Nightmares

[SurroMummy13]

Ok, this is likely to sound very childish but here I go.

Last night I fell asleep around 10pm but woke up around midnight stone cold and frozen to the bed. The reason? A nightmare - that the grim reaper came for me. It was so real.

For nearly 3 hours I was too scared to go back to sleep till I finally drifted off for an hour and half.

It's childish I know but I'm worried sick about trying to sleep tonight.

Any thoughts/ideas?

[Idefix]

Were you awake whilst the grim reaper came for you but unable to move, cry out?

[Newes]

Sleep paralysis, usually a rare occurrence. Change you bedtime routine a bit tonight, shower first, read/don't read/ change bed etc.

[Ipigglemustdie]

Sleep paralysis? I used to have dreams about opening my eyes and someone's face was right in front of mine. Couldn't move a muscle. So yanbu or childish

[Idefix]

Really terrifying, have you been watching or reading something about the grim reaper?

If it helps I have only had this happen to me once, it didn't reoccur.

[SurroMummy13]

It was in my sleep but when I woke up for 5-10 mins I couldn't move as I was frightened.

The room was pitch black and I was convinced he was still there.

Not watched anything remotely like that at all, last think I'd had on was 'Raid by wolves' xx

[megletthesecond]

I get sleep paralysis once in a blue moon and feel shaken the next day. Really horrible sensation.

[SurroMummy13]

Yeah, I've been emotional and on edge all day.

[Idefix]

Truly horrible, mine started in my sleep and ended with me on a Aztec altar about with a priest wearing a mask of their Sun god about to rip my heart out
I had been studying Aztec history for a year at uni and my imagination clearly got carried away

[Idefix]

It only happened once so hopefully you will sleep well

[SpiritedLondon]

I had a dream that an evil presence was pressing down on me with his face about an inch from mine - I was frozen to the bed. horrible. Shortly after I watched a documentary which discussed the phenomena of this type of dream along with the sleep paralysis. Apparently it occurs in all cultures and has been reported for centuries in stories and paintings. This evil character goes by different names but is essentially a Satan type character I think. Although I've suffered from other bad dreams since I've never has that one again.

[Buzzardbird]

It happens to me when I am over tired. So will probably happen tonight. It's not unusual, it happens to almost everyone. You just need to know that it is normal and when it is happening you need to know that eventually you will wake, try wiggling a finger or rocking your body, you will wake and everything will be ok.
You are only scared because you didn't know it is common. It's not always the Grim Reaper but is usually something very frightening.

[YokoUhOh]

I get Sleep Paralysis all the fucking time, I must be the unluckiest sufferer on earth: I have to make myself breathe, I get 'electricity brain', I'm convinced that I'll never wake up and I can barely jolt myself awake.

OP it sounds like you had a horrible nightmare

[IthinkIamsinking]

Oh god.... I can relate. You poor thing. I have had night terrors for years and it is hideous. This sounds like a one off though. Try not to worry...easier said than done I know. Play some low key relaxing music in your room or dig out a book to read for half an hour. The more you think about it the more stressed you will become.

[SpiritedLondon]

I've googled it for you....apparently Jesus can save you!

[SurroMummy13]

Well fucked then...

Me and Jesus haven't been on speaking terms since I was 4 years old!.

With all this walking I've been doing recently I'm exhausted daily (which is good I guess) so I guess this why.

I've had sleep paralysis before, it wasn't that. It was just scary to me as I've been paranoid all day that something is going to happen .

[Pebbles16]

Constantly having nightmares at the moment and no idea why. Last night's involved David Cameron. Possibly worse than the Grim Reaper. Or possibly the same!

[Cactuar]

I often have similar dreams OP - often I think I am awake and can sense a presence leaning over me or see a horrible twisted face leering over me. I then try to scream and move but often can't until I wake up actually screaming - my poor Dh often then gets a fright . I do suffer a little from anxiety and seem to get these dreams more when I am bit stressed or worried. Try not having any caffeine in the evening. Also try to wind down properly before you go to bed so you are relaxed and sleepy. I find a nice cup of herbal tea helps and listening to some meditation videos in bed - there are loads on YouTube.

[SurroMummy13]

Thanks ladies...i

I'll see you in the morning... If he doesn't come back for me!

[Buzzardbird]

If he does Surro tell him MN will kick his bony ass! (and tell him my lawn could do with a good cut)

[Buzzardbird]

Think I meant 'boney' ass/arse.

[maggiethemagpie]

The frozen to the bed thing will be sleep paralysis. I get this 2-3 times a month and have done for a while. You basically wake up before your body does and cannot move, it isn't nice but doesn't usually last more than a few minutes. You can also hallucinate in this half awake - half asleep state if you don't know what is happening (I get it so regularly my brain knows not to hallucinate now).

Be lucky that you don't get it all the time like me!

[maggiethemagpie]

I get Sleep Paralysis all the fucking time, I must be the unluckiest sufferer on earth: I have to make myself breathe, I get 'electricity brain', I'm convinced that I'll never wake up and I can barely jolt myself awake

Yokouhoh have you tried 'rolling over' in your mind, the only thing I can do to get me out of the paralysis state is to try with all my might to roll over a part of my body, such as my leg, it is like trying to lift a boulder with a feather but eventually the message gets through and I can move again! Horrible isn't it.

[Geordiegirl79]

Hoping you get a good night's sleep tonight. I had really vivid nightmares right through childhood and beyond - they have only reduced since I had children (probably never get a deep enough sleep to trigger it ha ha). The day after a really bad one, I always feel very out of sorts and preoccupied with it.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your dreams are all sweet tonight (and certainly not involving David Cameron!).

[Pebbles16]

Have good dreams. I realise the David Cameron reference might have sounded flippant but this week I've had waking up screaming nightmares and paralysis involving house fires and witches and every single one has involved that man. Goodness knows what my subconscious is trying to tell me!

[StylishDuck]

I get sleep paralysis sometimes. Usually if I've had a (rare) lie-in and end up dozing. I've thankfully never hallucinated anything scary, I just can't move for a few minutes or I imagine I've got up when I haven't. I've learned to just concentrate on taking deep breaths and it passes pretty quickly. Not nice though.