Nightmares waking up wife

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMenOver30/comments/1jdwxbx/nightmares_waking_up_wife/

created by UnicornLover2013 on 18/03/2025 at 04:23 UTC

5 upvotes, 26 top-level comments (showing 25)

I experience nightmare quite often, with screams that frighten and wake up the wife and kids. My wife asked me to stop screaming and figure out a way to stop.

Wondering if anyone has experienced similar things, and any advice?

Comments

Comment by AutoModerator at 18/03/2025 at 04:23 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

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Comment by Murky_Anxiety4884 at 18/03/2025 at 04:25 UTC

29 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Try therapy. Something is bothering you.

Comment by Fluffernutter80 at 18/03/2025 at 04:51 UTC

7 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Have you had a sleep study? For years my dad was constantly yelling and flailing around in his sleep. It turns out he has a sleep disorder. He takes medication for it now and it’s much better.

Comment by Humble_Diner32 at 18/03/2025 at 04:29 UTC

5 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I experience them nowadays too. I’m 48 & have woken up as well as woken her up with screams, sweating profusely, & yells. This is all fairly new for me and has started in the last year or so.

Comment by Cape-York-Crusader at 18/03/2025 at 06:54 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Tried cannabis? Low THC oils....blackout sleep, no dreams

Comment by m00nf1r3 at 18/03/2025 at 04:33 UTC

5 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Therapy.

Comment by gitismatt at 18/03/2025 at 04:50 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I had a similar experience except mine was more physical outbursts than screaming. lots of kicking apparently.

I ended up getting a new job and it stopped completely. like a switch. didnt get any diagnosis or professional help but it's pretty clear to me that the mental burden from that bullshit job was making me nocturnally aggressive. it was finding a way out.

you should speak to someone to figure out what's causing this. hopefully it's something that you can somewhat easily change like a job or some other stressor.

Comment by Devil_0fHellsKitchen at 18/03/2025 at 05:04 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I have this same problem. I wake up screaming about 2 or 3 times a week. I've also always had trouble with insomnia my entire life. I still don't why. Should probably find therapy

Comment by 014648 at 18/03/2025 at 05:39 UTC

4 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Maybe it’s you wife, she sounds like she’s lacking compassion and understanding.

Comment by AmateurCommenter808 at 18/03/2025 at 06:00 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Do you remember your dreams? You should journal your dreams as soon as you wake up to see if anything adds up.

As others have said you could benefit from therapy.

Psychadelic mushrooms also could get the truth out, if you're ready for it.

Comment by Sooner70 at 18/03/2025 at 06:02 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Had a friend with such for years.... Finally saw some sleep doc. They gave him a prescription of some sort. Problem solved.

Comment by art_addict at 18/03/2025 at 06:11 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I get the screaming nightmares too. Sometimes I’ll move in my sleep during them as well. I’m in therapy and on meds, have been for years. Therapy has reduced how often they happen and how bad they are, but they still happen often (but not every single night anymore!)

My partner gets nightmares fairly frequently too, though usually not with screaming or any form of flailing, and he’s always been really great about just waking me and holding me, and I really appreciate that

Unfortunately nightmares aren’t something that you can just magically stop having because you want to. If it was simply that easy, we wouldn’t be having them in the first place!

Comment by Darkzeropeanut at 18/03/2025 at 06:39 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Night terrors. Had them all my life particularly during times of stress. Hand in hand with this comes sleep paralysis which is also a bundle of fun. I’m sure PTSD is involved in this on the night terror side anyway.

Comment by IcyAd5518 at 18/03/2025 at 07:25 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

https://youtu.be/DleM-m38kCg?si=cmfHeh3B15nZSDnS

Comment by Ok_Life_5176 at 18/03/2025 at 08:58 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Learning to lucid dream may help

Comment by rectovaginalfistula at 18/03/2025 at 11:24 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

This is a medical issue that requires medical advice

Comment by Daddy-Legs at 18/03/2025 at 11:29 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

I never wake anyone up with my nightmares but cannabis before bed completely solved my chronic nightmare problem.

Comment by tactslave at 18/03/2025 at 11:31 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

This is NOT a joke.

Have you tried the Devils Lettuce?

Comment by Polite_Username at 18/03/2025 at 11:40 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

People suggesting therapy, lol.

Try something that costs $100's of dollars a session, has to usually be scheduled months out and rarely fixes anything 🙄

Personally I'd try some weed. It is the dream destroyer.

Comment by Electronic_Rub9385 at 18/03/2025 at 11:43 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

This could be a parasomnia. A sleep study would figure it out. See a sleep doctor first.

Comment by Wolf_in_CheapClothes at 18/03/2025 at 12:00 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

See your doctor to rule out medical causes. I am a retired mental health therapist and would recommend seeing the doctor to a patient of mine who presented with sleep disturbance.

Read up on sleep hygiene. There could be issues that are contributing to this, such as caffeine too late at night.

Comment by ItsWhix at 18/03/2025 at 12:18 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Do you eat close to sleep?

Comment by kendrickshalamar at 18/03/2025 at 13:19 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Do you drink at night? Are you getting enough sleep? Do you live with a lot of anxiety?