Scared to go to sleep because I wake up screaming or crying

[cupofteaplease]

Well this is a very silly problem I'm sure, but here goes...

A few times recently, I have started to doze off to sleep, and I belive I am still awake. Then, I have seen a person in my room that shouldn't be there- either a man in the doorway, or last night an older child stood by my bed. I then scream the house down, totally petrified, and dh wakes me up by holding me and telling me it was a dream. It's awful, becuse it seems so real, I really feel awake. But then of course, I cannot get back to sleep because I'm in a cold sweat and my heart is racing and I can't stop ataring at the place where I 'saw' the 'intruder'.

Then, on nights when I do manage to go to sleep without screaming my lungs out, I have horrible nightmares. Awful and ridiculous things, like talking to my deceased Dad and being horrible to him, failing exams, abandoning my children- silly really. But I find myself waking up with a wet pillow as tears are streaming down my face.

I'm so tired at the moment because my sleep is interrupted constantly and I'm getting scared to go to bed.

Any advice?

Are you on any medication that could be giving you side-effects? Sound's very stressful and tiring.

Thats sleep pralysis. Ive had it once and it scared the s**t out of me. maybe youre stressed?

Thanks for the replies. No, I'm not on medication, but I used to take antid's for anxiety related depression.

I have had a very stressful year- PGCE with 2 preschoolers and had a MMC. However, my sleep problems have really increased in the month since my stressful period came to an end. So if anything, I should be relieved and sleeping like a baby.

EzrasMummy- how did you overcome the problem? I'm so pleased someone else can vouch for how scary it is

I have found seeing a homeopath has really helped with horrible nightmares...worth a try?

Night terrors. Hypnosis can help. I had it once - flippin heck it was horrible.