Anxiety Dreams

[Jinglebellsarenearlyhere]

Hello, I have anxiety and depression that generally is under control with sertraline. But I cant stop having dreams that are always me being anxious in some kind of way. Last night I was being chased in a shopping center. I don't wake up but am conscious enough to remember them in the morning and think to myself at the time that the dream is horrid and not giving me good restful sleep.

Does anyone else have this or have any ideas how I can manage them when I am actually asleep?

I get some of these, usually I am trying to get somewhere or away from something, I can't and it gets more and more stressful.
I was diagnosed with anx and depression in my 20s and had the usual cocktail of drugs thrown at me which didn't do a lot of good as it turned out some years later they'd got my diagnosis wrong.
I actually have OCD-pure-O which is mostly characterised by massive anxiety and obsession without the funny little rituals most OCD people have.
I have had some limited sucess managing the dreams - if I'm getting one that comes round a lot I start to realise I'm dreaming and can force it a bit by thinking of something silly.
Doesn't always work, relies on me twigging I'm dreaming. Other times I just have to take a bit of time after I've woken up to clear my head and reassure myself. Sometimes I tell the OH and that helps too.

Sounds hippy and silly but my counsellor recommended a spray called Rescue Remedy for my dreams as mine were fairly severe and often woke to a panic attack even on my meds. It really worked. I was so sceptical but was at the point of trying anything. Give it a go.

Thanks guys. Use rescue remedy before for exam stress so will give it a go and Esther I will try and talk to my sleeping self. Totally annoying as I'm getting so tired without quality sleep.

Don't beat yourself up over them, I have noticed they usually are worse when I'm stressed or worried about something specific. Last bout I had I was preggers and kept dreaming I was going into early labour and when I got to hospital I was being forced to wait behind a queue of old ladies! Sounds totally daft when I write it down, but in the dreams I was terrified. There was an old lady who kept telling me to wait my turn so in the last dream I had I imagined smacking her in the face with a fish. It worked, but it was about the 5th time I'd had the dream.
Also have had a lot less recently as I've really cut down on my caffiene.