OCD and recurring dreams

[EricS]

Hello everyone!

For many years I have been struggling with OCD and but most of the time it was pretty mild but then recently it got worse. I started getting bad anxiety about the way I breathe and that made it worst. Just recently I started getting these recurring dreams if that's what they are called. I would fall asleep and keep waking up and get these looping images every time I fall asleep. Then one night I had this very weird dream. I would keep falling back to sleep to this image of a dark area like it was on repeat and while this was happening I was feeling this very emotional feeling inside kinda hard to describe. I wasn't scared in the dream just was something different that I have never felt before. I should also mention that lately I have had intrusive thoughts constantly. It all started with the focus on my breathing and then that following night I had a weird dream that made this all come about. Any ideas what would cause these dark looping images in dreams? Do others get these kinda dreams?

 

[Radrook]

About the breathing, do you suffer from asthma or severe nasal congestion? Such difficulties can make one focus on the way one breathes. For example my breathing is noisy because of nasal congestion and a bit labored because I have trouble getting air in though the nostrils. So worry about how it sounds to other people or even how I look while struggling to breathe.

About the dreams, perhaps you need to talk to a physician and see if it might be a neurotransmitter imbalance. I had the same dream problem symptoms and when I took Zoloft they went away.

 

[EricS]

Thanks for the reply!

No I don't have asthma or nasal congestion. I have been like this for a while now where I would always focus and worry I am not breathing or not breathing right and it makes my anxiety worst.

As for the dreams, I have just went on anti-depressants and started taking some ativan about a month ago. I was not getting much sleep lately and I was barely eating and I was just full of anxiety. I'm wondering if all that can attribute the weird dreams. I have been really stressing out lately as I was reading that dreams come from evil spirits and that thoughts can be put in your head and that messed with my OCD.

 

[Radrook]

Thanks for the reply!

No I don't have asthma or nasal congestion. I have been like this for a while now where I would always focus and worry I am not breathing or not breathing right and it make my anxiety worst.

As for the dreams, I have just went on anti-depressants and started taking some ativan about a month ago. I was not getting much sleep lately and I was barely eating and I was just full of anxiety. I'm wondering if all that can attribute the weird dreams. I have been really stressing out lately as I was reading that dreams come from evil spirits and that thoughts can be put in your head and that messed with my OCD.

Well, just to reduce the evil spirit possibility it would be wise to go to God in prayer, study the Bible regularly, and attend Church services. OCD can be caused by neurotransmitter imbalances in the brain. Zoloft tends to restore that balance.

 

[EricS]

You're right I do need more of God in my life. I know I haven't been the most faithful person lately and I feel as though I have made God angry with me. I keep worrying if he still loves me or not.

I was just curious though what you think of the dreams. I mean do they really mean anything? Can having bad dreams of hell or alike mean that will go to hell? Can evil spirits cause dreams and then it sends you to hell? My OCD is really going crazy with all this right now. I am literally in tears.

 

[Radrook]

You're right I do need more of God in my life. I know I haven't been the most faithful person lately and I feel as though I have made God angry with me. I keep worrying if he still loves me or not.

I was just curious though what you think of the dreams. I mean do they really mean anything? Can having bad dreams of hell or alike mean that will go to hell? Can evil spirits cause dreams and then it sends you to hell? My OCD is really going crazy with all this right now. I am literally in tears.

God doesn't send anyone to be tortured forever. That is a false doctrine.

Merciful Truth : The Origin of Hell


The consequences of sin is death but that can be avoided by having faith in Jesus 'Ransom sacrifice.

John 17: 3
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

He died so that we don't have to worry about God being angry with us because of our sins since he paid for them. What is expected is that we try our best and if we fall short we can ask God for forgiveness via prayer and be forgiven. So there is really no reason for the constant worrying.

 

[EricS]

Thank you, that makes me feel a bit better.

I have been going through a rough time and this OCD is killing me. I keep wondering if these recurring dreams or looping images mean anything and it's stressing me out. I just wish I knew if it all came from my own mind and that it wasn't planted there. I know with OCD you can have some pretty weird intrusive thoughts like I have been having for many years now. I think the anxiety that I have been having lately just made it all worst. My main problem is that I over think things way too much.

 

[ImAllLikeOkWaitWat]

Ocd thought content in general doesn't mean anything. I know your pain though having dealt with ocd for about a 10-12 year period during my teens and early adulthood. The anxiety can be unbearable the images or thoughts just repulsive. Fortunately mine would be classified as in remission which it has been for a year or two and that is due to finding the right medication combo but also an increase in my personal relationship with the G O D. Just know that the hell you are going through now is temporary and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Use all your energy and focus to grasp on to that hope. You can be healed but its going to take the right medication and a spiritual aspect as well. Even if thats just meditating. Also watch your diet. If you eat a lot of sugar then that is going to make anxiety worse. Definitely try to get in some fresh air and exercise when possible but diet medication and spiritual component are the big three.

 

[EricS]

Thank you for your reply!

That's the problem with OCD, it keeps making you focus on the worst thoughts when all you are trying to do is think good thoughts. I have had it for about close to 10 years now I think but with ups and downs. I know what you mean about the anxiety being unbearable and the thoughts are just horrible. Just hoping to be normal again and enjoy life. I see what you mean about the diet. I have been eating a lot of sugary things lately probably cause I'm feeling depressed and eating helps temporarily. Also the exercise it is definitely important, just haven't been doing as much lately cause it's so cold now so hoping for some warmer days soon. I'm just wondering why this all came back all of a sudden. I'm guessing anxiety and too much time to think?