Bedtime Story

[zyzyly]

I am so tired! I didn't sleep well last night, and had to be up early this morning. And now I'm tired but not sleepy, and have to be up early again tomorrow.

I guess I started screaming in my sleep last night. Not the usual screams--the ones where I'm dreaming and it's as if I have no volume to my voice--they're more like yelling. This scream had the characteristic of exquisite anguish, at least as I recall. Wailing like a banshee comes to mind.

Arlina woke me up. I couldn't remember what was causing me to scream, but it disturbed me. I laid there for a while thinking about it--anything that would make me scream like that had to be bad. I eventually fell asleep imagining the worst possible scenarios. I'm surprised I didn't start screaming again.

Arlina worries that I'll start screaming one night and she won't be there to wake me. There is a filipino superstition--"Bangungot", or nightmare death syndrome. I guess every once in a while a filipino will start screaming in their sleep. If no one wakes them up, they die. The are generally found with a look of terror on their face, their hair turned completely white. When I awoke this morning, my hair had a big streak of grey! Ok, it's been there for a while.

One time when I was staying at Arlina's parent's house, her mom walked in to the room one morning and smacked me right in the middle of the forehead. Ouch!

Turns out she had a dream that I was drowning, and hit me to knock any residual water off my brain. At least that's what she told me.

Ok, now I feel sleepy. Good night!

Comments

[etroutski.livejournal.com]

I guess you have plenty of reasons to scream in your sleep.

You should ask Arlina's mom for another smack, sounds like there may still be some residual water sloshing around up there!

Beware the Bangungat.

-trout

[zhenzhi.livejournal.com]

hey, did you get an email from me today?

[fried-pearl.livejournal.com]

Maybe you are having night terrors as opposed to nightmares.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

I did, and would like to hear more, but will send you a reply by email later on--we are going to a retreat over the weekend, so I won't be able to respond properly until sunday.

I am so sorry to hear of your friend's diagnosis. I will keep (him/her?) in my thoughts and prayers.

peace,

Mike

[myasma.livejournal.com]

Oohhhh--what are night terrors?

Night terrors

[fried-pearl.livejournal.com]

http://www.nightterrors.org/ Sorry, I don't know how to do the links yet. This will explain better than I can. My stepmother had them. She would wake up screaming and feel terrorized, but have no memory whatsoever of what it was that made her afraid.

Hello!

[smilinpessimist.livejournal.com]

One time when I was staying at Arlina's parent's house, her mom walked in to the room one morning and smacked me right in the middle of the forehead. Ouch!

Turns out she had a dream that I was drowning, and hit me to knock any residual water off my brain. At least that's what she told me.

My laugh for the day.
It just struck me as so funny!
Sounds like something my MIL would do!;-)

Anyway, I'd love to add you to my list.
My journal is pretty much daily stuff.
I found you through the fortysomething friend's page.:-)

Re: Hello!

[myasma.livejournal.com]

You are welcome to add me-- I will add you back!