newbie here, question about nightmares

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2005
newbie here, question about nightmares
7
Tue, 07-19-2005 - 3:14pm
Hi there,
I'm new to the board, and joined up because I wondered if anyone else out there has nightmares like I do. Every single night, pretty much every dream I have is a bad one. They range from stressful to sad to terrifying, but I rarely have a dream that I could even begin to call "good." When I wake up, there is that brief period of relief, realizing it was just a dream. But then the day comes rushing at me before I can even open my eyes, my body just lights up with anxiety, a mix of panic and adrenaline that makes me want to just pull the covers over my head, and many days I do. I know this is extreme but I'm wondering *how* extreme. Anyone else have dreams like this? (I have had panic attacks in the past, and this is different, the waking anxiety has a lot to do with the fact that right now I am totally overwhelmed by things, and the worse that gets the more I hide from them, which makes them worse, which makes me want to hide, which.....well, you get the picture.)
I know I probably need therapy of some sort, but that is financially not an option right now, nor any time soon. I'm starting to wonder if I am completely over the edge. Feels like I'm heading there.
Sorry for the long post, but thanks for listening, and for any feedback you might have.
Anne
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2001
Tue, 07-19-2005 - 3:50pm

Anne,


I am sorry to hear how you are feeling.


I have had anxiety for only about 3 months now. I am in thearpy and taking meds.


I have nightmares almost every night, sometimes they can get very graphic and awful. They are rotten. Actually, I had my 1st panic attack in the middle of the night, it woke me up. I am not a medical Dr but it does sound to me as though you are experiencing anxiety.


I have had the anxious feeling in the morning MANY times. It was more in the beginning... finally I started to take klonopin (it's an anxiety med that really calms you down). I just couldn't take waking up shaking and anxious anymore. I had the pills and was so scared to take them, it took me quite a while and it was the girls on the board who helped me with that.


Do you have a regular Dr. that you could go and see? They can prescribe the same meds. I am on an antidepressent/anti anxiety med called lexapro.. it's and SSRI. I am also on klonopin, the combination works for me great.


You could try to find a Dr. through your local community center. Usually they will let you pay on a sliding scale.


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 07-19-2005 - 6:08pm

Hi, Anne! Nice to see you in our community. I am @ a loss about these nightmares. From what I have read, what we experience during our dreams is a reflection of what conflicts we suffer during the day. Even though your dreams are scary, you are trying to resolve your day to day problems. Is there some major changes in your life? Are you unsettled in some way? Afraid of personal or financial or health matters? If this is the case, ITA with Heather. Therapy may be a big help & there are resources available regardless of your ability to pay. If you're having problems with panic resurfacing, do see your medical dr. He/she can advise you to what help is out there & get you back on the right path. We do care & want you to feel better.


Join in our discussions. Drop into chat & learn ways to cope with anxiety/panic. Check out the *what's new on health & off topic* folders below. There are alternatives you can use to help calm your fears. You are not alone. Please bookmark us to your favorites. Our board can be your new home:) Good luck & GBU! (((hugs))) jan



 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2005
Fri, 07-22-2005 - 1:44pm
Hi Heather. I am so sorry you are having nightmares like that, I know it must be horrible. I know mine are related to things that worry me during the day, I've always been a "worrier," even as a little kid I worried about everything, things little kids shouldn't even be thinking about. They started when my Mom died 4 years ago, and they were related to that, but now it's just everything I think.
The drug thing, well...I have mixed feelings. I took Zoloft for a while and really didn't like it, SOOOO many side effects. Although, I have to say in some ways it was a good thing. I know of klonopin, but the thing about anti-anxiety drugs is I tend to react strongly, and can hardly function throughout the day, just completely drugged out and sleepy. Even cold medicine knocks me out. But maybe it's what I need, the anxiety during the day and then the dreams at night, I think they sort of feed on each other, and I probably feed both. It really starts to wear you down, as I am sure you know!
Anyway, thanks for your message. I'm sorry you are going through that but as you probably know it helps to know I'm not the only one. I didn't even want to talk to friends about it because it's so extreme. I know I need to see a Dr. and probably a therapist (have to find one first...) I think I may need to be disgnosed, frankly I am starting to suspect I am bi-polar, but that's another story! I'm glad your meds are working, it's a wonderful thing when they do. I may see you in chat sometime.
Cheers
Anne
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2005
Fri, 07-22-2005 - 2:11pm
Hi Jan,
Thanks for the reply. I've never really been part of a message board before, and just posting that message, believe it or not, was a big step for me. I am the kind of person that waits waaaay too long to ask for help with something, if ever, and it's definitely time I get help with this.
As far as the things that are worrying me - all of the above. And then some. Unemployed, just found out my house probably has a mold problem, car on it's last legs, and a list of other things that are entirely my own doing, things I was irresponsible about and it's payback time I guess. So I know that's probably fueling the dreams. I just feel so completely buried, I don't know where to start fixing everything. At the beginning I guess. I'm 35 and somehow never figured out how to be a responsible adult.
But also, I have been doing some reading, and am starting to suspect that this anxiety is the manic phase of bi-polar disorder. I've dealt with major depression since I was 15, and I think I just never recognized the manic phases. I just (6 months ago) crawled out of a serious bout of depression, (about 3 years worth, since it took me that long to ask for help,) and am fine and happy and thinking about the future, making plans, all that good stuff. But I let so many things go in those 3 years, (filing taxes for example, that's a nightmare all on it's own)...so I'm not depressed per se but am in a deep hole.
I'm glad I found this board, this is my first step to getting this taken care of. Thank you so much for the advice, it really helps - I need to be told the obvious for some reason. Find a therapist, that's key to getting control of this thing. I don't need to be alone in this, or feel like this, and it's silly that I have for so long.
Thanks again, and maybe I'll see you in chat sometime!
Cheers
Anne
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2005
Sun, 07-24-2005 - 9:57am
Hi Anne, I also want to welcome you to our community. I joined a couple of months ago, and have been suffering from anxiety for a year now. It is getting better, my doc has me on Xanax. It sounds like you have had a lot going on for some time now and I hope you get some help. I finally went to the DR. and found this board and it has helped me tremendously. You are not alone. We all have good days and not so good days. Take care JanW
Jan
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 07-25-2005 - 12:03am
Welcome Anne!!!!

Blessings, Suz   Posts in this Community   

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-2004
Tue, 07-26-2005 - 11:04am
I have not experienced many nightmares throughout my tour of duty with "panic attacks" but usually any dream I do have is terror/panic laden for whatever reason. In fact I denied having panic attacks until I woke up in the middle of the night one night hyperventilating and screaming from some horrible dream. When that happened I finally recognized that my mind was sending a strong message to me that it was all in my head, not a physical health issue (although stress/panic symptoms are totally real).