I've had times in dealing with my anxiety where I slept a ton just because it seemed like the only time I got any peace. I alsohave very lucid dreams. Just try and remember that this is temporary and you will feel better again you just have to get there. How long have you felt this way and do you take anything or go to therapy?

Good news! You are not going to lose you mind or suffocate. It does feel that way but isn't going to happen. It is anxiety. Take deep breaths when it happens to calm down. Tell yourself....this isn't real.

When I was really depressed the dreams were horrible. I would wake up in a full blown panic attack. I would be shaking and so scared. As I got better with the depression, the dreams got less and less. I sitll dream but they are not scary any more but still strange.

When I started therapy 3 months ago, the dreams came back. Not as bad as before but they were happening. I talked to my therapist about it. He asked me if the dreams were affecting my functioning each day. I told him no. He said then don't worry about it. I don't.
For you, it sounds like it is a problem. You may want to make an appt with a doctor and/or therapist if you aren't already doing that. Do you deal with depression?

I can lay down for just 2 to 4 minutes and be barely half asleep and will start dreaming. Its strange. I am so used to it now that its not a big deal. Could be the meds I'm on but what the meds do for me is worth tolerating the vivid dreaming whether it be just falling asleep or being completely asleep.

Lastly, something to think about. There was a dream that I had for a year. It wasn't ever the same dream but the topic was the same and it always scared me. Once I opened up about this topic and talked abou it, I haven't had that topic in my dreaming come up again. I found that very interesting.

Sorry you are feeling this way. Its very hard. I know. You are not alone.

I never did the excessive sleep thing, but, I was having dreams that were bad when I first was dealing with anxiety.

I did not relate it to anxiety, but actually to the side I was sleeping on, my right side seem to generate more dreams and while that was true, the dreams were more distinct in the negative than the positive.

The dreams have been better as of late as I have been dealing with anxiety, but, I still have dreams, just not as bad as they were, though they are still not perfect dreams.

slingshot, are you serious?? You were able to link it to which side you slept on. WOW! Now, when I have a dream I am going to pay attention to which side I was sleeping on out of curiousity. That is way interesting.

i know for me certain meds will make me have more lucid dreams...i hate that. also try not to eat or drink before bed. food makes it worse (for me)

I am sure its my meds too. My dreams were never this bad or so real until I started taking me meds. The worse thing is when you wake up and have to stop to figure out what is going, what day it is, what are you doing.

yep, some of the medicines and/or anti depressants i used caused me to have vivid dreams and talk outloud during sleep...it was not fun.. being off meds has been tough but i dont have those dream/nightmares any longer....