Hi. i'm 18 and for the past year i've had nightmares almost every night and i'm not sure what the best thing to do is. they last all night some aren't so bad so i can wake up and go right back to sleep others are very vivid. can anyone give me some advice?
2006-08-03 14:18:02 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
psychiatry
you should talk to a professional
there's no shame in it
2006-08-03 14:20:14 · answer #1 · answered by downdrain 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This may sound really silly, but when I was little I used to have horrible nightmares to where I would fall out of bed and scream until someone came into my room because I was so freaked out and didn't know if I was even at my own house. The only way I could get back to sleep was to sing the song of my favorite non-violent cartoon (it happened to be My Little Pony). So, then I started singing it in my head before I went to bed at night and my nightmares would still come, but I would be able to fight back or at least not fall out of bed. They stopped by the time I was in HS, but came back when I was pregnant years later, the exact same dreams from childhood. Low and behold, "My little Pony" helped again. So, If you have a silly, non-threatening song and thought to concentrate on before you go to sleep, I think it would help a lot. Also, write down the nightmares and concentrate before you go to sleep on what happens in them and how you could react in the dream to be the hero rather than the victim... that's always my second choice once the song doesn't work. Now I have new more realistic, like stuff you read about in the news types of nightmares. This method of becoming the hero seems to take a lot of effort, and I still wake up all scared, but not truly frightened, just full of adrenaline.
2006-08-03 14:29:46 · answer #2 · answered by elliecow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with what some of the others said about asking a doctor, I'm sure the right one can help you. If they are all night dreams, that might even be something like night terrors, where you are moving around and very active while having a vivid (usually negative) dream, almost like a sleepwalker. I think it just means you aren't getting into the deepest stage of sleep and your mind is still active. I would definitely see a doctor because you are probably not getting a good night's rest which could affect your health.
2006-08-03 14:30:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anne R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be careful what you eat before you go to bed, and try not to watch scary stuff on tv, which can be a hard thing to accomplish. It is likely that you're going through a growth spurt (yes, it can happen at your age still!) and it will get better.
A decent diet - man, that's hard to do - and some exercise daily may help, too. Feeling physically whole may help the brain relax more as you sleep.
Are pets or neighbor hood noise awakening you, and are you generally planning to get enough sleep? I find that planning it in 1 1/2 hour increments works pretty well (the REM cycle stuff) - so I try to get 6 hours ot 7.5, etc. If I wake in the middle of a cycle, I'm more likely to be groggy and remember dreams.
Good luck, and if you do wake in the middle of the night, watch some boring tv or play lame things on the computer to get your mind off the nightmares.
2006-08-03 14:25:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Was there an event prior to the onset of the nightmares? Something that may have traumatized you? You could be experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There's a lot of info out there on it. There are also support groups online. If this is the cause of the nightmares a doctor can help you get past it. Good Luck.
2006-08-03 14:21:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to have reacurring nightmares every night, and I know this might sound weird but I used to always sleep of my back and I started sleeping on my stomach a couple years ago and I don't really have nightmares at all anymore, So whatever way you sleep try to switch positions, it wont hurt to try it out it might work for you too.......
2006-08-04 07:18:41 · answer #6 · answered by BrittyGirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've had alot of nightmares myself, and sometimes it could be stress.
Try sleeping at different times, and see how that goes, I find that could help also.
Or when I have them, sometimes I'll get up for a few min's, and go back to sleep, or I'll stay up.
I'd recommend trying to sleep at different times, an hour later than usual, getting up an hour earlier, those type of thing's.. and see how it works.. Goodluck!
2006-08-03 14:23:13 · answer #7 · answered by xx_ladyxluck_xx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its all in ur mind.. try watching good stuff on tv before you go to sleep or find out why ur having these nightmares.. the best idea might be to get to the source of these nightmares (like problems in your life you need to solve)
good luck
2006-08-03 14:23:06 · answer #8 · answered by hotemerald 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is something in your life that needs to be dealt with. Once you solve the problem, your nightmares will go away.
2006-08-03 14:21:43 · answer #9 · answered by Phrosty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would try to find a way to relax your mind Before going to bed. Pray, meditate, write in a journal. Do something that calms you, but not TV.
2006-08-03 14:22:36 · answer #10 · answered by free2praise76 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Um dont eat before bed or watch scary movies go to sleep to some nice music TRUST me specially christian music works!
2006-08-03 14:22:00 · answer #11 · answered by a_montana_chick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋