Nightmares like a horror movie

Does anyone else experience really graphic horror-movie scenario nightmares? I'm talking body horror, gore, just really disturbing images of death. I can't figure out why this happens to me or what these dreams mean. I often wake up in the middle of the night sweating. Sometimes in these dreams, it's complete strangers dying but having it visualized is horrifying in itself.

Some theories:

1. Is it medication related? Seroquel causes me to go into a deeper sleep, and I've noticed vivid dreams as a result.

2. Actual horror movies. I've watched A LOT of scary movies, but have really cut it down in the last year because they're starting to trigger me. Scary movies used to not bother me. I don't know what changed.

3. Subconscious fears. I've come to realize I'm really afraid of is getting into an accident and becoming horribly disfigured, then having my family see me that way. I also find beheading to be VERY disturbing.

What's wrong with me? How do I prevent this? Are there others who go through this too?

I have had nightmares before and each time I wake up uncomfortable, fearful and feeling alone.. I never remember what has happened or what caused them, I don’t know. But I try not to spend too much time thinking about them. Sometimes I feel real life situations bring me into nightmares so I think you are doing the right thing by searching for answers.

Sometimes I feel like I am living a nightmare but in my dreams I always find an escape or create a hero of myself. Even if that means walking around with a spaghetti strainer on my head with a blanket for a cape and clunky rain boots. Before I sleep at night I try to be sure my mind is in a relaxed state. And I remind myself of all the things in my life to be grateful for.

Growing up I was fearful of horror movies but more so the blood and gore of it rather than the action and potential for death and pain. Horror can be traumatizing but can also be viewed as artistic expression of reality and reality based theories.

Nothing is wrong with you. You are probably having trouble taming your imagination. Maybe cut the horror intake or explore fan-based sites that could give you more insight into what you are experiencing. Have you tried reading horror? I find horror writing to be a little more insightful than some gory films.

It's possible it could be related to medication you will need to ask your doctor. Spicy foods and cheese/dairy before bed can also trigger vivid dreams of this manner. These dreams are not uncommon and has happened to me many times. You wake up feeling really disturbed. Can you tell me some of your dreams if possible?

I've had many very awful, horrific nightmares, for sure, @VanillaGhostie - and I've been having these dreams long before I started taking medication, too, so, for me it's not necessarily med's related.

Yes, complete strangers dying very violent deaths. One time I dreamed I was in a monstrous concentration camp, I'll never forget that one. I won't go into the details but was so glad when I woke up from it. The mind can create a fantastic array of imagery.

I personally believe my nightmares are being influenced by anxiety, depression, and the whole sense of hopelessness that may come along with it. I mainly have them when I get particularly low, usually triggered by an external disturbance.

I have these too they can ruin entire weeks of my life from dwelling on them. They seem to intensify when I stop self medicating.

I have nightmares, but honestly rarely to this caliber. Although last night I imagined some old friend of mine lose like a whole set of teeth in a fight over me. It was much more gross than I'm explaining, just trust me...and I was so scared and feeling awful for this friend and his mom gave him a really jacked up new mouth...pretty disturbing but apparently he was going to be alright. (yeah sure) Still, I felt so much love for him for standing up for me...then I kinda woke up. I wasn't scared when I woke up, just like "wtf!" Yeah, and there's only one other real example I can think of, but it's more cringe and also like assumed (can't think of the word-inferred maybe?) violence rather than actually seeing it, for the most part. That may have been med related though...but I was also discussing a horror type film at the time as well (one that I still haven't seen because it seemed too disturbing to me at the time).

I had nightmare that look like a horror movie.

Sometimes I feel like I should ease up on the survival horror games I play. But that may be self-suggestive, I'm not quite certain.

Sometimes I jerk in my sleep or wake up so troubled I burst into tears. Then for the following five hours or so I have to convince myself that the awful dreams I've had, despite having been so vivid, aren't actually real.