Nightmares/very vivid dreams every night - help!

[Reallybadidea]

For the past few weeks I've been having particularly vivid dreams or nightmares almost every night and it's starting to really get me down. I wake up feeling really upset or panicky and then it often takes me a while to get back to sleep.

I'm not feeling particularly stressed about anything as far as I'm aware. Probably less stressed if anything after being off work this week. I don't eat late at night and it doesn't seem to be related to whether I've drunk alcohol or not. The dreams are about all kinds of stuff, there's no recurring themes.

I'm starting to dread going to bed, which is annoying too because I normally really love my bed! Any suggestions? 🙏

No, but I'm the same. I'd love to know if anyone has any suggestions. How old are you, OP? Could it be peri menopause?

I suspect mine is menopausal.

Have you started taking a vitamin with B vits in it?

Sometimes I get this if I'm too hot or the bedroom is too stuffy at night.
Maybe you could try some new sheets, lavender pillow spray, magnesium foot balm or melatonin gummies to have nearby for if/when you wake and can't wind back down?

Perhaps a dream journal to get it all out

No idea why my reply was hidden. I suggested some magnesium foot balm, lavender pillow spray and perhaps melatonin for when you wake up and can't go back to sleep. Perhaps new sheets too? A new sleep association
Or maybe falling asleep to a sleep/relaxing podcast type thing
I get nightmares and sometimes sleep paralysis, especially if I sleep on my back or the room is too hot or stuffy.

Have you taken any new or different medicines lately?

No new vitamins, no new medication. I probably am perimenopausal based on my age, but my periods are still very regular and the dreams aren't affected by where I am in my cycle.

I'm trying lavender spray tonight and I'll research sleepy podcasts for tomorrow. I already have white noise playing all night. DH was watching Black Mirror earlier which I can't imagine will have helped

I have always had bad dreams pre menstrually, but since I started HRT I have them every night.

For me it's the downside of HRT! I haven't had a single pleasant good vibe dream in 18 months!

So it could definitely be hormonal. OP.

Progesterone the worst culprit. Mine got so much worse after having the mirena coil fitted.

I get this. It’s like I am watching action movies or thrillers every night!

I have always been a heavy dreamer but since entering perimenopause they have become so much worse. I’ve also started experiencing false awakenings this year which I find terrifying.
I am sure my hormones are making it worse.
I am having some success with the Calm app, I listen to a sleep story every night and it seems to help me sleep deeper.

Don’t suppose you’re taking anti histamine tablets are you? I had to stop taking them and put up with the hay fever symptoms as I couldn’t cope with the night terrors and vivid dreams.

I get this if I eat fortified cereals (e..g with lots of vits and minerals added) or take supplements, particularly bad with vitamin D. Also v dark chocolate. I didn't always have this, it has got worse over the years and sometimes I will test it again after a period of cutting things out and it will come back. Could it be something in your diet?

I used to get vivid dreams and nightmares all the time (young, late nights, bad habits) and now only occasionally, especially if something is on my mind or I'm dehydrated.

You say you aren't stressed but I often think I'm not stressed when I am.

I try to get exercise and fresh air every day and do a hobby after work to be properly, physically tired and also have my mind switch off.

Are you on birth control? Birth control always fucked up my dreams. Its so vivid and scary, makes me really scared to sleep

Have you had covid recently? After having covid badly in 2020, I started having such bad nightmares a couple of months after, even awful visions in my head at night before falling asleep

Omg yes. It's awful. Definitely the menopause for me.

The nightmares occur when I sleep on my back, which isn't uncommon I believe.

The vivid dreams happen whichever side I sleep on. I wouldn't mind so much if they were at least interesting or enjoyable. They're always about things like calling the gas company about a bill query, or paying for parking and unable to work the app 🙄

@Serialcatmum Is that a known side effect? For kids too?

It’s a known side effect. I assume for children too.. can’t say for sure though x

No antihistamines. I do take vitamin D at a very high dose but this has been the case for years. I have had covid in the last 6 weeks 🤔

I do wonder whether I'm not tired enough because it coincides with having a bit of time off work and I definitely have more energy than usual and feel less tired when I get into bed.

Nothing last night, although I did wake up a few times worrying about having a nightmare 😕

I started out being able to take high dose vit D. I now get a nightmare if I even have it added to cereal or m&s bread (they add it). I am probably deficient as a result! Could be worth trying one night without it if the vivid dreams start to unsettle you again. But maybe it will just resolve spontaneously.

Unfortunately the vitamin D is essential, so if it's that (hopefully not!) I'll just have to put up with the nightmares.

Had a nightmare last night but I'd forgotten the lavender spray 🤦‍♀️

Have you recently changed your pillow or mattress? I get nightmares/vivid dreams when I do. Maybe due to deeper sleep or something 🤷‍♀️