Anybody else have strange, horrible nightmares when behind on sleep?

[Hansel]

Something I've noticed over the past few months is that, for some reason, it seems like the more tired I am the more likely I am to have a nightmare, and the more tired I am, the worse they usually are.

It's usually the same kind of thing. Either I get killed in an unusually horrible manner, someone I care about gets killed in an unusually horrible manner, or I am unable to prevent their death despite my best efforts to apply first aid stop the bleeding or etc...You get the idea.

What I don't understand is if this is due to brain chemistry or something like that, or if this is typical when sleep deprived?

 

[dpm802]

What I don't understand is if this is due to brain chemistry or something like that, or if this is typical when sleep deprived?

Brain chemistry is a complex subject, and a slight imbalance will cause nightmares. Lack of sleep is a definite cause of chemical imbalance, as is diet, lack of exercise, stress, intoxicants, and other factors.

I was having terrible nightmares when I was on a prescription for Depakote. The kind of dreams that would jerk me awake in a cold sweat and not want to go back to sleep because they were so scary. I stopped taking the medicine specifically for this reason.

Another time, I was using an over-the-counter multi-vitamin. This changed my chemistry in such a manner that my dreams weren't scary, but very lucid and much larger than life.

If you think this is a problem, consult your doctor and see if he can prescribe something that will help you sleep ... just keep in mind that sometimes, the cure is worse than the disease.

 

[SiBurning]

The dream itself might be unrelated, but you might be more aware or it could be more intense because of the lack of sleep. What I'm getting at is that death in dreams often means you need a change. The phoenix is the archetype for this, as in death and rebirth. Maybe you just want to change whatever's causing you to lose sleep.

 

[Uncle Erik]

I find dreams to be more intense and weird when I have poor/interrupted sleep or am under the influence of something like Benadryl or alcohol. Normal sleep rarely does this to me, but Benadryl produces really weird dreams. Rarely violent, but more of the *** strain.

 

[Mr_Amazing]

I can't say I've had a nightmare since I was a youngster. Generally speaking, I can guide my dreams in a positive direction. What happens to me when I'm overly tired is that it becomes difficult to get a full 8 hours. While unemployed I could get my 8 hours without issue. Since working 50 hours a week, I've been awake until 2 AM and wake up at 8:30-9 AM.

As for the dreams/nightmares solution, have you tried closing your eyes and creating a storyline that doesn't result in death or negative situations? I typically lay down and start thinking about how I would like certain things to unfold and even if they don't, it allows for a great nights sleep.

 

[azmark]

Lack of sleep won't do it but a few cups of coffee before bed will make me sleep with a night light on

 

[Jim B.]

If I miss a dose of anti-depressant, then I get nightmares. Finally solved the problem by taking an "activating" anti-depressant in the morning that gets me through the day and a non-activating anti-depressant in the evening that prevents the nightmares. Better living through modern chemistry.

 

[Swampfox]

I find dreams to be more intense and weird when I have poor/interrupted sleep or am under the influence of something like Benadryl or alcohol. Normal sleep rarely does this to me, but Benadryl produces really weird dreams. Rarely violent, but more of the *** strain.

Robitussin - I refuse to take the stuff anymore.

 

[AndrewWiggin]

I could definitely see that-a few weeks ago I had not had the chance to sleep most of the week because I had so much work to do. One night, I woke up at 4 in the morning and could not for the life of me go back to sleep because I had a dream about a man running down my old street being chased by a pack of wild dogs screaming.

I could have sworn it was outside my window-but I live on the 10th floor. So yes, I think lack of sleep would do it.

 

[Aevum]

btw, are heavy are your dinners ?
sometimes high fat and high protein (basicly meat) based meals can disrupt sleep and cause nightmares,

 

[DunEdinRanger]

btw, are heavy are your dinners ?
sometimes high fat and high protein (basicly meat) based meals can disrupt sleep and cause nightmares,

Being attacked by Giant Pizza is no fun.

I'm pretty sure I'm in an alternate universe today. They wouldn't take my new monthly rail pass since it is March 32nd...

 

[C Reed]

I have really intense nightmares all the time, and they reoccur for a few days in a row, I just moved from getting hanged on top of a mountain to getting stabbed in bed.

I also get very little sleep, almost never more then 3 hours a night as I can't fall asleep before 3am.

 

[AACJ]

When I take Melatonin to sleep, I have the strangest dreams. Otherwise, they must be so uneventful, I don't remember any of it.

 

[Nishnabotna]

Lack of sleep does that to me, or taking some kind of allergy/sinus drug. Once in a while, I will have a dream where I have to shoot someone, for various reasons. It doesn't bother me in the slightest in my dreams, but it kinda does after I wake. I suppose that's why I remember them so well.

 

[DunEdinRanger]

Pulling allnighters results in being able to understand the language furniture uses.

Chairs are the worst, gossiping all the time.

 

[taprater]

I do some fictional writing as a hobby so I welcome weird and scary dreams for insperation and ideas.

 

[Alacrity59]

Yep. I dream that I'm at work on a job I had years ago loading trailers.

 

[DunEdinRanger]

I do some fictional writing as a hobby so I welcome weird and scary dreams for insperation and ideas.

Maybe your reality is too tame?

Maybe dreams of preternatural winter? Or of alternate realities where only the slightest differences exist and when you fall asleep there, you wake up here...

 

[Swampfox]

Pulling allnighters results in being able to understand the language furniture uses.

Chairs are the worst, gossiping all the time.

I do some fictional writing as a hobby so I welcome weird and scary dreams for insperation and ideas.

Ditto.

Yep. I dream that I'm at work on a job I had years ago loading trailers.

Hell?

 

[Ru4scuba?]

Pulling allnighters results in being able to understand the language furniture uses.

Chairs are the worst, gossiping all the time.

OMG...I spit out my beer!