Sleep Punching
 

My husband is in early recovery (a few weeks sober) from many year alcohol abuse. About once every week, he has a nightmare where someone or he is being hurt, and he can't move to help. He feels paralyzed. He struggles and struggles in the dream, until eventually he is able to move in the dream, AND in real life. I have been jolted awake now by kicks, flailing arms, an arm thrown over my upper body and punches to my pillow. This morning's arm swipe was inches from my face. He is totally asleep during these episodes. When he does move, it wakes him up and is very upset to learn that he scared me.

Has anyone else experienced this? What helped? What didn't?