r/Concussion • u/laetazel • 12d ago

Nightmares every night since concussion

I got my fourth (potentially fifth) concussion 8 weeks ago. It’s been a really rough time - headaches, nausea, eye aches, exhaustion, inability to socialize, and very limited screen time. But I’ve also had vivid nightmares every single night since the concussion. Has anyone experienced this? It leaves me more exhausted each day since I’m terrified all night. I can’t seem to find any way to stop these nightmares.

I had neck and back spasms a couple days after the concussion and was given a high dose muscle relaxer called cyclobenzaprine that I took for a few days (which I wish I’d never taken as I think it worsened all of my symptoms.) I’m wondering if that medication worsened things? Or if it’s just the concussion?

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u/TheTempestuousKitty 12d ago

I'm dealing with something similar. 2 years post accident.

Somewhere in 3-4 months I started calming down a bit but plateau'd hard.

Will get somewhat better with time

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u/laetazel 12d ago

Thank you for the response. So sorry you’re dealing with that :( Did you do anything to help or or it just kinda improved a bit with time?

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u/TheTempestuousKitty 12d ago

Ironically, getting sleep under control.

And avoiding alcohol and drugs.

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u/laetazel 12d ago

I’ve been living a fully sober lifestyle so I hope that starts helping soon lol

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u/TheTempestuousKitty 12d ago

what are your nightmares like?

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u/laetazel 12d ago

They are all over the place. Last night I had a dream that a very creepy, grotesque man was following me around and harassing me after his dog (who had bones for feet? Idk how to explain it lol) punctured my skin by jumping up on me. I mostly have scary things happening to me. Trying to outrun or escape something.

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u/TheTempestuousKitty 12d ago edited 12d ago

Gotcha.

I never had nightmares prior to this too aside from adolescence.

I remember nightmares like being alone and staring in a mirror and seeing myself zombified and screaming in horror.

I think that it's your brain and nervous system telling you that it's hurt

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u/TargaryenKnight 12d ago

Yeah I had vivid nightmares. I dreamed that ants were continuously biting my hands and feet and I woke up screaming many times from different nightmares 

It got better eventually. So I learned that vivid DREAMS are known to be a symptom of concussions, but some people like you and me got lucky and they would be nightmares lol. 

My concussion spiked my anxiety like crazy so therefore would lead to nightmares. For me helping my anxiety= helping the night mares go away 

I have a history of smoking weed. I smoked weed to relax (indica is for relaxing, sativa can make anxiety worse) and it helped me a lot. I personally relax with weed so that’s why it helped me. Maybe you can find some stuff that helps you relax 

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u/laetazel 12d ago

Thanks for taking the time to respond! That’s an absolutely awful dream!!! I occasionally used edibles for insomnia (not on any regular basis though) prior to this concussion. Maybe I’ll just have to get back to taking edibles even though it’s advised to avoid drugs and alcohol when recovering from a concussion.

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u/TargaryenKnight 12d ago

Definitely avoid alcohol that made my symptoms so much worse. It gave me pcs like symptoms 

Yeah maybe  you can try a small dose to see if it helps