For the last 17-18 years, I have have suffered on and off from dreams that are so real that I have woken my wife and children to get them out of harm's way. These dreams that often come during times of stress or anxiety, usually are centered around snakes, bugs and the occasional "monster"

During these dreams, my surroundings are the same as in my waking life - lighting conditions, time, etc. I know that I am awake and in danger. Early in my marriage this was almost a dealbreaker- as i oftentimes would wake my wife up saying "get out of bed slowly, so the snake hanging right above you does not attack."

Now, I will many times really "wake-up" during the episode but will keep the "action" going" because I do not want to admit that none of it real- not one giant cockroach, not one snake or the swarm of ants crawling on the bed.

When one of our daughters was still sleeping with us, I woke both of them up saying, "Don't move. There is an octopus, right by your feet." It's a little humbling to have a 4-year old tell you that "octupusses live in the ocean" at 3 a.m.

Anyway, I am looking for any insight from anyone on this type of occurrence.