Horrible nightmares are ruining my life

DEAR DEIDRE: HORRIBLE nightmares wake me up almost every night, and I’m at the end of my tether.

The lack of sleep makes me feel ill and exhausted, and I can’t focus on my work. 

My wife has had to move into the spare room as otherwise she can’t sleep either, so this is really affecting our relationship.

I’m a 49-year-old man. My wife is 48.

Although I don’t always remember the nightmares, I wake up from them in a cold sweat, with my heart pounding. 

My doctor says there’s nothing wrong with me, other than sleep deprivation.

He has given me sleeping tablets but they don’t stop the nightmares, and just make me woozy the next morning. 

Since this began, I’ve put on weight, had problems with my memory and felt too lethargic to exercise. I also get colds and infections all the time. 

I often feel I can’t carry on like this and wonder if I should end it all. Please help.

DEIDRE SAYS: Your nightmares sound so distressing and debilitating. 

If they are affecting you so much that you sometimes feel suicidal, it is important that you see your doctor again – or another GP – and ask to be referred to a specialist. 

Frequent nightmares can be linked to certain health conditions, so it is important your issue is taken seriously. A sleep clinic may be able to help.

In the meantime, if you ever feel you can’t go on, please call The Samaritans (samaritans.org, tel: 116 123).