Nightmares, Temporary Psychosis or Insanity

mkoscik

I have Vascular Dementia and was diansed 4 years ago. I would say my Dementia is mild to middlin. I have nightmares every night. Sometimes I wake up and feel as if I have lost my mind, or have temporary psychosis ( insanity). I am confused beyond anything I experience while awake. I cannot function at all. I feel as if lightning bolts are going off in my head. I usually try to put on calming Christian music on my phone. It takes anywhere from an hour to 4 hours to gradually bring back sanity. Sometimes pieces of the feeling stay with me throughout the day. I have started counseling with an experienced elder, Dementia, trauma counselor. I always feel as if one day I will wake up and I will stay like that forever. Very frightening. I don't know if others experience this, but would like to hear others experience. Thanks.

David1946

I have Louy body dementia I have what my wife calls "night terrors" some times I wake up screaming not knowing where I am and not recognizing my wife other times I feel like the walls are closing in on me. So far I have only wandered once. Since then my wife has installed alarms around the house to try to keep me from wandering. I also get confused as to where I am what I am md doing; I am so lucky to have a wife that loves me so much and she knows how to calm me down when I am acting out.

mkoscik

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/204508#Comment_204508

Thank you that is very helpful. I also wake up screaming as well. My wife is also my caregiver and makes all the difference in being able to go through this illness!

David1946

It must feel better to know that you are you are not alone.

Iris L.

Welcome mkoscik. Ask your doctor if you could have dementia with Lewy Bodies. Also, it may help you to avoid watching disturbing television shows, such as the news and crime dramas. Those images can remain in your mind.

Iris

mkoscik

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/204517#Comment_204517

Iris, thank you. I will ask the doctor, great suggestion as I have thought from time to time about Lewys Body Dementia and the similarity in my symptoms. Also, stopping watching the disturbing television shows is a great idea! It is very comforting to know others have experienced what I have and are willing to share.

David1946

It will be hard not to watch some of my favorite shows but my wife also suggests that I give them up or watch them in the morning. She thinks maybe the shows are causing my nightmares if I watch them before going to bed.

lost1

wow - my exotics similar though rather then lightning bolts it feels like electricity running through my brain. I commiserate with you

mkoscik

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/204702#Comment_204702

Yes, electricity is a very good description, thanks.

Iris L.

David, perhaps a different sort of show will be just as entertaining?

Iris

Iris L.

I had a vivid dream early this morning. I dreamed about trees catching on fire and burning a big house that had young people jumping out of it. Last night, I was talking with a friend from another state who mentioned fires in California. I think that brief mention was what made me have that dream. For this reason, I usually avoid all images and talk about anything that might be disturbing to me. Usually this means children or animals in peril. I usually don't have a problem with dreaming of fires until this morning. Now I have to reverse this with pleasant images.

Iris

David1946

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/204702#Comment_204702

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/204782#Comment_204782

It sounds like that we are a lot alike.

Right now my favorite show is Elsbeth (I call her a female Colombo) it's a detective /comedy.

Iris L.

I saw the ads for Elsbeth but I have not seen it. I only watch three comedies on TV, otherwise no TV

Iris.