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Reoccurring nightmares??

starsmileSenior Contributor15 Apr 2025, 11:00 am AEST

Reoccurring nightmares??

Just curious if anyone else has similar experiences.

I keep having this nightmare, I’m forced to stay at this mental health place and they treat everyone like trash. I escape, surrounded by houses and scream out for help, someone opens their door, I run inside and try my best to hide. The cops are looking for me and I’m terrified,

I wake up feeling like I can’t breathe (almost like panic attack can’t breathe) and stressed out. I have a dream like this once every few months. Same story.

I guess I just, don’t know? I’ve never had a bad experience with mental health wards and such I just don’t understand why I’m having dreams like these.

5 replies

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In response to: Reoccurring nightmares??

Ru-beeModerator15 Apr 2025, 2:34 pm AEST

Re: Reoccurring nightmares??

Hi @starsmile it sounds as though this nightmare has been pretty unsettling for you. Do you otherwise have a fear of mental health facilities, or perhaps of being held against your will?

It's interesting how nightmares can pop up for us sometimes with no apparent relation to our current lives or experiences, for example, I've been having nightmares involving elevators for a few years now. I never had any fears of them or bad experiences in the past so no clue where that's come from!

In other instances though, dreams and nightmares can be a way for us to process our thoughts, emotions, and experiences.

In response to: Re: Reoccurring nightmares??

starsmileSenior Contributor15 Apr 2025, 4:39 pm AEST

Re: Reoccurring nightmares??

@Ru-bee I may have a slight fear I guess?? I mean I turned 18 mid last year so now if I do end up in a ward (which has been highly possible recently..) I’ll end up in the adult ward.

It’s probably my subconscious kicking my butt, haha.

I appreciate your reply! 💗

In response to: Reoccurring nightmares??

fruitisgoodSenior Contributor15 Apr 2025, 10:01 pm AEST

Re: Reoccurring nightmares??

hey @starsmile Yes I do have recurring nightmares. Took me a long time to realise they were nightmares too. I'd wake up feeling not rested, stressed, sometimes my heart rate would be going mad, or I'd be crying/ screaming/ yelling.

I have them quite often (atleast a few times a month, but sometimes weekly) , and particularly vivid ones if things are off in my day to day life, like insecurities being bought up, or triggers.

So my input would be to consider what's going on in your world right now, as stress seems to bring on these sorts of dreams.

They're awful though, sorry you also have to go through it 😞

In response to: Re: Reoccurring nightmares??

starsmileSenior Contributor15 Apr 2025, 10:28 pm AEST

Re: Reoccurring nightmares??

Thanks so much for replying @fruitisgood . I feel less alone now haha.

Yeah I feel stress has probably been causing it, I’ve been off my meds so it also could be withdrawal symptoms.

In response to: Re: Reoccurring nightmares??

fruitisgoodSenior Contributor16 Apr 2025, 9:49 am AEST

Re: Reoccurring nightmares??

No worries @starsmile Definitely not alone in this experience.

It could be withdrawl.

I find things that help with mitigating the nightmares are to try and go to bed /tired/, not stimulated (I read a chapter of my book before bedtime now), and if the silence is too stressful I'll switch on my fan and/or some gentle music.

Not a guarantee but it does make the whole sleeping experience more comfortable. Also, hydration. If I'm dehydrated I will almost always have a sleep paralysis episode, which ties into the more intense nightmares.

I hope the nightmares ease up for you. Sometimes people do just have reoccurring dreams every once in a while for no apparent reason. Common ones are falling, and teeth falling out. Dreams are weird like that.

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