Why can't I stop dreaming?!

[Aruba417]

Here is some history: I'm 24, I have Anxiety/Panic disorder. I have been taking Effexor XR since April, and it seems to help with my symptoms. I also take Xanax as needed for panic attacks. This also helps. However, I have not been able to have one night's sleep without dreaming in 8 months! I told my psychiatrist, and she prescribed Ambian, which helped me fall asleep fast, but I still had dreams all night. Then she suggested taking the Xanax every night, starting with .5 mg. When that didn't work, she told me to try 2. Nothing helps. I dream all night long. Nightmares, stupid dreams, ex-boyfriend dreams, vacation dreams, high school dreams, etc. All freakin' night! I wake up in the morning feeling like my brain hasn't rested! It is getting really annoying. This happened to me a few years back when I was first diagnosed with Anxiety/Panic disorder. But it went away after about a month. This has been 8 months now!!! Does ANYONE out there know what is causing this and if there is some kind of medication out there that would help this?

[dimar78]

I also would suggest going to church (if you're not too sick).  I wasn't having any sleeping problems until recently and I haven't been to church in 3 weeks and I think that's one of the reasons why.  Also praying and reading your bible.  Getting together with people who go to church and have Jesus in their life.  That HELPS a lot.  You will sleep like a baby then.

[Jallan5074]

I think one person nailed the issue, anxiety at some level affects sleep. Remove anxiety, be able to relax, & sleep will come. I too have many of the symptoms discussed above. The only way I can get rid of them is totally relax, do they come back, yes sometimes but not for a while. How do I relax, the only thing that works for me is a 'stress eraser', a small electronic device that helps you control your breathing & clear your thoughts (google it). I read the entries to see if drugs could help, if only for a while, now I know they won't. Thank you to all who have written, & I hope you find a solution, I will continue to try & find a long term answer too, Jamie

[natb135]

Just was wondering why I can recall vivid dreams for 2 - 3 hours each night, more than all of my friends and partner do, didn't seem normal, although I am a fairly normal 24yr old woman and so I googled it and found this forum.  I am quiet an anxious, highly strung person always have been, so by the looks of it dreaming may be connected, have just started yoga consistantly with meditation and breathing techniques, helps with anxiety at the time to clear all the mind chatter I wonder if it will help reduce the dreaming if I continue long term...

[knox99]

I need help too! Have been diagnosed with anxiety - had quite a few stressful months to say the least - just trying to get back to normal - but keep remembering my dreams vividly every morning - even when I just go for a nap. It feels like I'm not getting enough quality sleep - I look tired all the time, the dreams also play on my mind as well - it's not nice! Have been experiencing this for around 4-5 months now!!

[knox99]

I need help too! Have been diagnosed with anxiety - had quite a few stressful months to say the least - just trying to get back to normal - but keep remembering my dreams vividly every morning - even when I just go for a nap. It feels like I'm not getting enough quality sleep - I look tired all the time, the dreams also play on my mind as well - it's not nice! Have been experiencing this for around 4-5 months now!!

[zombiedreamwriter]

One more question:
ANybody ever try melatonin? I was going to try it to help me go to sleep but i read it may cause "vivd dreams and nighmares". So what happens when one of us (yes we have bonded) takes something that might cause this? THAT is a slightly scary scenerio!