Everyone has seen a nightmare at least once in their life. Many people remember the content of dreams throughout their lives. Others seek prophetic meaning in them. Why do I have nightmares? How to get rid of obsessive dreams? Find out from the article.
Nightmare: reasons
Seeing a nightmare, many wake up in a cold sweat, ponder the content of the dream for a long time and fear that what they see will happen in reality. Nightmares are overwhelming fear, paralyzing and emotionally exhausting. Anything can frighten in a nightmare: children are afraid of terrible monsters, and adults are afraid of illness or death of a loved one.
Scientists identify the key factors that cause nightmares:
- Great fatigue and stress.
- Emotional upheavals. This is dismissal, divorce, illness or death of a loved one. Horrors are often caused by a terminal illness.
- Mental trauma in childhood. Divorce or death of parents, bullying in the family, problems at school.
- Drinking alcohol and overeating before bed. Digestion of food prevents the body from normalizing the night regimen.
- Side effect of medications. Taking powerful chemicals and psychotropic substances.
- Watching horror films at night. Remember the simple truth: what you fill a jug, then it will pour out of it. The brain is not just a jug, but a pot that constantly "cooks" something. By watching a movie with violent or mystical content before bed, you will provide a nightly "sequel" created by your subconscious.
Sometimes terrible dreams appear for purely individual reasons. When the unpleasant dream recurs, remember the details and analyze. You will find the cause of the nightmares in the context of sleep.
In 2010, employees of the Central Institute for Mental Health in Germany interviewed more than 10 thousand people. The results of the survey allowed scientists to draw the following conclusions. People's nightmares have the same theme:
- Fall from a great height or endless flight into the abyss.
- Chase. Most of the respondents did not remember who exactly was following them.
- Late for the celebration. In some cases, the events were not fictional, but took place a long time ago.
- Abduction, confinement in a dark room and subsequent death.
- Complete paralysis of the body.
Most of those surveyed had nightmares overcoming enormous stress. So, more than 48% suffered physical aggression, at least 21% were in conflict with loved ones, and the rest had health problems or felt helpless.
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Nightmares: How to Get Rid of
If you're having a nightmare, calm down. Remind yourself that this is only a dream. It's another matter when the nightmare repeats itself. Then it is necessary:
- Look for the reason. Don't be afraid of the dream plot. Remember, the nightmare is a figment of your imagination. Remember the details of the dream. Do not think about the prophetic sense, but look for the cause of mental suffering.
- Discuss the problem. Share your concerns with a close friend. Think together what is the cause of the nightmares. The opinion of a loved one helps to take a sober look at problems.
- Promote sound sleep. If possible, do not use gadgets 1-1.5 hours before bedtime. Exercise, do not overdo it: extreme fatigue will have the opposite effect. Read positive information at night.
British psychologists offer a creative approach to dealing with nightmares called Painting Therapy. The method takes time and inspiration:
- Take some time and take a quiet place. Remember the nightmare you saw in every detail. Do not worry, but remember what you saw in a dream.
- Paint a scary nightmare picture. Don't worry if you don't draw well. The main thing is that you associate the picture with a nightmare.
- Analyze what causes the greatest fear in the drawing.
- Add positive emotions to the picture. Use bright colors. Make your "monster" funny, add funny characters, come up with a happy ending to the story. Remember, humor trumps fear.
- Remember the picture. The next time you see this nightmare again, your brain will automatically display your cheerful drawing.
Don't be discouraged when nightmares haunt you. Don't look for hidden meanings and otherworldly messages in your dreams. Problems lie in your well-being, unresolved conflict with a loved one, or in emotional distress after experiencing grief. Resolve conflicts with family members and maintain peace of mind. If you have nightmares, spend more time with friends, people who will support and comfort you. Remember, the sun always comes after a thunderstorm.