Horribly traumatic dreams

[Whatswrongwithmenow]

Not in a good place at the moment, quite low and depressed. Don't have any proper friends so no one to talk to, my best friend was my partner, but we split up at the start of lockdown and although he said he'd like to stay friends I've not heard from him since so clearly that was just bs and him being kind to me or whatever.
All this is bad enough but now I've started having horrible dreams. I can't sleep til 3 or 4am and when I do get to sleep it's horrible. Not scary, I'm not in danger, it's more people I care about being hurt. It's just horrible.

Is this just a symptom of all my other issues? What can I do to fix it? AIBU to be upset by them because they are just dreams? I've been waking up in tears which is not the best start to the day.

Sorry to hear that, dreams can be hellish especially if you can’t shake them off and they follow you around in the morning.

You have had a tough time so really it’s no wonder your subconscious is working through it.

My only advice is to be kind to yourself, expect it to take a few weeks to work itself out. Get up as soon as you wake up (don’t lie there) and get some fresh air or cup of tea, listen to relaxing upbeat music you like and try to change the mood gently. Be your own best friend and help yourself. Be careful what you watch and listen to, nothing violent etc. Look after yourself, hand cream, daily showers etc, maybe try a lavender based pillow spray, lots on the market all price ranges. Would you consider trying some online yoga?

I dream about every little thing most nights and it is tedious (not night terrors generally) so I do sympathise. It will pass as you recover.

I'm so sorry about your situation OP -feeling low and depressed is a fucker. Loneliness is difficult to deal with but the good thing about it is that's it's not a permanent state.
I'm going through a phase myself of not sleeping well at the moment and it's grim. I try to use mumsnet and some 'cheery books like Rylan's autobiography and Joe Lycett - Parnisps, Buttered to distract me. BUT.
I've never taken sleeping tablets in my life and this cycle of bad sleeping ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS sorts itself out after a few weeks without the use of medication. Yes, the dreams are likely a symptom of how you're feeling but they will likely pass within a few weeks. The thing I would do to 'fix it' is do things you genuinely enjoy doing to distract you and work towards your personal goals. YANBU to be upset by them.

I don't really like scary films etc anyway. To be honest I can't cope with any drama, love stories etc, all I can manage are light comedies.

I normally dream every night without fail but my usual dreams are pretty mundane, and actually quite comforting in their normality, I used to have dreams about work or shopping! These bad dreams are quite unusual for me, that plus the content is what's upsetting me.

When I went through a stressful time my dreams were often about fire and that that the walls were closing in on me type dreams. I hear ya, OP.

Absolutely the same op. I'm exhausted.

I'm on Citalopram and the dreams are so vivid and nasty I feel really shocked.

There's intrusive thoughts there too.

I feel shit about it all.

I have taken over the counter nytol but that doesn't negate the dreams. I never feel rested.

Horrible isn't it? The one last night was so nasty (involved my exDP being physically hurt by someone), I can't stop thinking about it.

I don't really want to post what mine have been about but yes death/abuse etc involving my children.

Sorry, that sounds awful too. I think mine are because I'm upset with exDP, he asked to remain friends and I wasn't sure at first but thought it might help us both get through lockdown (as like me he doesn't have any friends so we're both very much alone in our own homes, WFH for the foreseeable) but after agreeing to keep in touch 3 weeks ago, I've not heard from him at all. So he's clearly changed his mind which makes me sad, or already met someone else, which also saddens me.

You've really been going through it OP. What I can recommend is listening to Podcasts or watching Youtube videos till you sleep by pure exhaustion (initially) so it drowns out the 'voices' in your head if you see what I mean?

Eventually in the day time start doing guided meditations; and consider mindfulness. Let the thoughts come and we mindful of them then you will eventually be able to not let them consume you so much.

It does sound like you have intrusive thoughts which if persist would require therapy but if this is all reasonably recent and you do indeed have a lot trigger points then start small. Remember that everything is heightened in this pandemic.

Begin telling yourself affirmations - say things out loud.

This might all sound mad but just trust me on this. The key is to learn to control you rather than let wayward thoughts/ideas control and define you.

I've tried headspace type apps - and I exercise lots. Try and drink lots of water and eat healthy. We have a fan on at night as it's too hot 🥵 but I think mine is medication related.

I might speak to the gp as I feel I'm doing everything right.

Sorry to hijack op - It's nice to see other ideas

I get this too. It's awful. What works for me is a 'light' podcast. Have a search for things that interest you, fitness, food, TV shows, whatever.
I found using Meditation apps helped, but not always if I was too wound up

I don't do enough in the day to be tired, I have no motivation to do anything. I think about cleaning, tidying, gardening and then think what's the point? Nothing looks clean whatever I do, it's all a ness so I do nothing all day just sit around and eat and then sleep eludes me til 3 or 4am. I hate my life at the moment but cant summon up any energy to change it.