Really strange. Your opinion?

Question

I've had these odd things happen to me on a regular basis, about once or twice a month for years. I'd never considered getting help for them, since they aren't exactly life-threatening.

I have very bad lucid dreams. The themes change slightly, but they generally involve some forms of evil happening to loved ones. These are very bad dreams.

I wake up, and there seems to be a heavy weight on my chest. I can't move my body, and my tongue seems to be moving on its own. This lasts a few minutes.

Lately, I've been getting panic attacks in the day relating to these dreams. Thoughts based on these dreams just seem to flood my mind, and I get a pain in my chest.

These symptoms are just weird. I'm not sure if it's a psychological disorder, or something else. I've never done any drugs in my life.

Any opinions on what this could be, or how to treat this are welcome.

thanks

Answer 1

Yeah... this question is sort of in the wrong section. Should be more in the Health section. I mean I can interpret the dream, I'll do that real quick.

The dream is just telling you that you care about others. I know... it's that straightforward, there's no hidden meaning.

Paralysis of the body could be caused by sleep (I've learned the following from the Discovery channel). When we sleep, our bodies often release chemicals into our brain that paralyze our bodies, in this way we don't hurt ourselves during vivid dreams.

Again, repost this in the Health section to see their opinion.

Answer 2

Here are a few points:

1) If you are getting pains in your chest consider getting checked out by a doctor. If for no other reason than to confirm you are physically OK, so that will be one worry off your mind.

2) If you can't move your body you are experiencing sleep paralysis. don't worry about it. It happens to everyone every night. You are only noticing it because of your interrupted sleep. When it happens don't panic, don't try to move, just relax and go back to sleep or gradually allow yourself to wake up properly. Know that no harm will come of you in this state!!

3) It sounds like you are stressing yourself out about all this. Having vivid dreams does leave a lasting impression on you but remember they are only dreams.

4) If they are lucid dreams (i.e. you know you are dreaming), you should be able to take control of them. If you do this you will be able to stop the bad things happening and turn your dreams in to pleasant experiences.

See the tutorial in the sources below on how to have controlled lucid dreams.