(no subject)

[violachic]

So my whole life I've had nightmares. Ever since I can remember. As a very small child- maybe three or four- I remember that if I'd wake up from a nightmare, I'd keep my eyes screwed shut and scream for my mom until she came and made it all better.

As I got older, I learned to just kind of deal with it. I eventually got to the point where I was sort of semi-lucid dreaming; I could never actually control my own actions within the dream, but at least I often knew I was dreaming at some point in the dream, and could try to wake myself up. But its never been a huge surprise that I'm prone to nightmares. I'm sensitive- probably overly so- and I have a very active imagination. Put those together with the fact that I've probably never been a good sleeper, and tend to spend a lot of time in REM (usually happening between Stage 3 and Stage 4 sleep, although in Pain Camp we were taught that it is actually linked with Stage 3) sleep without getting to Stage 4 (probably one reason why I get sick so much, and my body is now wigged out beyond repair- Stage 4 sleep is the restorative, healing level of sleep), giving lots of room for dream and nightmare fodder to grow.



So my entire household is now completely invested in making our way through The Lost Room. Last night we watched the second of three installments.

Then I went to bed.

Then I had a nightmare that felt terrifying when I was in it, but after waking up, I realized it was directly influenced by watching the show. I believe I'd like to watch the last 2-hour segment in broad daylight. Other than that, I highly recommend getting your hands on this mini-series. It is excellent.


But anyway. That's why I'm awake and posting at 6 am. I'm hoping I can get back to sleep for a few hours now- I actually have a relatively big day ahead of me.

Comments

[madresal.livejournal.com]

Doesn't everyone have nightmares? I have them too, but I figure everyone has them.

[sleepykins.livejournal.com]

Right there with ya, babe. I find that my mind just replays overnight everything it sees that day, and is particularly susceptible to TV images and dialogue. Hell, I have been dream-singing the theme song to "Monk" on USA (a particularly insidious Randy Newton song) for weeks now. But I did make it through "The Lost Room," which was totally excellent, and I hope gets picked up as a series. It actually got less creepy as the segments went by, and I never saw the first hour of the first segment, because I had Chris test-viewing for me to make sure I could handle it before I started watching.

[peaceofpie.livejournal.com]

I am curious about what Pain Camp is.

I, too, have always struggled with nightmares. Often, in recent years, I'll have a nightmare but not remember that I've had one...but I'll go around feeling slightly off-balance all day, and then something will trigger me to remember the dream, or a part of the dream that lets me know it happened without my really remembering it.

I've only very recently learned to feel totally safe sleeping along. For years I used to make up imaginary people to hold me while I slept so I would be safe from the nightmares.

I hope you have some healthy, healing sleep soon.

[whereisjoy.livejournal.com]

It will be better after we watch Blues Brothers!

[pickleboot.livejournal.com]

yeah- me too. i have horrible night terrors about twice a week. i was told that it is due to not hitting the 4th stage of sleep, but constantly being inbetween 3 and 4. i have odd, as in so strange i have to wonder about myself dreams more and more now, they are scary in that they are so wrong. and then there are the alternate reality dreams- if i had made a different choice dreams. i hate those, because sometimes i do not have kids and that scares me.

hugs.

and- it looks like i might be in chicago for a second opinion sometime soon- i talked to my dr's nurse, and she could not tell me anything, but was more than happy to tell me i need a second opinion. yeah. way to worry me more. but the 2nd opinion guy is in chicago. so there is that.

dear ms. amy violachic

[themiddlestates.livejournal.com]

sorry i'm not going to be able to hang out at the palestine night. can i go to the next one if you have one? i was up until 4:30am last night, finishing something dumb for work. now i need to go to bed asap.

((hugs))

i will see you soon.

jim

p.s. i left a fun message on yr answering machine.

[subdermalglow.livejournal.com]

and TONIGHT (or so) *I* am going to watch the second installment!!!!!