Richard Conte
Posted on 05/29/2012 10:37:42 PM PDT by freedumb2003
I can't completely explain it, but last night I had series of about 5 nightmares -- each one worse than the predecessor.
As with all dreams, I had difficulty reconstructing what had happened but it burst through the usual torpor of sleep -- I physically was striking objects which you usually are not able to do.
Now I find myself exhausted (my commute from my new home in Dallas to my work in mid-state New York includes 7 hours of flight and 2 hours of driving) -- but I am deathly afraid of sleep tonight.
I have been commuting for 15 years and have 2.5 million miles -- this should be old hat.
I have never felt like this before. I mean, 5 nightmares?
I don't have any particular anxieties -- work is going well, I love my new house in Texas, my wife is as doting and wonderful as a person can be.
But I find myself scared to death of going to sleep.
Open to ideas from all my FReeper friends (I have already tried tea BTW).
>>what kind of work do you do that has you commuting that far? Can you go into detail about the nightmares?<<
I am a computer consultant — I work with really big companies install/upgrade/cofigure things like their payroll or financials systems.
As so frequently happens, the nightmares dis speared in a fog — I recall a guy running up the wall and on the roof and trying to hit me (thus my break from the normally solid sleep paralysis) and a deep, deep cavern where people I didn’t know wanted me “out.” The other 3 times were just sweats and a feeling that I was in great (deathly) danger.
Dang, now I am really afraid to sleep!
But I’ll keep looking to this thread. The fact people will take a moment to help means a lot to me — it is quite soothing.
Thanks amigo.
>>That sent me to the doc and I found out a drug I’d been on for 2 months was built up enough that it was causing this reaction.<<
Wow, I hadn’t thought of that. I’l call him tomorrow and make it through tonight as best as I can..
Thanks amigo.
I used to throw my back out all the time (3 to 4 times a year). Then I heard Howard Stern talk about a doctor who had cured his back problems. The doctor had explained to him that humans' backs had evolved to be incredibly strong so more often than not when your back went out, it wasn't because of a problem with your back but rather it was your brain's way of using pain to slow you down because you were overworking yourself. The doctor had told Stern that the thing to do in response was to tell your brain that you knew what it was doing and it could try whatever pain tricks it wanted to, but you wouldn't allow it to slow you down and you would welcome the pain.
I know this theory sounds bizarre but I started doing what Stern's doctor had told him to do whenever my back went out and since then I rarely have back problems. Maybe twice in the past 10 years and only then because I slept in a bad position or lifted something too heavy for me.
Richard Conte
A couple years ago I had a reoccurring dream where I was forced to walk faster and faster on a beam that narrowed endlessly into the distance. The dream would end as my feet slipped off and I started to fall.
Like you, I couldn't think of any real life stress or worry that it could be tied to.
One day I spent some time and imagined the entire dream. I made up stuff to explain what was going on. I decided it was really an athletic event and at the end I changed my scary fall into a olympic-style dismount right into soft pillows, where I fell asleep pleased with my performance.
Its stupid, I know! But the next time I started to have the dream, it skipped right to the end and the part with the pillows.
Maybe it will work for you too. Maybe try not to fear it. Make it up and then change it!
I like the advice about prayer-—it works-—but the new drug is the culprit for the nightmares, I bet—even if you are on it two weeks and “think” it isn’t-—it is. Try to get off any medication if you can and eat organic with vitamin supplements and exercise. Make sure your Vitamin D is up and B’s and get off flouride-—I heard it calcifies the pineal gland and causes insomnia. Your body has some interference going on that is not natural— obviously.
Once you become terrified, it becomes harder to overcome the fear (psychological). It will have to be managed-—you can always manage fear through God—I don’t know how else to manage fear or addictions that works as well as with a relationship with God.
>>I ordered it to not have nightmares, but instead have a sexy dream. It did it<<
Must I remind you that you were awake at the time?
Seriously, thanks Laz. I am a proponent of mind over matter but this is different than I have ever felt before. Just panic at the idea of sleep.
Maybe I can find a gentle obama thread to make me feel better...
OTOH, it is possible that when I sleep and then awake, all of you figments of my mind will disappear. Or if I forget to twiddle my tie the Yellowstone Caldera will give way.
I haven’t wished anyone into the cornfield but the night is young...
(really, thanks for checking in)
Is there some kind of issue in your life that won’t go away? Are you dealing with a moral issue or argument or decision that is upcoming?
Ask God to protect you tonite and qsk for His help to understand the dreams.
Sleep tight!
Before going to bed, keep repeating to yourself some version of “I will be conscious of my dreaming and I will remain in control”.
I’m very serious. You subconsciously program yourself to ‘wake up’ within the dream and basically realize that you are indeed asleep and dreaming. At that point, nightmares stop being nightmares and ‘change gears’ for lack of a better term.
Works for a few people I know.
Drink heavily!
>>Its stupid, I know! But the next time I started to have the dream, it skipped right to the end and the part with the pillows.<<
I have heard of dream manipulation before — it is an impressive use if your conscious mind to control your subconscious mind. Clerics of many religions spend years working to accomplish it.
And as I talk to you all I feel my anxiety slipping away.
My beam may end in pillows after all...
Just to clarify...there’s no Art Bell aspect to this. You are effectively just taking yourself out of REM sleep and climbing up a notch on the ladder of consciousness.
It makes for fascinating reading. Lots of sleep studies by reputable institutions out there to be had.
Take a nap Jr
I sympathize and empathize with you. Didn’t realize at first that you needed something now, for tonight.
Well, all the suggestions here are great, to which I’ll add one one - have you ever practiced deep breathing? I’ve found it even works (after a few minutes) for minor anxiety attacks. It’s easiest when lying on your back. Close your eyes and, with your mouth closed, slowly inhale deeply (if you do it correctly, you should see your diaphragm rise) for several seconds, then exhale slowly through your mouth (for several seconds or the same number your inhale took). Do this as long as it takes you to relax (hopefully, it’ll only take you a few minutes before you’ll begin to feel like sleeping (and you may just drift off before you know it).
This should help - also, the freeper’s suggestion about praying is true - try telling God all your concerns. I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve even drifted off while doing this. But for sure, after praying about everything, my mind is freed enough to sleep.
In fact he was having a premonition of his upcoming role as Don Barzini where his “heart attack” was brought on by sudden lead poisoning.
Look it up on the internet, just put the name of the drug and “pdr” or physician’s desk reference. I remember that Chantix causes nightmares from the commercials.
“as much as I wished prayer would work, it does not work. Years of prayer unanswered.”
It’s been said that no answer really IS an answer. But also, just because God’s said no in the past doesn’t mean He won’t say yes at a future date. Don’t give up, my FRiend.
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