What's going on when you began screaming out during the night from dreams?

[BC]

My sister has in just the last couple months began talking in her sleep and more recently has begun yelling out during the night from dreams. It is becoming more frequent to the point, she dreads going to sleep. Last night she was screaming loudly and her husband woke her and said she also was kicking her legs frantically! She remembers the dreams and they are mostly some fear she has, (snakes, attacks) but not all are like that. Anybody ever experienced anything like this?

 

[java]

Yes mine are always STRESS related. As soon as I deal with what has been stressing me out- I stop screaming- or waking up standing on the night stand. Yes I stress walk in my sleep too.
Boy I am a barrel of fun in the bedroomI hope your sister can get some sleep soon.

 

[Jennasis]

Night Terrors. My younger sister had them for a while as a child. Scary stuff. Help is available. She should talk to her doctor.

 

[BC]

My daughter also thinks it has to do with stress.

She is over 50. I thought night terrors were only found in children, but I guess not.

 

[disneymarie]

Has she started a new medication? Some can cause vivid dreams and screaming. Stress I agree too. Mine are going on three years now.

 

[kimblebee]

I can't scream in my dreams. Every time I open my mouth to scream nothing comes out. Ever. I can't remember ever being able to yell or scream in a dream. Anyone want to guess why that is? I know it is unheard of to all the friends and family that I've told. I thought I was the only one but recently my daughter told me she can't scream in dreams either.

 

[Phedre]

I can't scream in my dreams. Every time I open my mouth to scream nothing comes out. Ever. I can't remember ever being able to yell or scream in a dream. Anyone want to guess why that is? I know it is unheard of to all the friends and family that I've told. I thought I was the only one but recently my daughter told me she can't scream in dreams either.

My understanding was this is very common (it does happen to me and almost anyone else I know with nightmares also) because when you go to sleep, your body gets 'paralyzed' so that you don't scream out or thrash around while you are dreaming. However, that translates into not being able to scream or run from scary things in your dreams sometimes.

I think it would almost be more satisfying to be able to scream or thrash around while you are dreaming so you don't feel so helpless, but I've never been able to do it so I don't know if it would actually feel that way or not. I feel bad for your sister though! Nightmare are rough.

 

[BelleWDW]

My daughter also thinks it has to do with stress.

She is over 50. I thought night terrors were only found in children, but I guess not.

One of my kids had night terrors. oddly enough I read an article that it "could" be caused by being intolerant of Dairy. He stopped drinking milk & it went away!

Has her diet changed? like eating ice cream or more milk than normal?

 

[bumbershoot]

One of my kids had night terrors. oddly enough I read an article that it "could" be caused by being intolerant of Dairy. He stopped drinking milk & it went away!

Has her diet changed? like eating ice cream or more milk than normal?

When I was broke and ate what was left of the cheese in my fridge for dinner one night, b/c that's all I had, I had the MOST psychedelic dreams in the universe. Freaky freaky dreams. So that makes sense!

 

[BC]

No new drugs or change in diet, so I am guessing it is stress. She is a very high anxiety personality anyway. You know, the "what if" type. If she goes to a doctor, she is afraid he will just prescribe some sort of "valium" and doesn't really want to start a pill.

 

[tazdev3225]

I would go with stress or night terrors. I have suffered from night terrors my whole life. When I am stressed they get really bad. My DH will just sleep on the couch some nights because I scream, run and punch a lot. I usually do not remember them when I wake up. It is really bad when I wake up with huge self-inflicted bruises and have no idea how I did it. Meds can actually help keep them under control. OP good luck to you and your sister.

 

[Golf4food]

I can't scream in my dreams. Every time I open my mouth to scream nothing comes out. Ever. I can't remember ever being able to yell or scream in a dream. Anyone want to guess why that is? I know it is unheard of to all the friends and family that I've told. I thought I was the only one but recently my daughter told me she can't scream in dreams either.

I can't scream in dreams, either. I more fight than flight so in a dream where I feel the need to defend myself I want to lash out and yell in anger (like a war cry?) and fight back but, as a PP mentioned, feel paralyzed and unable to do so and usually wake up shortly afterwards before going back to sleep.

 

[clovergirl5]

dd13 had night terrors when she was 5. It started happening when we moved into our new house. Her Ped. said to wake her up 2 hrs. after she goes to sleep. It is supposed to interrupt the pattern and keep them from getting the night terror. She would always have hers around 10pm. 2 1/2 hours after she went to bed. She would scream, cry, punch the air, flail her arms and not remember any of it in the morning. She also would have her eyes wide open and look like she was awake, but she wasn't. They only ended up lasting for a couple months and haven't been back. I agree, probably due to stress.

 

[davidsprincess]

Is she breathing properly during the night? Is her nose really stuffed and she is having a hard time getting enought air?

I knew a guy who had broken his nose when he was younger and never had it properly reset. He used to have the most vivid dreams and act them out. Happened for years. Finally went to the doctor had it broken again and reset properly. Vivid, violent dreams gone.

 

[rabyoga]

I have very vivid dreams.. I look at it as a blessing and a curse. When the dreams are good, they are very good. When they are bad, it's awful: I cry out, thrash around and upset for awhile after I wake up. I noticed that when I'm stressed the bad ones come around. Lately, I've had some dozees- I'm getting foot surgery and am a bit nervous about it. I've had dreams about a serial killer cutting me up- I can feel the blade and everything.
Mostly, my dreams are just werid.