Odd dreams

Hi BB.,

First of all, let me offer my deepest condolences on the loss of your brother. This was a tragic and certainly unexpected event, that no doubt left you and your family reeling.:(

It would be unusual therefore not to dream of this I would think. Our subconscious is goint to bring to the surface and release what it needs to.

This is not only theraputic, but can be telling to us of things we may need to explore and acknowledge in our conscious minds.

Everyone has dreams and has nightmares...but perhaps those of us with anxiety have more because we are so good at comparmentalizing or 'pushing stressors down' rather than fully dealing with them as we should?

Keeping a dream journal is something some find helpful. You can look for recurring patterns or themes...kind of interesting.

Eating before sleep, certain medications, disrupted sleep patterns, ect...can all affect dreaming...so factoring this in as well may help you to figure out your triggers.

Wishing you only the GOOD dreams and quality sleep from now on!

S.C.

Hi Bambi-

I too am very sorry about your brother. I think you hit the nail on the head that because no one is talking about it, your feelings & missing him, are no doubt coming out in your already vivid dreams.

I too have vivid dreams, in good times & bad times. I always have. During "good times" (without constant anxiety/depression which thankfully has been most of my life), these dreams can be upsetting but I don't obsess over them nor do they usually affect my mood the rest of the day. During "bad times", they can make me feel so weird & disturbed & can literally ruin my mood for a lot of the day.

We have talked about dreams many times here. Something common we figured out in one post is, if we don't eat before bed (2-3 hrs), our dreams aren't as upsetting.

You're going through a lot of stress right now so I'd be more surprised if you weren't having upsetting dreams. I know it stinks but SC is also right that those of us w/anxiety do tend to stuff things deep down & they can present as anxiety, bad dreams etc. Since no one is talking about your brother, that's an extra trigger bc I'm sure you need & want to talk about him.

I've yet to try this but I've considered buying a dream catcher for our bedroom. It couldn't hurt even if it's just a placebo effect. I've also heard putting a real crystal rock by your bed wards off bad dreams?! It may sound hokey but hey it might work and is harmless to try something like that?

Sending hugs & support!
Lisa

Thank you Lisa!! I'll have to try the crystal rock! Sometimes my dreams are so active, I wake up exhausted lol!!

Hey Bambi :)

I get really vivid and strange dreams too. Actually had one last night which felt so real because I was lying in my bed and someone came in and tried to attack me. I tried screaming for ages and ages but there was no sound coming out...
Dreams affect me really badly.. I've also had dreams of people close to me dying etc. Sometimes I feel really guilty that I can even imagine things like that!

I'd say yes! I always have very vivid or lucid dreams to where I'm thinking clearly in the dream & am in my right state of mind. I just had a dream last night where I was at sort of a cafeteria/bar, and was sitting across from my grandma (who passed) and a guy from the bar where I work that died a few years who. Well right after he died like 2 years ago I had a dream where I saw him and all he said to me was "I need a beer!!!' (very typical of him lol) So last nights dream I was like 'quizzing' him. I asked him what he said to me in that first dream..he said 'I told you a lot' I told him I didn't remember anything he said except one thing..so he went through a few things and then he said 'and I told u that I needed a beer..'. It seemed so much like him and I really felt like I was in this halfway world between earth and heaven. I was talking to my grandma a bit too but sadly I don't remember what was said..I just remember her saying that she has to get going and she wanted to go get a chicken BBQ..lol. It seems like a very innocent dream but I woke up very anxious and not feeling good. it's like the more real and vivid my dreams are, the more I'm unsettled when I wake up!