Nightmares

Pain can do it too. If you have a painful condition e.g. arthritis, you are more likely to have bad dreams and nightmares because the pain interferes with the normal phases of sleep. A large study of the (ahem) elderly showed that bad dreams were much more likely to be reported in arthritis and post-surgery. Drugs, as has been said, especially opioids, can be especially potent, but the study disambiguated the effect of the drugs from the pain. However, one normally forgets the content of dreams/'mares, so if you are persistently ruminating on their content and it is upsetting, it would be good to get some advice or even CBT.

The two times I was pregnant were some of the happiest times of my life. I loved it. I think I am harking back to those times.

Hmmm, I was going to make a thread about dreams, particularly recurring ones as I have 3 or 4 themes to mine. Strangely enough, one is also being pregnant!

How I would like a dream analyst or a good book on the subject.
I have two recurring dreams. One is being pregnant in later life and I am so happy about it and the other is always being late, for school, for work, always missing buses and trains.
As I am always early for things this is odd.
My own interpretation is that as I am now very old I realise what I have missed in life and it is too late to rectify it.

Just woken up! I went back to bed after I'd posted and got some sleep. Obviously just being able to tell someone I'd had a nightmare was good for me (smile)
I don't take any medications so it can't be that and usually I can sleep for England. I very rarely wake in the night except for these nightmares which have been going on fora couple of weeks now.
I am contemplating a life change of sorts so maybe that is it. Now I need a dream analyst to tell me what my sub conscious is saying.
I'll certainly have a go at TwiceasNice's technique.
Thanks for being there everyone!

I was going to ask if you have had any new medication lately as I once had a new med and it gave me the most horrible nightmares. Once off it the nightmares stopped.
Also what you eat and drink before her can have an effect too so keep note of that too

When I was first prescribed a blood pressure medication the nightmares were dreadful. As the medication worked so well for my mild BP I chose to stay on the tablets. The nightmares got less, only the occasional one now. However some of them have stayed with me as they were so traumatic.
If I have one I put the radio on quietly and the bedside light on low. This does help.
I also had a lot of help from a homeopath who treats you as a whole person taking in anything new happening etc. I do hope you find a solution very soon.?

How strange. I've been having horrible dreams for a while, but last night had a really, really foul nightmare. Must be something in the air.

Sorry Cherry same advice, I hadn't read your post when I started mine.

When I have strange dreams or nightmares, if something specific sticks in my mind, a word or phrase, I search the next days greyhound racing dogs and find something that fits & have a wee flutter! Sometimes I win. It doesn't help with the nightmares but I find it helpful to play them down and refocus on something different.
As others have said a certain medication caused strange dreams or nightmares for me. I used Valerian. Easily and cheaply bought from shops like B&M. ?

In the early days of my H's diagnosis with Alzheimer's he was prescibed Aricept. He had very bad nightmares and would shout and cry out several times a night. It was scary and very disturbing for both of us.
It was a side effect of the drug and it was changed. I am really saying any drug can have bad side effects. Have any you take checked out.

Have you had a new medication lately Eglantine? A friend's DH suddenly started having very vivid nightmares and got to the stage where he didn't want to go to bed. His wife persuaded him to go to the GP and he said it was a side effect that some people got from of one of the medications he was taking. Doc. changed it for something else that did the same job and the nightmares went away.

Many years ago I was on medication which gave very vivid frightening nightmares. My then DP suggested putting the radio on at a very low volume, just burbling along in the background, at a level which would distract my thoughts. It was brilliant and I managed to get back to sleep.

I'd strongly advise a conversation with your GP, sooner rather than later. Perhaps keep a diet record for a week first and make a note of any changes - e.g. physical/circumstantial/triggers to something in the past/medication - around the time the nightmares started. It's important not to get into a pattern of avoiding/losing sleep. Hope you get it sorted Eglantine19.

Counselling may help if it's being going on for a while
If there have been problems in your life things can effect you like that did me but I got help and I am better now.
I don't sleep well neither does my h,we are up in the night for the loo, so often don't get back to sleep straightaway.
When I do that seems to be the time that I have strange dreams.

Strange, I also had bad nightmare last night and a cuple of friends have posted on FB they were the same.

They seem so real don't they.

I find mine follow me about all day.

A counselling distraction technique is to have a very pleasant memory ready which you remember well. Tell yourself you're going to switch from the nightmare memory and then let the pleasant memory run through your head. Imagine you are watching a film. Think of what happens next in great detail. How did you start the day? What did you do first? What was the weather like, where did you go, who were you with, what were you wearing, talking about? Think what happened next and then what happened, and then , and then. Follow the day through to its end bit by bit lingering over the really nice bits. Not a general routine day but a day you'd looked forward to, Christmas, a birthday, holiday, special day with someone you love. Usually by distracting your mind in a pleasurable way you can swap the memory and feel more yourself. Hope it helps.

Could something going on in your life have triggered these?
You say you've had several, which sounds unusual. What you do when you wake sounds about right - reading, playing. Maybe herbal instead of real tea, as it would be more calming. I'd be more concerned about why they're happening.

Sleeping tablets?