I've had a few times in the past years (maybe three times, each lasting 2-4 nights in a row) but last night I had the worst ever. I love horror, even extreme horror, novels and movies (definitely not related, I have been the same since I was 7) and have a very vivid imagination but even so I cannot fathom how my brain can even come up with such extreme, horrific things. They make The Exorcist look like My Little Pony.

The last few times I have started experiencing REAL PAIN during these nightmares. Like genuine agony. Last night I had locked-in syndrome and was being medically tortured by a nurse/surgeon without anesthetic and I felt EVERYTHING. I even woke up screaming in agony (thankfully it passed within seconds of me waking up).

I feel like I'm in A Nightmare on Elm Street; I'm terrified to go to sleep. I know I can't stay awake forever. What can I do??