To terrified to sleep

[LisaMoonflower]

Hi, I'm Lisa. I really have a problem. I am terrified to go to sleep because I have the most real and awful nightmares every every night. I can not seem to escape them. I haven't slept for more than two hours a night in weeks and I haven't had a full nights sleep in years. Its beating me up and making me physically and mentally sick. I really feel crazy. Its al real fears of mine, about people I love and nothing supernatural. Yesterday I dreamed my boyfriend made out with a girl and pushed me of a cliff. Please help me. I don't know what to do and can't go on living like this :'(

[Voldmer]

Hi Lisa, welcome to DreamViews! If I read your description correctly, then your insomnia is quite severe. Probably most people in your situation would consult a medical practioner for help, and probably s/he would prescribe sleeping pills as an immediate way to create relief (but would hopefully dig deeper to find the cause of the nightmares and insomnia). My understanding (please bear in mind that I'm a physicist, and definitely not medically trained) is that insomnia may be due to either physiological or psychological issues. So the right way forward may be difficult (or impossible) to assess without more detailed knowledge. As a possible quick fix I would normally suggest a tranquilising herbal tea before bedtime, but these are often rather mild, and so may not be adequate. My suggestions for herbs: Strongest (in my view): Valerian, California Poppy, Catnip Also useful: Lemon balm, Chamomile, Passion flower. Certain supplements can be very useful: L-theanine (mild and very harmless), Phenibut (very heavily sedating, and can only be used once per week or so). As for the nightmares themselves, if you can go lucid, then there are ways of effectively dealing with them (DV will have many posts about that topic). Otherwise, it has been my personal experience that chamomile tea before bedtime always leads to a pleasant night (whether awake, or asleep). There is also the possibility of incubating pleasant dreams, or using dream incubation to counter the nightmares in other ways. Please also note, that some medicines, supplements and raw herbs can generate unpleasant dreams (e.g. melatonin, 5-HTP, and St. Johns Wort have all been reported to cause severe dreams to some people - though not to everyone). I wish you pleasant dreams! Hopefully some DVers with more experience with nightmares, or better insight than mine, have some constructive suggestions for you.

[Scionox]

Hey and welcome to Dreamviews! As Voldmer said, practicing lucid dreaming is a very good way to deal with nightmares, as once you are lucid in dream you can either talk to them or defeat them(whichever way you prefer). Check out this link for some good tutorials if you are interested in lucid dreaming practice: Induction Methods and Techniques *Moved to Nightmares and Recurring Dreams*

[LucidBrot]

Lucid dreaming does help. AFAIK the less sleep, the more nightmares, but im not sure where i read that. Maybe try a placebo, like eating bananas helps against nightmares or something Also, notice what your fears are, (those of which you dream) and try to get rid of them in waking life.