The solution to recurrent nightmares.

Do you suffer from recurrent nightmares?

Many people suffer from nightmares during their sleep at night. Nightmares are vivid realistic thoughts, emotions and images that recur during sleep, in the REM phase, and cause the heart to start beating faster, increasing stress levels and often causing a person to wake up with a state of mental and physical distress.

Nightmares usually occur to adults with no specific cause, but sometimes they can be recurrent and become a symptom of more serious situations. They can affect the quality of sleep and lead to exhaustion and anxiety.

It is necessary to distinguish between nightmares and night terrors. The latter ccur during the deepest stages of sleep, usually in the early hours after going to bed. They cause a strong feeling of dread and usually the person cannot remember the reason of this frightening sensation.

Nightmares can be caused by PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and if that’s the case, they should be treated by a doctor and/or a psychologist. If nightmares are a symptom of an underlying condition they should be treated with a specific therapy.

However, you can try to avoid having nightmares by not eating before going to bed, since food speeds up the metabolism and makes the brain more active.

Reducing stress with yoga and meditation could also be a good way to clear your mind and lower your anxiety which could lead to a quieter sleep at night. Specific medications could be a cause of nightmares too and you should always talk about this possibility with your doctor.

Opening up to someone you know, promoting positive thinking a trying an imagery reharsal treatment can also be good ideas to stop having nightmares.