Nightmares are often a horrible experience. We all get them from time to time, from the very young to the old. They are often quite similar; running and not getting anywhere, screaming and no sound from our mouths, falling, crashing, missing an exam or important event, or losing all our teeth. Not to mention that old stand by of showing up somewhere...naked.
There are ways, however, to lessen our chances of having an nightmare. Nightmares happen during our REM sleep and we often remember them. Nightmares tend to occur towards dawn, rather than early in sleep.
We need to monitor our caffeine and alcohol usage. Coffee is a stimulant that can cause sleep deprivation, which in turn can cause nightmares that result from stress-induced fatigue. Chocolate is also a culprit for some. Alcohol is initially a stimulant but is actually a depressant. Drinking heavily may send a person to sleep quickly but it often causes them to wake up in the middle of the night and be unable to fall back to sleep. But the chemicals in alcohol can trigger nightmares. In fact, we should always avoid food or drink before bedtime because it triggers our metabolism and increases brain activity at a time when we should be decreasing it. Spicy foods late at night should be avoided, as well as sugary foods for children.
Smokers and those with sleep apnea tend to experience nightmares more than others.
Stress and emotional trauma are the main triggers for adults. Problems with work or relationships, an illness (which in itself can cause nightmares) or past abuse can lead to occasional nightmares for a lifetime. Therapy, meditation, yoga, a healthy diet, and a restful couple of hours before sleeping will help.
Establish a routine before bed. A warm bath, some easy reading, sex or your favorite show (that is hopefully not too violent!) will ease you into a relaxed routine for bed. No more than one glass of wine in the evening is recommended.
Some things we cannot help are nightmares when we are ill. Fevers tend to promote nightmares, in children as much as adults, and they leave once we feel better.
Tell Us
Do you get nightmares? Are they frequent? What do you think triggers them?
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Add a Comment51 Comments
Hello , im Eduardo and im12.
August 25, 2011 - 4:12pmI have always had a creative mind.
I usually have nightmares of people that seem from terror movies even tho ive never SEEN one.
Sometimes i go in my bed and am scared before i even fall asleep and try not to move cause i think something can happen then i feel like somebody is standing next to me and freak out!
PLEASE HELP!
Im so scared :(
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a'm having nightmares all the time is there to get rid of them i need HELP!!
July 28, 2011 - 9:51pmThis Comment
You know, I now agree with the 'avoid sugary foods before bed' advice. Last night I ate two chocolate chip cookies and went to bed, and I had an awful nightmare! I hadn't had one like that in along time, so no more cookies for me :)
December 31, 2010 - 9:01amThis Comment
My nightmares always involve me running away from something or someone, but somehow, I end up on my knees trying to run, not able to get up, then I get killed.
December 27, 2010 - 9:34pmThis Comment
if i am not listening to my ipod when im trying to sleep, i often either cant sleep at all or i have really bad dreams where i wake up sweating or scared to bits i cant move
October 8, 2010 - 4:54amThis Comment
i have dream frequantly that my body is being streched and then ripped appart but in stead of being the person its me gettinr ripped apart but i am watching it from third person so it doesnt feel like me but it is and it scares me like hell any ideas and im 13
May 28, 2010 - 8:53amThis Comment
Wow Anonymous, that sounds scary.
I wonder if you are feeling very stressed out? That really sounds like a stress dream. Sometimes dreams are almost literal, like maybe you are feeling pulled in a million different directions when you are awake? What is happening in your daily life?
Thank you for visiting the site.
May 28, 2010 - 8:58amThis Comment
i get nightmares a lot and now im afraid of my house
May 26, 2010 - 4:58pmi never want to go back in. and i run out of my house
at 5 am bc im scared!!!! and this didnt help me at all!!!!!!!!!
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I keep on being scared to fall asleep alone because i think like someone is following me. Its really hard to sleep alone and I have had this since November 2009 and now its May 2010. What do you suggest I do, I am open to any suggestions! Thank you
May 24, 2010 - 6:37pmThis Comment
Anon - That's a really long time to have been dealing with this. Do you have anyone that you can talk to? A trained counselor or psychologist could help you get at the root of what is causing you to think this way and help you deal with your fears. Most health insurance plans cover such visits. Could you consider that? I think it would help a lot.
May 24, 2010 - 6:41pmTake care,
Pat
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