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Anyone wake feeling exhausted after seemingly dreaming all night?

Posted by mazeppabob @mazeppabob, Jul 26, 2022

I never wake refreshed/rested. It has been like this for as long as I can remember and I am 77 now,
My sleep medicine DR called it EPIC dreaming. A rare disorder with no known cause or treatment. His only suggestion was to prescribe Modafinil (a stimulant) taken in the morning to perk me up.
I have tried CPAP and other meds to no avail.
I wonder if this is really that rare.

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linusrox1 | @linusrox1 | Sep 26 1:37am

Please everyone, try getting some more exercise early in the day if possible and see if it helps.. Just found. online that there are known links between exercise and reduction of this nonREM sleep in favor of deep wave )or whatever it's called. Just Google vivid dreams and swimming. Just try to make sure it's earlier in the day if possible.
I had a little bug plus pulled a back muscle so I was in basically in bed or about 4 days and I had to take different OTC and Rx meds to ease into sleep at th right time. So it could have been these or the lack of sleep-debt from inactivity, or most likely a combo of both. But yikes it is awful! So, I did an hour of the pool today. Wish me luck!

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linusrox1 | @linusrox1 | Sep 26 1:40am
In reply to @wgatap21 "I am 76 and baffled at my dreaming every night. Not that it’s vivid or epic..." + (show)
Profile picture for Barco@2194 @wgatap21

I am 76 and baffled at my dreaming every night. Not that it’s vivid or epic dreaming anxious, but I know it has some effect on my sleep. It seems too much. I haven’t found a remedy yet. Most doctors are lost. Good luck.

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@wgatap21 yes, mine just feel as if my brain has been busy all night and has had no rest.
I am 67 and have had a reduction in exercise due to various Old Age things - so the dreams are more troublesome. I just read that people have had success with swimming or other physical exercise in the first half of the day - at least with PTSD related dreams.

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linusrox1 | @linusrox1 | Sep 26 1:42am
In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @mazeppabob, I dream a lot myself and do have some days that I seem more..." + (show)
Profile picture for John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop

Hi @mazeppabob, I dream a lot myself and do have some days that I seem more tired. I had never heard of the diagnosis EPIC dreaming and just had to research it a little.
***Edited 9/26/2026 to remove bad link and resource***
"Hyperonirism, or “epic dreaming,” is an emerging clinical phenomenon characterized by excessive, vivid, and continuous dream activity associated with non-restorative sleep and daytime fatigue. Despite historical descriptions, it remains poorly defined and unrecognized by current nosological systems."
-- Dream tyranny: Hyperonirism diagnostic criteria: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013700626000710

I also found this article on things that may help the dreaming -- 5 Ways to Soothe Those Strange, Vivid Dreams You’re Having: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/5-ways-to-soothe-those-strange-vivid-dreams-youre-having

Do you think it could be stress or anxiety related?

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@johnbishop BTW, the first link, the European one - it did that thing that made it look spammy when I clicked. I Googled it and yeah it is sketchy in some ways, so maybe .... remove it? Darn tho I would love to see that article!

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Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Sep 26 7:06am
In reply to @linusrox1 "@johnbishop BTW, the first link, the European one - it did that thing that made it..." + (show)
Profile picture for linusrox1 @linusrox1

@johnbishop BTW, the first link, the European one - it did that thing that made it look spammy when I clicked. I Googled it and yeah it is sketchy in some ways, so maybe .... remove it? Darn tho I would love to see that article!

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@linusrox1, Thanks for flagging this. I'm also tagging @mazeppabob who started the discussion since it was a response to his discussion. I could still get to the article but tried the link on two different browsers and both acted a little different in the "are you a human" checking before allowing you to go to the European site/article. I found a newer reference that I think is a better one.

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aforadham | @aforadham | 4 days ago

Hey pals, any new updates on excessive dreaming?

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