Switching at Night?

I've got this weird feeling that I'm switching into someone else in the evenings/night-time. Every morning when I wake up, it feels as though I was drinking the night before, even though I wasn't. I don't mean I'm hungover, I mean the things I did the previous evening seem hazy and there's this vague feeling like I've done something I'm going to regret (usually if I've posted on here). I'm quite often on this site in the evenings, and I'll know I've made posts and replies, but during the day I won't be able to remember exactly what they were about.

Also, for about the last year I've had terrible trouble sleeping. I've been waking up several times a night, sometimes lying awake for hours or having to get up and read or watch TV in order to go back to sleep. But for the last couple of weeks, although I've had a bit of trouble dropping off, it's as though I've been knocked out once I do get to sleep. I don't even wake up once in the night. It's so unusual for me. Plus, I've been dreaming someone else's dreams. I can usually remember my dreams pretty well, but recently they've been very hazy. But the ones I remember have a completely different feel from my usual dreams. They're in colour. And first person. I never dream in colour, and I'm always outside of myself in my dreams, ie. I can see myself in them. Also, twice in the last week I'm sure I've had someone else's nightmare. I've had these dreams and woken up terrified. Then it was like I woke up again, except I hadn't been back to sleep. I could still remember the dream, but I no longer felt any fear associated with it. So I suppose the second 'waking' was me switching back to 'me'? I don't know, does all this sound familiar to anyone? I've never knowingly experienced switching before so I don't know if this is what it is.

While I haven't experienced something like this, it does sound like switching to me. Personally, I tend to have switches more often at night, though I'm not asleep when I do, it's usually before bed. At night, things are darker, not as exposed, there's not as many people out, and I'm usually home alone, so I can see how some alters would feel more "safe" about coming out. Perhaps you could start writing notes and leaving them places, asking whoever might be out about why they're out, who they are, what they're doing, etc.? Maybe you could also start keeping a dream journal, just to help keep the pieces together. I hope things start to get calmer for you soon.

Thanks for replying. I've been writing down the nightmares because they're fascinating to me. I think a 'new' alter was in one of them, a vampire-child . The part who was dreaming about her was obviously terrified of her. I have no idea who she is.

I'm not keen to leave notes around because my husband doesn't know I even suspect DID, so it would take some explaining! I don't know if they're even doing anything apart from sleeping and dreaming. I mean, I can remember what I was doing before going to bed, although the details are fuzzy, so maybe they're only fully coming out when 'I' am asleep?

It's funny that you brought this up, OwlEyes.

I've had a lot of trouble with switching at night while I'm sleeping. I'd thought that we'd managed to get it under control but my dream last night makes me question it. It also makes me question whether or not I have another alter that I haven't yet met.

For me, oftentimes, I will remember bits and pieces if someone is out and about. For example, I have a memory of waking up at my computer and comprehending that "I" was reading the news. I don't always remember stuff. Occasionally I'll find my door unlocked in the morning and my keys moved.

Definitely do write your dreams down. I've been doing that for the while I've been seeing my T and it's been very, very helpful. Especially write things down if they're repeated in your dreams.

If last night's dream was a new alter than he is one...rebellious dude. If not then that was one of the single most vivid dreams I've ever experienced. I know when I got up this morning I felt like I didn't sleep at all, and it took me a while to figure that I needed to get ready for work and not school.

Good luck!

Thank you! Blimey, I'm glad I don't get up and wander around the house at night (as far as I know). I'm exhausted enough as it is! Had another 'someone else's' nightmare the night before last. There's definitely a lot of useful information in them, and because they are (I suspect) a child's dreams they're a bit easier to interpret than adult ones. Plus, they get to share all this scary stuff and I don't feel any of the fear. It's quite a good system, really.

Good luck with your possible new alter

I might be way off but this thread might be helpful for you http://www.psychforums.com/dissociative-identity/topic90686.html

As we wrote there, in case you're not up for reading the whole thread:

I both switch while I sleep, and while asleep.
E.g I both switch a lot in that someone takes over/wakes up and goes about doing their thing (usually Lin takes over and goes out to smoke a bit or injures by scratching, bruising et cetera). One alter (don't know who yet) rummages the apartment and throws out seemingly random objects.
But I also switch while we sleep - which shows both in the way we sleep and in our dreams. I sleep a certain way while another alter will sleep in a different position or cling to a bear et cetera. It shows in our dreams in that what they're about will be very different if Little falls asleep vs if Lianne falls asleep and when we switch during the night it will all of a sudden get violent or change theme or be from a different perspective et cetera.

Oh, and if Little (or any of the children) sleeps then Lianne will be awake inside and "watch out for" the body and be ready to switch into the body if something were to happen or to take care of nightmares or things that might come up.

As far as I can tell it's all pretty normal (from DID perspective anyhow) so you're not alone

- Nin

- Nin

I've had a lot of trouble with switching at night while I'm sleeping.

My littlest is the one that comes out the most when I am sleeping and keeps us up She hates the dark so I am not sure why she does this maybe because she is alone and feels safe when all is quiet and no one is up and about or even online

Tara (BT)

lifelongthing wrote:I might be way off but this thread might be helpful for you

Thank you, Nin, that was helpful. It's good to know I'm not the only one this happens to.