Posted by yxibow on February 20, 2007, at 20:34:36
In reply to Sleeping meds and disturbing dreams., posted by halcyondaze on February 19, 2007, at 14:40:23
Increased lucid dreaming is always a possiblity with enhancement of ordinary dream cycles with sleep aids. I take a fair amount of Valium, far more than most people, because it is one of only two main modulators that help me keep some sense of sanity (not that I'm psychotic) from my visual Somatiform condition and there are studies of Valium that indicate its use in psychotic and other disorders so its not completely out there. I also take Ambien and Rozerem.
I use sleep as a tool sometimes to relieve anxiety and return to a better place (its random) than I was when I hid my face under the pillow because of fatigue and pain in the evening from my Somatiform condition.Invariably, I will fall asleep instead of just doing relaxation therapy and I wake up in a lucid state, a hypnagogic hallucination that I have some sort of special powers or I have to do something and then I realize that I am awake. I'm sure this has to do with my psychotropic soup.
Fortunately they're not frightening, although I on occasion have the wake up and freeze problem. Fighting it just makes it worse, eventually although an eternity seems to pass, the body's natural shutdown system comes back to the present. The human body naturally paralyzes itself to some extent during sleep to prevent excessive tossing, although I am somewhat of a tosser anyhow. That's what causes that phenomenon upon waking at times.
Halcion has been known for some odd reactions though that has been overblown, but you may be getting something off of it. Ambien in some people even causes sleepwalking though that's fairly rare.
I hate to say it, but if you're getting good sleep, that's the most important thing. I don't get the best quality of sleep, perhaps from sleep apnea due to weight, perhaps thats been the way for years (not the weight but the sleep apnea).
Dreams can be disturbing and yet revealing at the same time. There are lots of myths and urban legends surrounding them, superstitions, etc. Like the classic if you die in your dream.... etc.
Some people, especially a former significant I had, are able to channel their lucid dreaming. I sometimes can change the plot, but that's beyond the scope of my knowledge as to how that really works. Maybe finding a good book about sleep would help.-- tidings
Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:734169
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20070219/msgs/734613.html