Hi Jamie, big hug for you! Dreams can paralyze you in my opinion. They can be very frightening and hard to shake the memory of them. I've struggled with nightmares most of my life, so what I suggest is trying several different things until you find something that helps. I have journaled about my dreams. I have prayed. (has truly helped) Sometimes I watch tv and eat a bowl of cereal. LOL...It also has helped to talk about the dreams with those I trust. I wish you the best and hope you find some peace soon.

my came from war it was really hard for me to trust so didn't talk much it took a lot of counsling and ptsd groups with veterns. their is help out their talk about it is nothing to be ashame of. i will keep you in my prayers i haven't been around as the founder of this group bercause of poor health legally blind in right eye. so it is hard to writ and be read as i can't change front size like in journal. need to appoint more admistrators. please as help from any admistrator or me if they don't have the answer we should find someone to consult like doctors on this site i hope this helps.

This might sound crazy - but it's worked since I was a little kid. I tell my self several times - when I was little I counted on my fingers & toes & just repeated "I will not have bad dreams" before I went to sleep. I never have when I've done that.

I was also having some bad dreams related to my trauma that my therapist thought weren't helpful. He asked me if I could stop having them. I told my self I wouldn't have those dreams any more, and I haven't. I won't make any promises but it works for me.

I've also had repeated dreams through out my life of a man or an entity being in my room & I panic and can't move or scream or wake up - I'm totally paralyzed & aware that I'm dreaming, sometimes I can even see my room, like my eyes are open. I found out that this is actually a phenomenon that happens when you are at a certain level of sleep. I'd have to read up on it again, but it's absolutely horrifying. I've been trying to figure out the best thing to do when this happens. I try to relax until it's over & I wake up because fighting it makes it worse. Sorry - off topic and probably not helpful, but your dream sounds so much like these dreams I have occasionally.

The thought about the home invasion had traumatized you so much that it is in her subconscious mind. The dreams trigger off the fear of that time. Like Nonda said, when I have disturbing dreams, I would get up and do something to reset my mind until the fear is over.