How bad does it have to get before one needs to see a psychiatrist?

[kibbitz]

Been busy with course material, and I just noticed all this, so let's see...

chakken98,
Well, I'm thankful that my nightmares come only every now and then. My nightmares generally involve me in some sort of miserable situation and I am not able to distinguish it from real life until I wake up from it, so it may reflect some insecurity or inner fear I may be having about something at that time. I guess it may be a good idea to keep a log of these in future... The thing I find odd is that I'm not aware of anything (at least when I remembered that nightmare) that remotely ties into that, unlike a few cases in the past where I can see a connection somewhere.

Olgar,
Well, I feel like banging my head on the wall, haven't gotten to doing it yet It has been incredibly horrifying at times though...

Torm,
Well, I'm not sure. I think it's the former specific to the "rough time in my life" bit. I'm not sure how I'd tell if it's the latter at all...

GlassJaw,
I think so too, but I did give myself to calm down and relax, and I've not been troubled by it again. I guess it's just a random occurence.

Ostlander,
I've heard of Dr Phil, but I've not heard or seen him

My place of employment doesn't really offer this, so it's going to be out of my own pocket, and I doubt I can really afford a visit.

As to the questions you've posted,
1. Some, sleep patterns have been screwy somewhat recently since I had to wake up quite a bit earlier to attend a recent course and have not been able to adjust well enough.
2. Not really, but have been mostly ill for the last two months and lagging behind work (partly due to sheer load, partly due to illness).
3. Don't think so...
4. Migraines for some time during the times I was ill... okay now, I think...

Thanks for sharing, I had something along those lines too but no nightmares then, just horribly low mood and motivation...

Simplicity,
Well, do you mean recurring in the sense that I get the same ones again and again or recurring as in I get them now and then? For me, they're fairly rare but when they do come, it's horribly intense and I am not able to sleep for a while after I wake. Most of the time, I just idle online after that to find something to take my mind of it.

Your tricks sound interesting, but I'm not sure how I'm supposed to roll over while sleeping I occasionally run a fictional scenario in my head when I go to bed. I then fall asleep after a while. I think my nightmares usually happen when I just go straight to sleep. Heard about lucid dreaming, but never been able to put it into effect.

 

[Piratecat]

Here's a thought. Quite a few workplaces have a workplace counseling service that they contract for. It's almost always free and totally confidential, and helps with everything from recommending a counselor (or giving free counseling), to helping with elder or child care, to giving financial advice. If yours offers something similar, take advantage of it! A chat with a counselor may be all you need.

 

[DaveyJones]

Here's a thought. Quite a few workplaces have a workplace counseling service that they contract for. It's almost always free and totally confidential, and helps with everything from recommending a counselor (or giving free counseling), to helping with elder or child care, to giving financial advice. If yours offers something similar, take advantage of it! A chat with a counselor may be all you need.

quoted for truth.

 

[chakken98]

chakken98,
Well, I'm thankful that my nightmares come only every now and then. My nightmares generally involve me in some sort of miserable situation and I am not able to distinguish it from real life until I wake up from it, so it may reflect some insecurity or inner fear I may be having about something at that time. I guess it may be a good idea to keep a log of these in future... The thing I find odd is that I'm not aware of anything (at least when I remembered that nightmare) that remotely ties into that, unlike a few cases in the past where I can see a connection somewhere.

In my time most of my NM don't tie into anything in my life, it’s mainly the realism with them. but I’d say do the log and they most likely will dissipate or at least make a good short story or something.

 

[Ostlander]

There's the whole "mystical" aspect of this too to consider if it is something the individual is willing to do.

During sleep our brains are in what's supposed to be downtime and are thus open to communiques (Western medicine blames the subcon). Perhaps you are being pointed to a certain course of action or that there is a problem that needs to be addressed that your waking self has conveniently tucked away.

It could be mundane or life altering, but either way it may be something that demands resolution or at the least further exploration to settle the issue.

This is stupid and I hate to admit it but, when I have "Star Wars" dreams something major in my life always follows...Different dreamscapes, but same "setting" and the same characters.

I've learned to at the least prepare for what may come and to do so with objectivity and patience, rather than dread.

 

[Simplicity]

Simplicity,
Well, do you mean recurring in the sense that I get the same ones again and again or recurring as in I get them now and then? For me, they're fairly rare but when they do come, it's horribly intense and I am not able to sleep for a while after I wake. Most of the time, I just idle online after that to find something to take my mind of it.

Your tricks sound interesting, but I'm not sure how I'm supposed to roll over while sleeping I occasionally run a fictional scenario in my head when I go to bed. I then fall asleep after a while. I think my nightmares usually happen when I just go straight to sleep. Heard about lucid dreaming, but never been able to put it into effect.

I really just meant recurring as in chronic. Happens enough to annoy you.

As for the rolling over trick, it depends on how heavy/light of a sleeper you are. When you're fully asleep, your body is typically paralyzed to prevent you from damaging yourself in your sleep. But if you're a light sleeper, you will occasionally rouse out of that sleep a few times a night.

The rolling over thing helps a lot just after you've woken up from a bad dream. Sometimes it's impossible to go back to sleep because you find yourself getting pulled back into the same narrative. Just be sure you're sleeping on your other side, and it should help with that.

Coming up with the story beforehand should help too.