Nightmare where I can't breath

[Shelby934 20]

I just woke up from a nightmare where I couldn't breath because I was crying too hard. But it was like I couldn't take in any air at all. I woke up and I wasn't gasping for air or anything. It felt more like when your watching a movie where someone is drowing and it almost makes you feel like you can't breath. It just has me a bit scared because what if I stopped breathing in my sleep. 

I've had one nightmare like this before a couple months ago, so they don't happen often. 

 

[KathyC 88]

Oh how I know that feeling. Nightmare's really feel so real any dream does. Once you wake up you can breath but it still very bothersome and will stick in our minds. So sorry you had that nightmare I feel for you.. I am sure someone here will explain better but I just wanted you to know I understand how your feeling and a dream like that is very scary.

[lonesailor14 653]

Hi Shelby

I've had those dreams too! Not often, just every now and then. I don't think too much about it. It's just something that happens sometimes. 

I think it happens to lots of people. Just as dreaming about being at school or a party with no clothes on. Sometimes I have dreams where I wake up crying because whatever I dreamed about was sad or made me angry. But when I wake up fully I brush it off as "just a dream". I don't over analyse or even care to know the meaning or reason for the dream.

I think the feeling of not breathing comes from me holding my breath in my sleep. As you said, like watching a movie, I am living it out in sympathy or something. Then I wake myself up and take a deep breath. I'm not worried though. My body has been breathing without my conscious input for all of its life. It knows what it's doing. It will wake me up if it has to. 

I'd suggest not worrying too much about it. It happens to a lot of people. Not often, but sometimes. 

If it keeps recurring often and becomes a problem, skip Dr Google and go straight to a real doctor who can find the cause. 

In the meantime, try not to over think it ?

[Shelby934 20]

Thank you both. I have nightmates almost always, thankfully the dreams where I can't breath don't happen a lot. They are just more frightening than the others because it feels like it is actually happening.