Sleep terrors?

Are you experiencing stress during your waking hours? I know there are so many theories on dream interpretation, however, if these are more like panic attacks, I get them too. For me, I'll wake up screaming because I'll have sudden surreal realization that I will die someday, and I panic. I push my regular fear of death down during the day, and then once in awhile, it suddenly strikes me when I'm vulnerable and not able to block out the panic. I had visited a counselor once that told me it was a symptom of Agoraphobia. These episodes seem to happen when I'm extremely stressed, so that's why I ask if you're experiencing a large amount of stress right now.

I'm not sure what could cause this unless I knew more information about you..... I recommend telling your doctor, I know he can help

yeah lots of stress. better lately but it's been a tough decade for me lol

I bet you it's a coping mechanism, Buddy. What about sleep aids? I agree that a therapist would be a great place to start, but have you ever tried sleep aids, and if you do, do you find you can sleep more soundly while on them?

Thanks Lucy. I have tried sleep aids before. I think I stopped breathing one night on Ambien though so I got away from the prescription strength stuff. I like zzzquil. I've been known to wake up in this manner even after I took a double dose though heh. I don't think the sleep issues are ruining my chances at making life better or anything. But I wonder if it's a component to a bigger problem. I tried to talk to a couple therapists but I find that I can get the same help from telling myself the same things in a mirror. I find more thorough advice on sites like this one lol.

The professionals just give less advice and enjoy taking my money. Maybe I just haven't found a good one yet, but I hate to be burned out on professional help by going through countless bad ones before I find a good one. I could use a good one lol. Any 'ah ha' moments I've ever had recently about myself and my feelings have totally been of my own doing. I would honestly give them credit if they had anything to do with it lol. But I honestly can't.

I also have a bad memory which has gotten worse since the stress I think. If I forget appointments they charge me full price anyway and I see that as preying on a symptom of a condition they're supposed to care about fixing. I just have a bitter taste in my mouth about psychologists/psychiatrists.

I don't blame you for your lack of faith in therapists. I've had the good, the bad, and the outright insane. I like Zzzquil too, though it doesn't seem to help me stay asleep. I do also stay away from the prescription medications. Like you said, if you can find the root of the cause, the panic attacks/dreams may subside. While it can be frustrating and very sad to suffer through something like that, I find it utterly poetic that we as humans can push something down so far that our body appears to react on its own. Hang in there, Pinocchio. Do you know what these dreams are about that you keep waking up from? While I'm a little weary of dream interpretation, I tend to think our minds keep working while we're asleep, so maybe there is something you're pushing away in your waking mind that your subconscious won't fight.