Awake Physically active Nightmares

over the last year ive been having nightmares where i act out violently. I dont remember the dreams but i just find myself in the middle of the night terrified and either kicking, running or punching and always yelling very loudly. i usually wake up half way through the physical action of either running or kicking whilst out of my bed and within a few seconds i realize what im doing and stop the flailing and go back to bed. One time my mother found me in the corner of my room screaming and hitting the walls with my eyes wide open but i wasnt awake at the time. Other times i swear i could see someone in my room as i kick or punch towards them before i come to realization that it is a nightmare.

Is this something to be concerned about? im 19 years old just finishing 2nd year of university.

Yes yes I'd say it's something to be concerned about. I'm no doctor but I had similar symptoms although not as intensely before I started getting psychiatric problems...for me it was repressed anger and stuff over someone bullying me as a child...

I cant say i am stressed out in anyway, i dont get stressed at all with school and dont have any family problems. And none of my family members have any type of psych disorders of any kind. As a child i did sleepwalk a few times where my parents would find me in different parts of the house such as staring at a blank TV. my most recent nightmare was a two nights ago after drinking with some friends i crashed at a friends house where i had a nightmare and i remember running full tilt and yelling, terrified by whatever. They happen on average 2 times a month

I heard sleep walking is pretty rare...I would see maybe a counsellor just incase to see what he/she says. I don't know about seeing a doctor because they might give you something like sleeping pills, etc...idk, it's VERY important to get restful sleep you know, if you're walking around it's not really sleep...I'm not doctor so I'll just shut up now.

I'm your age and have been experiencing similar, physical dreams as you've described here for almost two months now. It's normal if you're under a lot of stress, or are consciously stifling powerful emotions throughout the day, but if they come for no apparent reason, either it's chemical or hereditary. In my case it's hereditary, though topped with the persistent emotional distress I've been battling day to day, or otherwise stifling, it's made it worse.

I'm told it's no good to bottle up feelings, so I let them loose. This brought on my first experience with a panic attack, which came over me while home alone (needless to say, I was in terror). When I go back to stifling, my night terrors become more disturbing and constant. It's a two-edged sword.

My dreams aren't always violent, but they're recurring and vivid. I'm often walking through a dark forest, feeling brave and determined to reach the end, knowing someone I know is waiting for me. But after a while I feel aimless, as I suddenly realize that the person I was heading toward is gone; I could feel the warmth emanating from that direction disappear. The loss of this warmth makes me feel no longer brave, no longer whole. The forest spins and I don't know which way's back. I feel a huge sense of loss, and I'm brought down to my knees, feeling as if I'm suffocating, and the screams I scream in the dream are the ones that wake me up in reality.

There's sexual, physical and emotional abuse in the violent ones, which tend to wake me up with little cuts all over my arms, as I'm always digging my nails deep into my skin while helpless and tortured in my dreams. Those are the worst. I've had to trim my nails all the way back so I'd stop doing this to myself. Thankfully there's been a lull lately with my night terrors. I hope they don't come back for a while.

I have had similar situations since childhood and it has never gone away.Do you remember what is occuring in these situations,like what or who you are fighting or trying to get away from ?