Severe trouble with sleeping

43% Normal
6 Comments

To start off, abit of info about me.

I'm a healthy 19 year old woman. I excercise regularly, have a good social life and keep in good contact with my family.

I have severe trouble sleeping. I can't sleep because I'm extremely afraid of my dreams. Everytime I do I have nightmares, which awaken me screaming and sweating. A few years ago I was so scared I hadn't slept for a full 3 weeks and could do absolutely nothing due to the lack of sleep.

It's starting to take toll on the way I interact with everything in the world. I know it isn't normal, but what can I do about it?

Voting Results
43% Normal
Based on 37 votes (16 yes)
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Comments ( 6 )
  • nanimeow
    13 years ago

    There are so many reasons. I would find a sleep clinic. You might go online and try looking up symptoms too.

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  • CloverFish
    9 years ago

    Sleep clinics are a good idea, but I find having a happy movie play in the background while I sleep helps me a lot. Some background noise can do wonders.

    If that fails, I also have some happy to play on standby, so I can get the terrors out of my mind as soon as possible. Taking a hot bath/shower, having a favorite snack, even putting on some warm pajamas fresh out of the dryer, just something to help with the experience and make it more of a reward for being brave enough to deal with the nightmares.

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  • [Old Memory]
    13 years ago

    Thanks guys, I'm heading down to my GP in a few days time and I'll hopefully be referred to a sleep clinic. Once again, thanks for your insights :D!

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  • theceilingfan
    13 years ago

    This says to me either a sleep disorder, like night terrors or something else (I'm not very knowledgeable of sleep disorders) or some kind of unidentified trauma.

    I had both regular night terrors when I was a child which went away when I was about 7-8, and trauma-induced night terrors beginning at about 12, to this day. I have them rarely now (hooray for recovery!), but when I do it's horrible.

    I recall the fear of sleeping very clearly, and it's a horrible feeling. I really feel for you and would suggest you consult a doctor about it and perhaps be referred to a sleep clinic. Genetically caused adult night terrors are rare (not trauma-induced) but you may be one of the very unlucky few. Sleep is looked forward to by most people but by some, just the thought of it can induce severe anxiety because they've been traumatized by the pervasive disorientation and fear so overwhelming it is greater than that they normally will ever feel while awake.

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  • [Old Memory]
    13 years ago

    hmmm iv had alot of nightmares but i got used to it. Do your nightmares feel like reality because first time it happened to me i was stabbed (in my dream) and it felt as if i was really dying and i was kinda wierd about it but didnt stop my sleeping patterns but it kep happening at first i was really freaked out as to why i would be dreaming of my death and having alot of physical feeling to the dreams but in due time i got used to them and now there just average dreams.
    i think you should just try sleep you will get used to it hopefully :).

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    • ACAddict
      11 years ago

      Not to sound weird but that ( if you believe in reincarnation ) might be what may have happened to you in a past life perhaps you got murdered in your past life so in that dream wasn't actually a dream but a memory "reinactment"

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