of 4 or 5, I had awful nightmares. I used to have one where a man with a scary face would look in to the window at me when it was dark and I was alone. I also had an incredibly distressing nightmare where it was pitch black and I felt as though I was levitating face down above the bed, but I couldn't move and I couldn't wake up either.
I say embrace the nightmares. They can't hurt you. You wake up and you go back to whatever your normality is safe in the knowledge that it was all fictional and never actually happened. If you ever have a nightmare about a member of your family or a friend then after you wake up go and give them a massive hug.
Also, think of nice things before going to sleep and perhaps watch something funny on tv. Bad dreams are often representative of inner turmoil, it's your mind's way of coping with any worries you have. I had recurring nightmares of being chased because I didn't feel in control of my life. Now things are more settled and I have more responsibility of what happens I rarely get them anymore. It's often a good idea to analyse what your dreams are trying to tell you, I think that perhaps they can be a sub-conscious signal that changes need to be made.
The reason that's a nightmare for me is because I woke up and of course she wasn't better again, in reality she was still dead. It still really upsets me thinking about it now, I haven't thought about that one for ages. If I dwell on nightmares like that then I end up really distressed.
Another nightmare that always sticks in my memory is a weird one. I was walking down the pavement on a housing estate and there was a short woman standing in front of me. For some reason as I walked past her I brushed her hand and I then noticed that she looked as though she had a mental problem like downs syndrome or something and she started following me. At the time it really creeped me out. I remember the scenery being really calm and silent and there was no-one around but this woman following me with a smile on her face.
I also used to have recurring nightmares where I would be chased by something that could never be defeated. The woman I explained above was part of this. Monsters like zombies and things like that would just keep coming after me and there was nothing I could do about it.
Nowadays I get similar types of dreams, but since I'm in a better mental state I think I have a more positive outlook on them. For instance, the other night I had a dream about a bloke that dug up a corpse and fell in love with her. She was an old lady and was rotting and stinking but he got her dressed up and took her out. He really loved her for some reason. His friends didn't like her and I think she turned against them and somehow they defeated her. It was quite sad really, but I woke up feeling quite amused.
When I was really young, probably about as young as the age of 4 or 5, I had awful nightmares. I used to have one where a man with a scary face would look in to the window at me when it was dark and I was alone. I also had an incredibly distressing nightmare where it was pitch black and I felt as though I was levitating face down above the bed, but I couldn't move and I couldn't wake up either.
I say embrace the nightmares. They can't hurt you. You wake up and you go back to whatever your normality is safe in the knowledge that it was all fictional and never actually happened. If you ever have a nightmare about a member of your family or a friend then after you wake up go and give them a massive hug.
Also, think of nice things before going to sleep and perhaps watch something funny on tv. Bad dreams are often representative of inner turmoil, it's your mind's way of coping with any worries you have. I had recurring nightmares of being chased because I didn't feel in control of my life. Now things are more settled and I have more responsibility of what happens I rarely get them anymore. It's often a good idea to analyse what your dreams are trying to tell you, I think that perhaps they can be a sub-conscious signal that changes need to be made.
Reply 12
i've had similar ones about my Dad after I lost him. Ive also had very bad dreams recently about my ex gf(for now I hope, i want to marry her one day
) who is also my best friend . She lost a friend to suicide 2 days ago, the second friend she has lost to it. Im so afraid that she would even contemplate that. I don't think for a second she would, but I think my dreams are just a reflection of my worst worst fears, which would be losing her. I can hardly sleep at the moment I'm so afraid about it and I feel as though there is nothing I can do. Its really bad at the moment
Anonymous i've had similar ones about my Dad after I lost him.
Ive also had very bad dreams recently about my ex gf(for now I hope, i want to marry her one day ) who is also my best friend . She lost a friend to suicide 2 days ago, the second friend she has lost to it. Im so afraid that she would even contemplate that. I don't think for a second she would, but I think my dreams are just a reflection of my worst worst fears, which would be losing her. I can hardly sleep at the moment I'm so afraid about it and I feel as though there is nothing I can do.
Its really bad at the moment
i've had similar ones about my Dad after I lost him. Ive also had very bad dreams recently about my ex gf(for now I hope, i want to marry her one day
) who is also my best friend . She lost a friend to suicide 2 days ago, the second friend she has lost to it. Im so afraid that she would even contemplate that. I don't think for a second she would, but I think my dreams are just a reflection of my worst worst fears, which would be losing her. I can hardly sleep at the moment I'm so afraid about it and I feel as though there is nothing I can do. Its really bad at the moment
Hope u feel better soon
To the OP. Sometimes i have nightmares and wake up crying
Reply 14
I've had two distressing dreams that I woke from either upset or frightened. The first, last year, involved someone chasing me in the stairwell of a multi-storey car park; when I reached the top, I was pushed over the edge. I felt myself falling, and felt the pain/blood as I hit the floor, then rose out of my body and floated up the stairwell, watching myself lying on the ground, which was terrifying; I woke up wondering if I was dead, and felt weird about it for days because it had seemed so real.
The second was one that woke me more upset than frightened, and happened a month after I started uni. My stepdad is a very violent person, and I was almost always the target of his attacks before uni. I have a younger brother (2 years old), and after my first month of uni I woke crying after having a nightmare about my stepdad being violent towards my brother; and spent most of the day crying and thinking about quitting uni in order to return to live with them to protect him.
I hate distressing nightmares! :-p
The second was one that woke me more upset than frightened, and happened a month after I started uni. My stepdad is a very violent person, and I was almost always the target of his attacks before uni. I have a younger brother (2 years old), and after my first month of uni I woke crying after having a nightmare about my stepdad being violent towards my brother; and spent most of the day crying and thinking about quitting uni in order to return to live with them to protect him.
I hate distressing nightmares! :-p
Anonymous
I've had two distressing dreams that I woke from either upset or frightened. The first, last year, involved someone chasing me in the stairwell of a multi-storey car park; when I reached the top, I was pushed over the edge. I felt myself falling, and felt the pain/blood as I hit the floor, then rose out of my body and floated up the stairwell, watching myself lying on the ground, which was terrifying; I woke up wondering if I was dead, and felt weird about it for days because it had seemed so real.
The second was one that woke me more upset than frightened, and happened a month after I started uni. My stepdad is a very violent person, and I was almost always the target of his attacks before uni. I have a younger brother (2 years old), and after my first month of uni I woke crying after having a nightmare about my stepdad being violent towards my brother; and spent most of the day crying and thinking about quitting uni in order to return to live with them to protect him.
I hate distressing nightmares! :-p
The second was one that woke me more upset than frightened, and happened a month after I started uni. My stepdad is a very violent person, and I was almost always the target of his attacks before uni. I have a younger brother (2 years old), and after my first month of uni I woke crying after having a nightmare about my stepdad being violent towards my brother; and spent most of the day crying and thinking about quitting uni in order to return to live with them to protect him.
I hate distressing nightmares! :-p
Those are awful. Poor u
I have awful nightmares of people coming to kill me or my mum dying (which I think is because I lost my daddy when I was younger). They are very vivid.
I also have a recurring nightmare that started when my daddy was terminally ill. In it my daddy is still alive and we are all at my mums house, these people break in (balclavas, knives, etc). They say they will kill us all and my daddy says that if they let us go we will get new identities and not report them and they can kill him (he always said he'd die to protect us). And we accept the deal and leave him there. I still have it now except when I'm in the car I'm screaming no please let's go back for daddy and we can't and it hurts so much. I wake up screaming for my daddy which distresses me even more. I feel so guilty as well that we would leave daddy behind. No one chip in with the obvious symbolism I don't wanna hear it.
I used to get wasted alot and I moved away to escape this. I moved in with a guy who treats me badly but I love and when I first lived her I slept in his bed every night. If I slept in mine I'd have such bad nightmares I wouldn't sleep and I'd wake up sweating and in tears. People have come after me before and I'd have nightmares that people I used to get wasted with would turn up to expose me to him and destroy me and I'd be telling them to leave me and let me move on and they'd tell him and he'd say he didn't want me anymore and kick me out and I'd be alone and cold. Stupid really when now he tells me constantly he doesn't want me and I disgust him!
I also have a recurring nightmare that started when my daddy was terminally ill. In it my daddy is still alive and we are all at my mums house, these people break in (balclavas, knives, etc). They say they will kill us all and my daddy says that if they let us go we will get new identities and not report them and they can kill him (he always said he'd die to protect us). And we accept the deal and leave him there. I still have it now except when I'm in the car I'm screaming no please let's go back for daddy and we can't and it hurts so much. I wake up screaming for my daddy which distresses me even more. I feel so guilty as well that we would leave daddy behind. No one chip in with the obvious symbolism I don't wanna hear it.
I used to get wasted alot and I moved away to escape this. I moved in with a guy who treats me badly but I love and when I first lived her I slept in his bed every night. If I slept in mine I'd have such bad nightmares I wouldn't sleep and I'd wake up sweating and in tears. People have come after me before and I'd have nightmares that people I used to get wasted with would turn up to expose me to him and destroy me and I'd be telling them to leave me and let me move on and they'd tell him and he'd say he didn't want me anymore and kick me out and I'd be alone and cold. Stupid really when now he tells me constantly he doesn't want me and I disgust him!
Reply 17
ro-ro
I have awful nightmares of people coming to kill me or my mum dying (which I think is because I lost my daddy when I was younger). They are very vivid.
I also have a recurring nightmare that started when my daddy was terminally ill. In it my daddy is still alive and we are all at my mums house, these people break in (balclavas, knives, etc). They say they will kill us all and my daddy says that if they let us go we will get new identities and not report them and they can kill him (he always said he'd die to protect us). And we accept the deal and leave him there. I still have it now except when I'm in the car I'm screaming no please let's go back for daddy and we can't and it hurts so much. I wake up screaming for my daddy which distresses me even more. I feel so guilty as well that we would leave daddy behind. No one chip in with the obvious symbolism I don't wanna hear it.
I used to get wasted alot and I moved away to escape this. I moved in with a guy who treats me badly but I love and when I first lived her I slept in his bed every night. If I slept in mine I'd have such bad nightmares I wouldn't sleep and I'd wake up sweating and in tears. People have come after me before and I'd have nightmares that people I used to get wasted with would turn up to expose me to him and destroy me and I'd be telling them to leave me and let me move on and they'd tell him and he'd say he didn't want me anymore and kick me out and I'd be alone and cold. Stupid really when now he tells me constantly he doesn't want me and I disgust him!
I also have a recurring nightmare that started when my daddy was terminally ill. In it my daddy is still alive and we are all at my mums house, these people break in (balclavas, knives, etc). They say they will kill us all and my daddy says that if they let us go we will get new identities and not report them and they can kill him (he always said he'd die to protect us). And we accept the deal and leave him there. I still have it now except when I'm in the car I'm screaming no please let's go back for daddy and we can't and it hurts so much. I wake up screaming for my daddy which distresses me even more. I feel so guilty as well that we would leave daddy behind. No one chip in with the obvious symbolism I don't wanna hear it.
I used to get wasted alot and I moved away to escape this. I moved in with a guy who treats me badly but I love and when I first lived her I slept in his bed every night. If I slept in mine I'd have such bad nightmares I wouldn't sleep and I'd wake up sweating and in tears. People have come after me before and I'd have nightmares that people I used to get wasted with would turn up to expose me to him and destroy me and I'd be telling them to leave me and let me move on and they'd tell him and he'd say he didn't want me anymore and kick me out and I'd be alone and cold. Stupid really when now he tells me constantly he doesn't want me and I disgust him!
Those are awful - u poor thing
Have u ever talked to anyone about them ? Maybe it would help ?
Reply 19
ro-ro
I'm in counselling for other things so I do bring them up. I'm kinda a bit messed up anyway so I think they're just an outlet for my brain to express its fears.
I'm sure that once u start to feel better - those dreams will decrease.It must be awful for u. I'm sure the counselling will help u loads
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