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Everytime I sleep on my back facing up I always get nightmares!! Why!?

turpentyineturpentyine Registered User regular
edited July 2008 in Help / Advice Forum
Usually they are about ghosts or something paranormal. Sometimes I just wake up feeling this deep cold fear, but cant remember the dream. It just kinda hits me like a strong wave. But when I sleep in any other position I dont have any problems.

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Posts

  • ShogunShogun Hair long; money long; me and broke wizards we don't get along Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Do you or have you ever taken the supplement Melatonin?

    Do you take any medication at bed time?

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  • JohnnyCacheJohnnyCache Starting Defense Place at the tableRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    you might not be breathing well on your back. Freaks a lot of people out, they dream about getting choked.

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  • 28682868 Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    me too. I suffer from sleep paralysis and have my entire life. i've never really thought about the corollary between sleeping positions and nightmares, but now that I do it seems like I should have realized this before.

    I'm really interested in why the hell this happens if there is a reason.

    Shogun? What medications cause it? And melatonin is bad for sleep cycles? My girlfriend has nightmares too and she takes Melatonin sometimes...

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  • 28682868 Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    JohnnyCache wrote: »
    you might not be breathing well on your back. Freaks a lot of people out, they dream about getting choked.

    Apnea, I know this is not what is happening to me, but yeah this does happen, and often goes hand in hand with sleep paralysis even though it is a different phenomena.

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  • ShogunShogun Hair long; money long; me and broke wizards we don't get along Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Melatonin in doses larger than recommended can cause nightmares. I cannot say if a specific medication causes it as a side effect, but everyone responds different to medications depending on what they are.

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  • LightsOutLightsOut Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I forgot the specific study, but there is a correlation with sleeping positions and occurrence of sleep paralysis/nightmares. When sleeping in the supine position (facing up) individuals have the highest risk for nightmares compared to all other sleeping positions. I believe the prone position and fetal position were least likely.

    LightsOut on
  • BamaBama Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Have you tried sleeping on your back facing down?

    Bama on
  • Grid SystemGrid System Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    What, like strapped to the bottom of the bed?

    Grid System on
  • GiantRoboGiantRobo Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Grid System wrote: »
    What, like strapped to the bottom of the bed?
    On your stomach.

    GiantRobo on
  • Grid SystemGrid System Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Then he wouldn't be on his back, would he?

    Grid System on
  • CreepyCreepy Tucson, AzRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Wife has this problem too and every goddamned time it happens she's sleeping on her back. Actually went so far as to read a book about it, kind of interesting. I also did a little reading online and concluded that if you can avoid doing it, don't sleep on your back if you're prone to this kind of thing.

    I've had something similar happen when I've awakened on my side as well. Couldn't breathe, was basically paralyzed and convinced that something evil was in the room behind me. Had this happen to me twice before. Read somewhere that it's a bug in your software where your mind is awake just a few secs before your body is and you get this sensation of paralysis for a few secs (but man, it seems like minutes when it happens..yay subjectivity) & then freak out about it. Anyways, after a few secs you can all of a sudden move and breathe, like someone flipped a switch.

    Didn't really care for it either time it happened.

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  • turpentyineturpentyine Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    No dont take any meds.
    How can i sleep on my back facing down? Is that even possible? Sounds uncomfortable lol

    turpentyine on
  • YourFatAuntSusanYourFatAuntSusan Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Creepy wrote: »
    Wife has this problem too and every goddamned time it happens she's sleeping on her back. Actually went so far as to read a book about it, kind of interesting. I also did a little reading online and concluded that if you can avoid doing it, don't sleep on your back if you're prone to this kind of thing.

    I've had something similar happen when I've awakened on my side as well. Couldn't breathe, was basically paralyzed and convinced that something evil was in the room behind me. Had this happen to me twice before. Read somewhere that it's a bug in your software where your mind is awake just a few secs before your body is and you get this sensation of paralysis for a few secs (but man, it seems like minutes when it happens..yay subjectivity) & then freak out about it. Anyways, after a few secs you can all of a sudden move and breathe, like someone flipped a switch.

    Didn't really care for it either time it happened.


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_terror

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  • SpongeCakeSpongeCake Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Confirmation bias?

    SpongeCake on
  • DocDoc Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited July 2008
    sounds like a pretty standard haunted bedroom if you ask me

    Doc on
  • CreepyCreepy Tucson, AzRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Close.... =)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

    http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/paralysis.html

    Note the tie in to the Hag Phenomena.

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  • ShogunShogun Hair long; money long; me and broke wizards we don't get along Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Doc wrote: »
    sounds like a pretty standard haunted bedroom if you ask me

    yeah but Doc who's he gonna call?

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  • CreepyCreepy Tucson, AzRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Shogun wrote: »
    Doc wrote: »
    sounds like a pretty standard haunted bedroom if you ask me

    yeah but Doc who's he gonna call?

    We did call. But that's another story....

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  • SarcastroSarcastro Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    I would wonder what it is that makes you feel more comfortable on your back those nights then any other night. If you have a sore back for example, so you decide to sleep on your back because subconsiously its more comfortable, minor twinges could be impacting your dreams.

    Sarcastro on
  • turpentyineturpentyine Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Doc wrote: »
    sounds like a pretty standard haunted bedroom if you ask me

    Ye but otherwise I don't experience anything weird.
    Plus I am pretty sure I had this when I lived in other places.

    turpentyine on
  • turpentyineturpentyine Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Sarcastro wrote: »
    I would wonder what it is that makes you feel more comfortable on your back those nights then any other night. If you have a sore back for example, so you decide to sleep on your back because subconsiously its more comfortable, minor twinges could be impacting your dreams.

    Nothin really just get tired of sleeping in same positions on the side, but after i noticed these night mares i am very paranoid about doing it

    turpentyine on
  • turpentyineturpentyine Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Creepy wrote: »
    Shogun wrote: »
    Doc wrote: »
    sounds like a pretty standard haunted bedroom if you ask me

    yeah but Doc who's he gonna call?

    We did call. But that's another story....


    You did what happened?

    turpentyine on
  • UlrrichUlrrich Registered User new member
    edited July 2008
    You may be able to avoid it by not sleeping on your back; I've found it doesn't really help; I tend to move around when I sleep, wake up on my back -- oops.
    What does help is to close your eyes and, after you've run for the light switch, tell yourself it's not real. Or pray, if you're into that sort of thing.

    Ulrrich on
  • turpentyineturpentyine Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Ulrrich wrote: »
    You may be able to avoid it by not sleeping on your back; I've found it doesn't really help; I tend to move around when I sleep, wake up on my back -- oops.
    What does help is to close your eyes and, after you've run for the light switch, tell yourself it's not real. Or pray, if you're into that sort of thing.

    ye i just pretty much avoid sleeping on my back. i was just wondering if there was some explanation behind it thats why i posted.

    turpentyine on
  • KGenchiKGenchi Registered User new member
    Hi I have the same problem and found that putting a pillow between my knees when I go to sleep helps alert me when I roll onto my back I hope you find this usefull

    Pleasant Dreams
    Kevin

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