We all experience nightmares. However, there are moments when it feels so vivid, realistic, and terrifying that you can’t wait to get out of bed.
We have dreams for a variety of causes. According to some interpretations, dreams represent the feelings we’ve felt throughout the day and could also be a sign of trauma. If you’ve been through a terrible situation, you’re likely to suffer nightmares shortly afterward. This could be our brain’s attempt to absorb and give meaning to the events that have unfolded.
Can’t wait to get rid of those dreams? Let’s look at some ways to overcome recurring nightmares.
Review drugs
Allergy medications, antidepressant drugs, and blood pressure pills are just a few of the many substances that might have a negative impact on your dreams. Medications that impact the hormones that control our emotions and attentiveness are known to cause unsettling nightmares as a side effect. As a result, it’s a good idea to reassess those drugs with your doctor.
Rewrite the storyline
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Every evening, imagine the horror but with a fresh, pleasant conclusion. You can almost train your thoughts to modify the nightmare this way. You may not succeed every time, but there’s still the possibility of it working if you imagine it shortly before heading to bed. Visualize the nightmare unfolding, but then conclude in a way that you’re pleased with can alter the occurrence after some time. Perhaps the ‘demon’ pursuing you will stop and flee in the opposite direction and never be seen again.
Cut down on alcohol
Because alcohol makes you lethargic and may cause you to fall asleep much easier, it may appear to be a tempting approach to calm the mind. Unfortunately, it interrupts your slumber, hindering you from accessing the mending and replenishing deep sleep phases.
In addition, alcohol reduces rapid eye movement (REM). Drinking excessively is the same as robbing yourself of REM sleep. This causes REM rebound, which means you will have greater chances for vivid nightmares the next time you tuck in for dreamland. Furthermore, for a person who drinks frequently, abstaining from alcohol even for a day causes more nightmares than the average person who drinks occasionally.
Even though everyone has recurring dreams at some point in their lives, some of us have them more frequently than others, particularly those who are already struggling with mental health difficulties. In some situations, though, you may experience frequent nightmares as a result of your emotional processing differing from that of others. Regardless, consider the suggestions above to assist you in overcoming recurring nightmares, and let’s be on our way to better shuteye from tonight.