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Stress and adult night terrors?

3 replies

Scaredsleeper · 20/07/2017 12:10

Does anyone have any experience with this? I've had a bit of a rough time in the last 2 years with a bad relationship, failed career move and losing a lot of my security through my own poor life choices. I've had anxiety/depression since teen years and have taken medication on and off.
I've just really started to get back on my feet now and making some headway with everything, got myself and dd a place to live, working and I have some very supportive friends and family. Dr felt I didn't need AD's when I asked and I'm on the waiting list for counseling (6 months average) but this night terrors/ nightmares issue is starting to really affect me and others.
Last night was the worst incident which left my dd crying and scared and the neighbours rushing round to see who was being murdered! At 1am! I thought these incidents were rare, I have woken others before if I've stayed places by screaming, shouting and 'fighting' in my sleep and when I had a partner around once a week he'd wake me because I was becoming distressed in my sleep having nightmares, but I can remember my nightmares and usually jolt awake and there's no screaming etc.
Last night the neighbours said that although last nights 'incident' was by far the worst, they have heard me shout/scream/cry on occasions before - always at night and they assumed it was a child having nightmares, so never said anything. I have no memory of what happened last night, from my perspective I woke to dd shouting my name, the dog barking and well chaos really! She said she came in to my room and I sat up and just started screaming, and lashing out, shouting but she couldn't understand what and I looked straight through her, she was terrified.
I have a Dr appointment but I'm not really sure what can be done directly about this? I realise that I probably need some help with my mental state right now, but I'm mortified that I've scared dd to this point as well as disturbing my neighbours - and I have no control over it at all!

OP posts:
NolongerAnxiousCarer · 20/07/2017 22:40

Drs appointment sounds like a good idea. Flowers bumping for you

MistressDeeCee · 20/07/2017 23:05

I've had night terrors since I was 14. Im in my 50s now. My dad had them too. They are truly terrible and frightening and can plsy on your mind so I know how you feel. Ive never seen my GP about them. I think I should have. Stupidly, I felt too embarassed and have always regretted that. Hope you get on well with GP. Incidentally the only time they stopped completely was when I was giving up smoking and was given the stop smoking tablet..name begins with 'C', sorry cant recall full name. But I slept so well. Dreamless. & being so well rested lifted my mood..or maybe something in the tablets is a mood enhancer. Im not sure. But hopefully someone wuth good advice for you will come along in a moment.

Scaredsleeper · 21/07/2017 10:41

Thanks for your replies, mistress I'm unable to take the tablets prescribed for stopping smoking (I do smoke) as gp told me that they aren't prescribed for people with a history of anxiety and depression because they can affect moods. I'm on a vape atm.
But I'm reassured that I'm not the only person who deals with this as an adult. Having done a bit of research sleep apnoea can be a trigger and as I'm at risk of that it's worth checking. Speaking to my family I've always been an 'active' sleeper! Maybe it's why I'm so tired all the time!

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