Strange new old age suckage discovered. For about the last year, my dreams (at least the ones I remember) are never pleasant. They are always of some sort of anxiety inducing situation. Anything from the relatively benign scenario of heading to a college final exam for a class I've not attended and did not study for, all the way to the almost nightmare of helping someone dispose of a body.
These dreams (and a full bladder) wake me up. What sucks is that the fight-or-flight adrenaline response from the anxiety keeps me awake for hours. I have found that a shot or two of whiskey takes the edge off so that I can eventually get back to sleep.