Terrified to go to sleep

[Soleilsunshine]

Im terrified to go to sleep, like absolutely terrified. Previously I loved sleeping but a few months ago I started having occasional bad dreams and sleep paralysis- I was terrified at first but thought it was a one odd random thing, but now I get it all the time and it’s getting more and more regular. I’m terrified to go to sleep because of it

usually what happens is I fall asleep and very quickly I have a nightmare and I sort of half wake up- I can see elements of the nightmare I was having in my room (usually like a dark figure) but I’m not really awake properly and it’s like I’m being pulled through a kaleidoscope. Everything is all coloured and shiney but I can see a dark figure/scary face over me, and while all this is happening I’ve got the most horrendous screeching and screaming in my ears. Then I suddenly snap out of it and wake up and I’m usually shaking like a leaf because it’s so frightening. I know it’s just sleep paralysis and there’s nothing in my room, but bloody hell it’s horrible and the first few times it happened I would scream the house down for my parents. Obviously I don’t do that anymore! But I still feel terrified when I wake up and I’m so scared to go to sleep now

I’m a Uni student and I’m in fourth year, so obviously stressed out with deadlines, dissertation things and exams and I think that’s causing all the sleep problems in the first place. I don’t watch scary movies or things that will freak me out.

its currently 3 am and I’m trying to force myself to stay awake because I’m petrified of what will happen if I fall asleep. I hate this so so much. I know nobody online can fix me but I just feel so lonely and upset about it all 😢 x

That sounds awful. I’ve no advice apart from sleep with the light on? and see your G.P?

I’m awake too, DH is away and I’ve heard a noise!

I have been through something similar OP, except it involved crazy panic attacks as soon as my body would feel itself falling asleep. Anyway...I am here to tell you that I am able to enjoy falling asleep again and you will too:) Also, I love watching ASMR on Youtube and it really helps me fall asleep gently. I like Rappeler Asmr or Viva Asmr.
Ps. I am not asleep atm because I had a late nap:) good luck OP!

Another one for ASMR. I had horrific sleep anxiety when my dad passed away, I kept having this worry that I was going to die in my sleep or get woken up by bad news. ASMR worked wonders xx

Jesus this is terrifying, you poor thing. I am so sorry. Is it worth a GP visit?

lights on?

keep a food/drink/dream diary to see if any links appear?

Oh my gosh, you poor thing - this sounds awful and very distressing. Have you spoken to anyone about it? It sounds as if you might be stuck in a bit of a viscous circle? I know from my own experiences of sleep deprivation that the more tired I am, the more vivid my dreams. This could be something that some CBT could help with, maybe you could speak to your GP? In the meantime, have you tried mindfulness apps? Something like Calm or Headspace before bedtime might be helpful.

I'm very sorry though, this sounds really awful for you and I hope you're able to get some relief from it.

That sounds horrible I know that dream state so well.
would listening to a sleep meditation help? The dreaming happens in REM sleep and a meditation might take you past that stage.
I know that good sleep hygiene helps and you are certainly correct that stress is not helping. Sometimes a low dose of anti depressives can help.
I wish you well.

Apparently focusing on small movements can help these episodes pass faster? Like moving one finger rather than trying to move your whole body

Lack of sleep will make you have hallucinations. This can get out of hand quickly. Call your parents now. Tell you best friend. Can you sleep with a trusted friend tonight ? Call the GP asap. Also you should check if you don't have sleep apnea.
If you drink just stop. If you are taking anything illicit stop right now. Call your parents.

You've got some good advice on here so I'm just adding my sympathies. Not sleeping can't be the solution. You'll have to sleep some before you get an appt to begin to address this. Fwiw I'm wide awake and utterly exhausted by an overwhelming day on top of an ear infection. Rest is important when we can't sleep, so try to get comfortable. Put on the eye comfort shield setting on your phone and turn the brightness all the way down. Look for an interesting audio book, there are lots of free things.

This sounds horrible, you poor thing! I’ve never had sleep paralysis myself but always been scared about it from hearing about friends’ experiences. Apparently it’s more likely to happen if you sleep on your back (since hearing that I can’t sleep on my back!) and making yourself cough can wake you up and snap you out of it quickly.

Maybe grab a cuppa and put on an episode of a silly/familiar tv show, something like friends? Try to relax a little and then try to get back to sleep. I understand why you would be scared to but you really need your sleep.

Like a previous poster I’m awake because I thought I heard something. I think it was just the house creaking or a pipe but I’m a wuss!

Hi OP
I used to get sleep paralysis. Being really tired can be a trigger, so you need to sleep.
Sleep on your side or on your front, not your back -that does help. I know it's not easy, but you need to tell yourself it isn't harmful, you will wake up. If you can manage a night without an episode you will be more relaxed about going to sleep.
Put the radio, lay on your front and slow managed breathing.
It will pass

Ps: I'm only awake because the dog has just thrown up! Just managed to shove her off the bed

I've got heartburns.

Deffo speak to gp. I've had this once only that I remember - it's very disconcerting to essentially be awake but useless. Thankfully mine wasn't terrifying, really ominous feeling as if there was something behind me, but the figure I could actually see looked like a hologram of Dolly Parton(?!). I blinked multiple times and she remained there and I couldn't roll over. Very odd.

I agree you need sleep as being tired makes it more likely. Stress also highly likely to be factor. I'd see gp, avoid caffeine and try mindfulness/asmr.

Thinking out loud, might wearing a sleep mask help? It would possibly remove the hallucination element and you could wait out the paralysis?

My husband suffers with this, as did his dad. He's been to sleep studies and they diagnosed it as parasomnia, where you're only half awake, part of your mind is still in the dream but your body is up and acting it out to a degree. Often wakes up thinking there's someone in the room, I have to talk him down so he fully wakes up. The only suggestion the doctor gave was beta blockers, he decided against it.

Is much less frequent now, his dad stopped in his 40s so we're pretty much there too. I'd suggest asking for a sleep study too.

I find being too warm gives me nightmares. I have really bad nightmares - they make horror movies look children rated... In combination with nightmares I have what I think of as nested dreams. So I think I've woken up from whatever nightmare I was having, but I'm actually still asleep. Some have taken 5 levels to get out of and that's really awful.

The best thing I ever found out was the link between temperature and nightmares. Now if I have a bad dream I remove blankets before it gets worse and things calm down.

Might not help OP but definitely something easy to try.

I'll add to balance out my nightmares I also have puppy, kitten and foal dreams. The one had me waking up super happy and excited was when I found a baby elephant and got to keep it 😄

Def tell your parents . Then go see drs at uni and talk it through or do they have well-being department?
My DD had similar and her sleep is not totally brilliant still but much better she is no longer scared at night and does get to rest . Things that helped her were going on to anti anxiety anti depressants and also hypnotherapy can be amazing.
It is a cycle if you are scared and sleep deprived and you need to talk it over
I wouldn't mind if my DD rung me at 4 in the morning if she was scared and upset. Maybe pre warn them or ask how they feel if you did want to call them . As a parent I'd rather they reached out than suffered

You poor thing go to the dr.
Probably to do with stress and your work load. X

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. It’s NOT hallucinations in the sense of the normal meaning
so please don’t worry. It sounds exactly like sleep paralysis. I started getting it as a teenager and it’s terrifying. The first time it happened to me I felt a hand grab me round the neck and I was utterly terrified.

I only get it occasionally now (often if I sleep in the day) and the best way to end it is to try not to panic and tell yourself “I don’t care, it’ll pass’ - lean into it if that makes sense. The more you struggle to move or wake up the worse it is. The sinister figure is really frightening but if you do the whole sitting on the fence and not caring it does stop quicker.

Apparently they think stories of alien abduct were people suffering from sleep paralysis as it feels to frightening and so real.

A visit to the GP is good advice just to rule out anything that might be making it worse.

It’s sleep paralysis and one thing that can help if knowing about it. I found that once I knew what it was and that I couldn’t really do much about it, I could use the experience and direct my dreams! So instead of being scary I could choose what happened. That was actually quite cool. If you try and move a finger you can also try digging your nail into your hand to wake yourself up.

You need to do two things IMO: 1) assess your stress both causes and responses and put in place radical self-help (exercise, diet, meditation, activities, food all help) - what is your lifestyle like honestly?
2) chat with the GP as this is unsustainable.

Sleep on your side not on your back. I heard it only happens when sleeping on your back.

Yes it's terrifying. Are you going to bed very tired? Because this is when sleep paralysis tends to happen as you go into the hypnogogic state all out of whack. When you hit the pillow if you're overtired that's when I personally feel my mind going into SP, my body is gone right away so brain doesn't catch up and the dreams are like they're there in your room.

I've had this since childhood and yes it's so terrifying.

The GP will either give you Quinine or try and give you this medication for dogs who over scratch but I didn't want either. The side effects to Quinine seem awful and can include deafness, and I did take the dog medication but it ruined my sex drive for about two years and I only took it a week.

So I don't take anything for it. Instead I go to bed before I am over-tired. Sleeping on your side can help. And I would try CBT for intrusive thoughts and try and find out where they are coming from.

It was Clomipramine
I don't recommend it though www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541006/

This was ten years ago so treatment may have changed obviously but be wary and look at any medication thoroughly before you take it because GPs tend to take advice straight from drug reps and often have no idea of the pharmacology of medications they give out.