How to get over nightmares quickly?

Question

When I have nightmares, next day I have flash backs throughout the day. The images are so vivid, and I suffer all over again even though I know it was "just a dream." Any advice how to get over them faster?
PS- I went to see a therapist but she says I just need time to get over a traumatic experience. I saw 2 weeks ago how a man with an ax tried to kill two innocent people. Undoubtedly, my dreams are telling me this has affected me.

I think some people think the "ax incident" was one of my nightmares. Dears, read carefully, I really witness an attempted murder with an ax, it wasn't a bad dream.

Answer 1

I have experienced dusturbingly vivid dreams, and was helped, tremendously, by keeoing a writing journal on my nightstand. So metimes, I'd actually wake myself up, screeching....it frightened my children and concerned my husband. Additionally, I'd be afraid to go back to sleep, fearing that I'd go right back 'into' the nightmanre! I began to immediately turn on the clip-on book light, and write EVERY, SINGLE DETAIL, that I could remember, including what people were wearing, exactly what was said, how I felt and looked in the dream , whether I was "watching myself", like on a television screen, or I was actively "participating" in the dream - I've done tons of research, and have discovered that this is very relevant. I would, then, reread the entire thing, and add, alter, delete - just as though I were writing or editing a story. It began to help, the very first time I did this. That was the year 1984. (I know b/c I'd suffered a terrible trauma, and the nightmares began, shortly, thereafter.) I guess I MUST have perfected this system, for myself, after 20 plus years, b/c I VERY seldom have bad dreams, now. I was afraid to go to sleep, back then, and now it's months and months of pleasant dreams or dreamless sleep. I admire you, very much, for seeking therapy! You're a sensitive and intelligent person, who, obviously is serious about resolving this problem. You know that saying: "Once you've acknowledged the problem, you're halfway to the cure?" Well, that 's true, in my experience. I tried to "will" them away, which was a waste of time and health. You've already been proctive, by seeing a therapist, and asking for suggestions, in this forum. This shows that you're in the process of resolving this problem. I hope that you'll give it a try. So many doctors would simply sedate you, so that you'd get a deep night's sleep. But, this doesn't expose or address the problem....just knocks it unconscious, so to speak. I don't know precisely WHY writing and reviewing the dream neutralizes it, but I can attest to the fact that it works. Perhaps dissecting it, piece by piece, allows us to see how disjointed and nonsensical dreams are - just wisps of thoughts that drift throught he sub-conscious, randomly. How we choose to view them makes them "scary", "funny," etcetera. Once I was able to sort of remove myself and become distanced from the dream, it became more of an entity unto itself, which ANY person could have dreamt up, and I didn't need to "own" it or "keep" it. Sorry to go on and on. I wish you much, much success, in overcoming this. Lack of sleep or inadequate quality sleep is so debilitating. Please know that there is a remedy. You will be in my prayers. Be well.

Answer 2

Take time to relax and close your eyes while vividly imagining the dream again. While awake you are more able to control the experience. Go through the dream and alter it to give a more positive outcome.

Perhaps when the man with the axe enters the scene, you will be there with police backup to wrestle him to the ground. You will then imagine him disarmed and behind bars. Whatever will change the dream into one with a positive outcome will help you move through the experience without hauntings of horror.

It will have been dealt with in your mind and ended with good results which will no longer bring feelings of fear and give you back the control you need to feel.

Answer 3

First of all, you can make yourself wake up in a nightmare.
If I have a night mare and it gets too horrible, I tell myself in the dream, wake up, wake up and after I wake up I will get out of bed
and walk around, have a drink, go to the bathroom and if I still can't shake it, I turn on the TV and watch something funny.
Most of the time this helps get me back into bed and sleeping soundly. Sometimes it doesn't and the next day it depresses me, that's when I call someone and talk about my nightmare, than I listen to music that I really like and before you know it I sing my favorite song in my head. And then you just have the problem of not being able to shake the song, but that's a better alternative than the nightmare. You have to remember that you need to tell someone and after that you have to let go, tell yourself let it go let it go. I hope this will help you.

Answer 4

Just think about good things. Go out and do something good for someone. Donate some clothing and food to a women's shelter. Volunteer at your local hospital or YMCA. Don't watch scary movies, and keep going to therapy!!

I don't know why this works, but for me it does (it's an old wives tale). Keep a half-full glass of water by your nightstand, and you will either have good dreams, or none at all that you will remember. It's worth a try, right?

Good luck, hope it gets better. I'm sorry you had to go through all that.

Answer 5

Before you go to sleep, try reading a pleasent book, even if it's one meant for 5 years olds. Or write in a journal about all the good things thats happened to you that day. Try to promote good dreams, like wishing for things, and fantazinzing about everything you want before you go to sleep.

When you have a nightmare, write about it in that journal, as soon as you wake up. Get it out of your system, and then you can go back and reflect on all the REAL things that made you happy, so you can prove to yourself everyday that non-sense dreams don't change hwo you feel.

Answer 6

I have suffered with nightmares also for years, I was a victim years ago, and have put it in it's place but sometimes dreams come back to haunt me....maybe something on TV or something to remind my subconscious, so I usually just try and get busy to clear it out of my head... time does make it better, they are not so often but they do show up from time to time... when your awake just put them in their place that is really all you can do... good luck....

Answer 7

Write the dreams down. You might replace Stephen King.
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Answer 8

Usually when I got nightmares I would get over them between one day and a week. If you are thinking about somebody breaking in and hurting you, get extra security (more locks). Just give it some time.

Answer 9

just go to bed thinking about the good things that happened to you over the course of the day and pretty soon you will fall off to sleep. hopefully have better dreams!

Answer 10

Meditate on God the Almighty. Keep good company. Shortly, you will be blessed with sweet dreams!