Fear of Sleep

[Kista]

I have had nightmares all my life. Most involve being chased by a man with a gun who is trying to kill me. I run and run and then usually I end up somewhere with no exit and I get shot. The dreams vary but they are very vibrant, frightening and realistic. They stay on my mind for about 2 weeks because even though I know intellectually they are just dreams, the fear and pain is real at the time. In my dreams I scream and scream. There's lots of blood and a few times I brought in other people who also got shot. I even died in one. <shudder> Now I am afraid to go to sleep. I stay up until I can't keep my eyes open and that seems to prevent the dreams. If I'm not sleepy enough, when I start to fall asleep my body jerks awake and I get a shot of fear adrenaline. It is no psychological mystery since I was raised in a very violent environment, but knowing that doesn't make it go away. I don't want sleeping pills because I'm afraid I'll be in a bad dream and won't be able to wake up and get out.
I don't have insurance, so therapy is out. Is there some kind of meditation techniques or something I can try?

[KT]

Sorry to here about those horrifying dreams.

You may want to try yoga and meditation. They sell yoga DVD's and video tapes pretty inexpensively at Target. Look into yoga for beginner's with Rodney Yee (SP?).

When meditating just get in a comfortable position and try to empty all the thoughts from your mind. Focus on something like one word or your higher power. Slowly release your muscles one at a time and feel yourself
sink into the bed or ground, feel yourself become one with the world around you. I like to think of the word love and try to visualize myself projecting love out to the world in the form of energy and visualize recieving the energy back.

Good Luck

[This message has been edited by KT (edited 01-29-2001).]