sleep disturbances

[KevinNJ25]

I hear stress (I am a last semester senior in college) can cause very vivid, awkard dreams.  The past few days I have been waking up about every three hours when as I am sleeping with another wierd dream.  Anxiety and stress can be a cause of this?

[tigereyedjames]

well, first off, don't ignore it...therapy helps, and maybe eventually medication....as do other factors, like exercise, eating right, eliminating caffine and sugar...learning how to manage your stress...
There is definitely much you can do to take control (Like NOT looking up things like "Death Cycle" online!!!)

[KevinNJ25]

Yes I have suffered from Panic attacks in the past, but never had disturbances in my sleep.  Last night though I did something I should not have done.  I had the urge to google death cycle.  I knew it was a dumb idea and when I read it I completely had known I set my self up.  Everything I am expirencening (lack of apeitie mostly) scared the SH*T out of me.  Today I woke up around 1PM and just read my Self-Help book "Feeling Good" because I really scared myself.  I even had trouble going to the grocery store!  My left leg is tingeling today and I have a headache.  I hope this stupid stuff ends when I graduate college and get myself on a good path.

[tigereyedjames]

Yes, anxiety and stress can DEFINITELY disturb your sleep (a subject that I know very well...) Your subconcious plays a huge roll in your anxiety and stress, and even if you think you aren't stressed out, it can come out in your sleep and can cause all sorts of sleep disturbances, such as nightmares, restless sleep, and sleep-panic attacks.
Are you on meds or in therapy? Have you ever suffered from anxiety or panic attacks?