Hi All,

I'm new to this site but it looks as though there are some "serious dreamers" here who might be able to help.

I've experienced "vivid" dreams all of my life. These dreams are disturbing, sometimes random sometimes re-occurring. For the past 10 years or so, I've experienced what I think is "Lucid Dreaming".

I know (usually just before I fall asleep) if I'm going to have one of these dreams. It starts off with blackness and a loud "screaming" in my ear. Last night it was so bad, it actually hurt my ears (in reality). I can't control these dreams in the way I've heard people talking about and it frightens me that I can't. I tell myself to wake up, I try to open my eyes, but I'm paralysed. Last night I tried to hurt my son to make him cry so that the sound would wake me up. I tried to phone my husband who is working away at the moment so that he could wake me up (Not in reality, my son came to no harm).

I have a history of sleep-walking and these dreams are becoming worse and worse. I'm scared that one day, the paralysis won't be there and I'll hurt somebody or something (maybe the dog). At the same time, the paralysis stops me from waking up and getting out of the dream.

I've made an appointment at the doctor, but I'm really not sure what he can do to stop it and I'm scared he'll think I'm mad.

This is really frightening me. I've lived with intense dreaming for as long as I can remember and lucid dreams for 10 years or so but I've had about as much as I can take. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Katie.