Constant Nightmares...Help!!!!?!
Question: I have been suffering from constant nightmares from the age of 5. Every morning remember at least one nightmare - Im exhausted most of the time and certainly don't look forward to sleeping. I have tried meditation and yoga, but still have the nightmares. I have tried wearing myself out with strenuous physical effort throughout the day to no avail. I don't eat a few hours before I sleep and live alone. The only respite I seem to have from nightmares are when I take sleeping pills (very rarely). Does anyone have ANY suggestions - any meds ( benzos, SSS1 etc ) that you have taken that seem to dissapate nightmares?
Answers: I have been suffering from constant nightmares from the age of 5. Every morning remember at least one nightmare - Im exhausted most of the time and certainly don't look forward to sleeping. I have tried meditation and yoga, but still have the nightmares. I have tried wearing myself out with strenuous physical effort throughout the day to no avail. I don't eat a few hours before I sleep and live alone. The only respite I seem to have from nightmares are when I take sleeping pills (very rarely). Does anyone have ANY suggestions - any meds ( benzos, SSS1 etc ) that you have taken that seem to dissapate nightmares?
I think you need to visit a sleep therapist with a brain scan thingy hooked up that monitors your activities while you sleep. It will be able to pin point what is happening during your sleep and correct the bad habbits.
An alternative is to visit a hypnotist. A good hypnotist can help you counter your fears without medication.
You have to visit not psychologist, but psychiatrist. This doesn't mean that you're crazy.
try to think somethng nice or hear soft music
Just a thought...have you tried putting on some very soft soothing music during the night? Maybe harp music might be nice.
Also, is your bed comfortable? Something as simple as a wrinkle in your sheets can bring on some terrible dream.
Dreams are VERY important to our health! Having the dreams is not a problem; instead, these dreams are probably helping you alot. It's just too bad you wake up and remember them!
Good luck!
I have the same problem. Here's what I'd do. Start a dream journal. This will help with recall. As you become better at journalling, you will begin to realize when you are dreaming. When you become self aware in a dream, realizing that it IS a dream, that is lucidity. Lucid dreaming is a little tricky at first, but you can steer the dream in a different direction, stop it, or wake up. The more you practice, the better you'll get.
This isn't to say I never have nightmares; I do. But not as many as I used to. I really do wish you luck. This is no fun.
Are you under stress from work? If you can figure out a way to reduce that, that might fix your nightmare problems right there.
Do you eat a lot of sugar? Try cutting back on that. I seem to remember hearing about a study connecting that with nightmares, and I know I become an emotional basket case if I get too much- especially when I don't get enough rest or good food.
I normally don't suggest this- But if you have the time, you might even consider getting a cat. I've had a few with a remarkable talent for helping me fight down nightmares.
Good luck!