So I've been having persistent nightmares recently, I know the reason, it's because of some significant family changes over the past few months, no I'm not suicidal or depressed, far from it. Eating well, exercising and all of that. Just feeling drained when I wake up due to the nightmares.
Any tips to get rid of the nightmares?
I would just leave the bed. Women are just…..like…….just say yes. If you've ever had a stuck up and bitchy female manager, you know what it's like.
leave her in the bed and then you can hop on the sofa bed!
(i didnt neg you btw)
Dont sleep
Jungian psychology suggests that dreams are a gateway into the parts of your psyche that are in your unconscious/subconscious. Things that we have not yet rationalised, or, are actively suppressing (when conscious) can manifest themselves symbolically in our dreams.
The word 'symbolically' is key here. Try to analyse what the subconscious depths of your mind are trying to communicate, as it probably indicates an area of your life that is causing stress, that your are repressing, that you need to consciously deal with.
I've heard, that for some people, it's even possible to ask the characters in dream WHY they are appearing and WHAT they represent - in some cases, these figures will actually directly tell you.
Try to analyse what the subconscious depths of your mind are trying to communicate, as it probably indicates an area of your life that is causing stress, that your are repressing, that you need to consciously deal with.
This is interesting….so if I have a dream about a zombie apocalypse, does that mean in future I would need to find some way to overcome this apocalypse?
I've heard, that for some people, it's even possible to ask the characters in dream WHY they are appearing and WHAT they represent - in some cases, these figures will actually directly tell you.
You would have to remember to ask the why and not just go with the flow. I have a hard time remembering myself to check what time or date it is in my dream. And the one time I finally did, the handles on the clock were spiraling backwards.
You're thinking way too literally here. It's not hard to see, for example, what a zombie apc might be represented in a symbolic sense.
Pay attention to your dreams and, with some lateral thinking/introspection you'll be surprised what they reveal. Your subconscious is most of your brain. It's incredibly smart.
Take the spiraling backward clock… think of how this might apply to whatever you (for example) are repressing from your conscious psyche.
Huh, you're right…. I just had a dream this morning where I was oddly needing the urge to pee. So I got out of my car, pulled down my pants and started to wiss all over the grass whilst no one was looking - though there was this one lady that looked quite similar to the mum from the promised neverland series who had a watchful eye but for some reason didn't see me behind her taking a wiss all over her grass and gardens. Best piss ever! Then I woke up and felt the urge to piss as well. I was like, but I swore I took a piss and then remembered it was in my dreams…
AS for the spiraling clock going backwards, maybe thats to say I should go back in time and fix mistakes I caused?
@Zachary: Sounds like you're really not convinced of the efficacy of what I'm saying… It's true that not everyone has the intuitive depth to benefit from this.
@The Wololo Wombat: Well I'd be more convinced if I could if I could solve these riddles that are done through various methods such as symbolism that you've described…. Otherwise what is your diagnoses of my spiraling clock and pee scene if not what I had described earlier myself? Because I can only think literal here….or too literal in your case…and apparently those answers don't work here. I was never really good at comprehension tests in English you see…..
Also interestingly, I just had one a few minutes ago - I was trying to get back into bed to sleep but suddenly felt a grab and a pull from my left leg; couldn't see who or what it was as it was invisible but I was like "Aw hell naw!" (I didn't say this outloud but that was what I was thinking) and then started punching or flailing at whatever this invisible thing was that was holding onto my leg (I could feel whatever what was holding it, it was fleshy and soft like someone's hand or arm) and then I just automatically woke up before I could get it good. I felt both disappointed that I couldn't deal with it before I woke up and slightly shakened at what just had happened and what that was suppose to mean, going back to what you wrote to me(I still have no idea…haha felt pretty ominous…)…. And then thought I could post this here to see what your analysis of this was…
@Zachary: I think the idea is for you to interpret your own dreams. Some things are quite literal, such as your brain being well aware that you have a full bladder, and incorporating that into your dream.
@RecklessMonkeys: The way "The Wololo Wombat" said it, I interpreted it as "You still don't get what your dreams are trying to tell you, do you?" and that's when I seeked clarification from him/her which they have not responded back to see if they can interpret what I dreamt…
Stay away from caffeine, especially green tea before bed./3pm
Have warm milk and oats before you sleep
Exercise during the day/arvo
Have a shower before going to bed, cool down before hand.
"Stay away from caffeine, especially green tea before bed./3pm
Have warm milk and oats before you sleep
Exercise during the day/arvo
Have a shower before going to bed, cool down before hand"
Thanks for the tips …
So I'll drink lots of caffeine, green tea, avoid warm milk & oats, avoid exercise and a shower before bed, avoid a cool-down.
Let the nightmares begin!
Look at the direction you lie down to sleep. Something to do with the magnetic field of the earth and we need to lie down in a direction to align with the earth's magnetic field. Google will provide more information.
interesting all the 'just get on meds' posts get ignored or upvoted, but anyone with a natural remedy gets negged. i just upvoted you back up.
" we need to lie down in a direction to align with the earth's magnetic field."
So I should sleep at 90º to the Earth's magentic field to induce nightmares then?
Pardon me for being skeptical.
If the nightmares are like being chased in a slasher movie or monster movie, you could embrace them. Could be exciting. I once dreamed I’d accidentally killed someone and I spent the whole night hiding from the police and stressing about how my life was over. Then I woke up and felt all relieved that it was just a dream, like I had been given a second chance at life. Then after I woke up I killed someone again and stressed about my life being over, I was still in the dream!
but if you die in the dream, YOU DIE IN REAL LIFE
I wish.
I have a recurring dream (every couple of years) that I accidentally killed someone 10-20 years prior and covered it up (buried the body) but the police are now asking a lot of questions of me and are closing in. It is utterly terrifying and I get so relieved when I wake up.
I've also died quite a few times in my sleep and woken immediately. Plane crash, shot in the head, etc. Not fun.
"I've also died quite a few times in my sleep and woken immediately. Plane crash, shot in the head, etc. Not fun"
Sounds like fun to me.
Why don't nightmares happen to those who want them?
I'm nightmare-starved.
Haven't had a nightmare for many years.
I'd love to have such nightmares.
How do you do it?
Any tips?
Lucky you.
Wish I could have such fun dreams.
Control your mind. Maybe take some pills. Go to see a psychiatric. Psychologist are not useful as they are there to milk your money while psychiatrists will hit the nail on the head.
" Go to see a psychiatric"
Are there psychiatrists who can help with a deficiency of nightmares?
what kind of nightmares? head chopped off? plane crash? Maybe watching too much movies?
Death cures nightmares? Idk if this helps…
No it doesn't help. And whacky sense of humour has its place, but please don't trivialise suicide, even indirectly. Thanks for your understanding and have a good day.
At this point might as well double down and give you some suicide trivia info.
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-suicide
Also I never suggested killing himself I just said death cured it.
Just FYI - some form of sleep studies are also included under Medicare but you would need to go to a GP.
"some form of sleep studies are also included under Medicare"
Can Medicare help with no-nightmares syndrome?
The things that persist at night are often the things we try not to think about during the day. A lot of the time there isn’t a lot we can do about things that are too hard to process except to continue to slowly process them.
It’s hard when you spend all day trying not to dip into that vulnerability and emotion, that all you want to do is have a load taken off during sleep, but natural sleep is actually where the most important processes will occur for you to be able to adjust to your new reality.
Because of that I would recommend:
Not taking prescription meds if you can because most of them disrupt natural sleep and sleep stages (but you can ask your GP about the antidepressant Mirtazapine if you’re really struggling with sleep)
Try and set aside time during the day or week to talk/write/process what you’re going through to help reduce the shock and impact of the dreams at night. You might consider EMDR therapy which mimics the accelerated processing that occurs during sleep
Keep up with your good diet and exercise and hold on to that as an amazing achievement for somebody in your situation
Practice good sleep hygiene, maintain regular sleeping patterns and try not to take naps during the day unless you’re really sleep deprived
See if you can alter your relationship with the night time disturbances to one of acceptance. It’s a difficult and painful process but it’s necessary. You address it if it becomes too much and disrupts the healthy aspects of your life, but otherwise just be compassionate with yourself. You’re doing the best that you can
Take care
Also avoid drugs and alcohol!
I can’t stress that enough. If you need a rationale I’ll provide one but believe me they will only prolong what you’re going through
"avoid drugs and alcohol!"
So I should binge on drugs and alcohol if I want exciting nightmares?
" they will only prolong what you’re going through"
Sounds good …
See your doctor. Nightmare/disturbed sleep is a sign of possible depression
My condolences… try sleep in different bedroom or even couch? I did that when I kept having nightmares just to change the environment a bit.
nightmares are associated with being too hot - too many calories (calorie is a unit of heat), having eaten or drunk too much, too heavy meals with meat, too much sugar or alcohol, too much dessert, and too close to bedtime
there's also throat cancer risk from acid reflux if you habitually eat within 2 hours of bedtime
I've a note on our bedpost suggesting optimal bedcovering - https://photos.app.goo.gl/jAWXaUiP8KctKBC37
this seems to work best based on the air temperature outside our window as the temperature the inside room air is likely to reach overnight while we're sleeping with the window open about 5cm
I've noted a strange balancing effect - if I sleep with shorts and no shirt, it can seem like my body ramps up the peripheral heating so I can feel too hot
yet now starting to wear flannelette long pyjamas under a doona, I'm sleeping beautifully, tho' overnight outside air temp is around 15C here in Sydney
so cut the heat for a start
if you're resenting - sentio I think - thinking too much - with repetitive rat race loop rethinking 'bad' 'sad' 'mad' depressed thoughts, then try some meditation - empty the mind, focus on listening to your breathing, drop all thoughts, let them pass like clouds in the breeze, and enjoy some clear mind no-mind - no-mind, no-matter, no-problemo !
I love the note on your bed post!
Hey this may sound weird, I bet you sleep on Ur back? Like face up?
For some weird reason it happens to me as well or I don't sleep either left side or right. Try that. Serious.
Sounds like sleep apnoea
I tend to fall asleep real quick face down.
Mine have been from eating too close to sleep time, particularly dairy im lactose intolerant which doesnt affect me too much (unless on an empty stomach) during the day but gives me wild vivid nightmares. also exhaustion etc i found just falling asleep trying to watch something did the trick for me and made sure it auto turns off at like 2am otherwise i just wake up from tv noises
I laugh it off and go back to sleep. I don't get nightmares often though.
Just an ozbargainer, but maybe try talking to your friends or someone close about your problems.
You also mentioned that you couldn’t attend the funeral, so maybe have someone live record it so you can watch along, and you can also think about travelling later.
sex before sleep.
do you come here often ?
(saying as a psychiatrist) - Start with sleep hygiene https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/-/media/CCI/Mental-Health-P…
Talk to your GP
In some cases of nightmares especially related to PTSD, a tablet prazosin has shown good results. This is also used to treat high blood pressure
Vape some weed before bed. It has sedative properties and stops REM sleep so you don't dream.
Your doctor can prescribe something for that, speak to your GP
"Your doctor can prescribe something for that"
There are drugs to induce nightmares?
Tell me more …
I used to get nightmares as well. Someone told me to put a knife under my pillow when I sleep. I wasn't going to believe it but then I thought that there is no harm in trying it.
I did sleep with knife under my pillow for few days and things started to get better. I no longer receive nightmares anymore.
I know it is superstitious but it worked for me though.
I wouldn't do that if I were having nightmares and there's somebody else in the bed - I'd worry I'd be just as likely to wake up screaming from a nightmare and start stabbing before I knew what was going on.
This superstition likely stems from a fear of being vulnerable in your sleep and the knife simply provides your mind with a defence mechanism. Baseball bat or club under the bed also likely creates a similar reassurance.
I've recently been trying melatonin pills to help with sleep difficulties. Those things put me out like a light, I sleep so soundly that if I'm having nightmares I sure as hell don't remember them when I eventually wake up. I do find that sometimes (not always) they hit me a little too hard, which can make it really difficult for me to wake up in the morning and I feel pretty tired throughout the day. I haven't been taking them long enough to be able to say if that's just a short term thing which will settle down over time or if it's likely to be an ongoing, semi-regular effect.
Not sure if already said but you can try lucid dreaming techniques, which can help you become aware your dream isn't real and diminish the impact of your nightmares.
Offtopic a bit but related to nightmares in general.
Just yesterday I think I randomly discovered the cause of a recurring nightmare I had as a child. I was living on a farm at the time and in the dream my family would all walk to a field and turn to ash… freaky stuff and I remember it quite vividly even 40 years later.
So I happened to be talking to a mate yesterday about a British TV series from 1979 called Quatermass, and I mentioned to him I was never really allowed to watch the series as a kid and hadn't seen it even though for some reason I did remember a little of the premise of the show. He then tells me about a few scenes including one scene where members of a sect are turned into ash by some alien deathray from space…. hmmm.
I figure I did get to see one episode of the show that featured that scene and my parents then decided I would not be watching more… but I'm guessing the damage was already done and caused the nightmares.
So, it's interesting what outside influences can trigger a nightmare, or recurring nightmares and even more interesting when you find the cause years later.
My wife gets nightmares if she's too warm while she's sleeping. Perhaps wear shorter/thinner layers to bed?
Me too. Tell her from me… she's normal.
Get high?
Go see a Psychologist.
Sleep hygiene may help, but it doesn't sound like the main issue.
If its the same nightmare over and over there is a couple of techniques out there around taking control through rehearsing the nightmare and changing it up and ending it differently which may help.
Writing or journalling about your experiences and your current loss with reflection on the attached/associated feelings may help, even journalling about the nightmares themselves.
For now, as weird as it sounds, acknowledge to yourself that you are likely going to have a nightmare at night, and that it's ok may help. You handled it yesterday, the day before, and the day before that. You may be tired, but you still got through it. Sometimes the struggle we have with an experience we associate as unpleasant can be what further amplifies our desire to avoid it, making it worse when it does happen.
Perhaps as some suggested, medications, talk to your GP.
This is not medical or therapy advice and general information only.
I've suffered from nightmares since I was young and I'm finally on top of them and enjoying sleep, which is awesome. Pretty much I tend to analyse it, importantly - what emotion did I feel in the nightmare /is this emotion linked to how I might feel about something in my life that is an issue/stressor etc. Once I understand the emotions behind it I then give myself an opportunity to acknowledge why i have those emotions and if there's anything I could try to move forward/feel better. I find this also helps with any stress/anxiety when you wake in the night from them. Dream diary may also be viable for you. Hope this helps, DM me if you want further advice.
I get really weird, vivid dreams if I take valerian. They're never nightmares, just long and really detailed. Are you using any aids to sleep?
"I get really weird, vivid dreams if I take valerian."
Thanks, I'll give it a try.
Would you seek said persons permission before kicking them out of bed, or just do it and hope for the best