I have this very strange sleep (probably very common) sleep disorder that I can only describe as night terrors. It tends to be a recurring nightmare that the ceiling is collapsing in on me, something is falling on me or I am about to be crushed by a big vehicle. It feels like the nightmare is only a second if that when I am asleep and I wake up and I am still seeing the dream. As in I am awake and I can see the walls moving in or the roof falling on me. During this I scream and often throw myself out of bed. My eyes are wide open and it's like I'm at a cross between the reality and the dream. The awake part of the dream feels like it lasts longer, anything from 2 to 5 seconds (so my partner says). Once I fully snap out of it, my heart is racing but I usually fall back asleep immediately. About 75% of the time, I forget it's even happened unless I am reminded and then I can remember it.
Honestly, no idea where this came from! I've always had random dreams where I wake up and can see something in the room or on the bed and I've got up to try and touch it. This used to happen maybe once or twice a year.
These more intense terrors have been going on for 2 years now. Some weeks they are every night for a few weeks, some they are only 2 or 3 times a week. Sometimes I go 2-3 weeks without one at all. It seemed to start this badly when I was going through a traumatic time in my life, so I presumed it was because of stress. However that has all been resolved and has been for some while and mentally, I feel the strongest I've ever felt. There is no longer a link between the night terrors and my stress levels. I do not have any diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health issues and I'm not on any medication.
I've been to the doctors and they have nothing. It's just nightmares aparently. I can't help but feel these aren't just nightmares. it's so extreme and it's seriously affecting both mine and my partner's sleep.