A strange, slightly scary dream, (I couldn't move my arms!)

grahamg

grahamg

Old codger
Location
South of Manchester, UK
Often when someone has a bad dream of some kind the question is asked whether there is anything bothering you, (and in my case at the moment a legal matter I won't/can't go into is concerning me due to progress being halted again, and some issues remain unresolved).

However, a simpler explanation could be I ate something that caused my dream, (they say cheese before you go to bed can have an effect, or in my case last evening a prawn curry perhaps!).

Anyway, back to this strange/weird dream, (one I can't really remember having before, though I may have?). It involved, as stated in the thread title, my feeling I couldn't move my arms as I wanted to.

The first time, as yes it happened twice last night, I felt I was being held by someone behind me, preventing me moving as I wished, though when I awoke, as I was only half asleep if you know what I mean, my own hands were sort of interlocked at the thumbs, each preventing the other moving it felt like, or I realised.

The second dream concerned my attempting to turn off a light switch in a hurry, and I found I couldn't do so, again I was half awake etc.

In the past, twenty years ago, I had a couple of books, each supposing to explain our dreams, though I can't remember anything useful from them now, but I do suspect my making some kind of successful job resolving those legal issues will help me sleep better, help my mood/level of annoyance generally, regardless of dreams, but I'll keep you posted! :)
 

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Never happened to me like that. I know that sometimes when there's something exciting going on in a dream, I act it out in real life as well, like running away from someone, I feel my legs moving in bed.
One time I had my arms around my ex wife while sleeping as usual and I don't know what she was dreaming but she suddenly grabbed my arm and twisted it so hard, I had to shout at her to wake her up or she would have broken it.
 
Nerve damage can do that. Is this purely a dream? Or have you had any vague symptoms that might cause this?
Relaxing more before falling asleep at night could help you. Watch something funny. Laughter, (and nutrition) are the best medicines.
 

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chic said:
Nerve damage can do that. Is this purely a dream? Or have you had any vague symptoms that might cause this?
Relaxing more before falling asleep at night could help you. Watch something funny. Laughter, (and nutrition) are the best medicines.
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Was that advice directed at me or the other forum member?

Quick update, I've had a good sleep this afternoon (with no nightmares or difficulty loving my arms etc.!).

I've also extraordinarily had a response from my lawyer on a Sunday, something that has never ever happened before in my long experience, (responding to a short email I sent a few hours previously, expecting to hear back on Monday morning). If the stress over this "legal nightmare" was causing the other ones, then doing something about the legal job can only have helped my state of mind, (but who really knows what goes on in your brainbox). :unsure:
 
Michael Z said:
I think I have I have dreamt that I could not move my arms. Then woke to one arm slept on and unable to move it for a while. A little scary!
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It does look as though maybe having a dream where you believe you can't move your arms, or waking up to find you couldn't do so is quite rare on the forum, as I'd have expected more responses otherwise.
It could be too, that most of the good folks on SF sleep very soundly in their beds, and very deservedly, don't have many nightmares! :)
 
had a few dreams i can only describe as "paralysis" dreams. waking up and unable to move anything but my head. had 2 rotties at the time and one was stretched out along either side of me on top of the covers.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Yup, it is "sleep paralyses". Everybody has it. The reason most don't know about is, well, you're asleep when it happens. It's a normal condition that prevents you from running around while you're sleeping.
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If you're not joking " great", thanks for the advice, if you are joking "great" and "thanks" you made me laugh out loud!!!! :)
 
I definitely recall having bad dreams, many times after I fell asleep after a big meal. For me, at least, bad dreams is often related to digestion problems.
 
As far as "sleep paralysis" goes? I have had bad insomnia and huge sleeping problems for many years. I get sleep paralysis often. So, often, that it doesn't even really bother me anymore.

I think it may be some level of oxygen deprivation...and that induces some kind of fear.

I think anyone with sleeping issues, really should get a sleep study done and be assessed for apnea. I have both severe apnea and severe asthma.
 
JonSR77 said:
I definitely recall having bad dreams, many times after I fell asleep after a big meal. For me, at least, bad dreams is often related to digestion problems.
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Went out for a meal at my old school last night, (a reunion for former pupils etc.). Slight indigestion has followed, but no nightmares or "sleep paralysis" thankfully! :)
 
grahamg said:
If you're not joking " great", thanks for the advice, if you are joking "great" and "thanks" you made me laugh out loud!!!! :)
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Nope, it's called "sleep paralyses". Everybody does it when you fall asleep. You are at your most vulnerable when you're asleep, you don't need to be thrashing around, calling unwanted attention to yourself. It's a normal defense mechanism. Sometimes sleeping and being awake gets fuzzy, and you feel the paralyses.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Nope, it's called "sleep paralyses". Everybody does it when you fall asleep. You are at your most vulnerable when you're asleep, you don't need to be thrashing around, calling unwanted attention to yourself. It's a normal defense mechanism. Sometimes sleeping and being awake gets fuzzy, and you feel the paralyses.
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My goodness, I'd no idea, so I can content myself I wasn't going completely off my rocker then, (or won't you go that far?)!! :)
 
No more bad dreams with rigid arms etc., to report, and a wonderful day today/yesterday in the Lake District, UK, watching a rugby union match at Kirby Lonsdale rugby club with very good company, (in truth excellent friendship shown towards us/me by the hosts, some of my fellow travelling companions being "boring old f**TS!).

My legal woes far from over, but with my mind rested there's a chance I can make the ordeal of last week less likely to re-occur! :)
 
JonSR77 said:
As far as "sleep paralysis" goes? I have had bad insomnia and huge sleeping problems for many years. I get sleep paralysis often. So, often, that it doesn't even really bother me anymore.

I think it may be some level of oxygen deprivation...and that induces some kind of fear.

I think anyone with sleeping issues, really should get a sleep study done and be assessed for apnea. I have both severe apnea and severe asthma.
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Good point! I have found that nightmares happened a lot more frequently before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, and started using a Cpap machine.
 
carouselsilver said:
Good point! I have found that nightmares happened a lot more frequently before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, and started using a Cpap machine.
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Are you trying to highjack this thread, "sleep apnea indeed"!, (you may just be right though, and it was all just a coincidence my arms seemed to freeze up when my lawyers were driving me nuts! :( ). :)
 

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