Probably there is no such person on Earth who has never had nightmares at night. Everyone can boast that terrible dreams tormented her or him not only in childhood, but also in adulthood. Some are so shocked by these dreams that, even when they wake up, they feel tired from what they saw in a dream. How do nightmares come about? What role do they play in our life? Do I need to fight them? And why do nightmares in a dream have a real psychotherapeutic effect?
What could be the reasons for the appearance of terrible dreams?
I will say right away that we will not interpret dreams and somehow interpret them. None of this matters. Our main goal is to realize that dreams, no matter how terrible they are, are just a product of our brain. Like thoughts, beliefs, memories, etc.
The causes of nightmares, as you know, come from our psychological and psychophysiological state. For example, if you are often under stress, suppress your emotions, fears and other experiences, then feel free to wait for the appearance of nightmares in your dreams. They will certainly become your night companions.
This fact is generally recognized and has long been studied by psychologists
Another reason for the appearance of terrible dreams can be a psychotrauma that happened sometime in childhood. Often there is a real nightmare series of disturbing and frightening dreams for those who survived the violence, accident, hostilities. It is important to remember that the most painful situation can be pushed into the unconscious and live there for many years. This is a kind of psychological defense of our body. Therefore, in a dream we see something that "sits" in the unconscious and somehow declares its presence.
Promotional video:
What should you do if you have nightmares?
The answer you hear may surprise you. In fact, you don't need to do anything on purpose. The main thing is just to pay attention to your inner state in everyday life. If you are often stressed, tired, and often consume alcohol, then nightmares will be caused by an imbalance in brain biochemistry.
The important thing here is simply to realize that nightmares are a kind of signal that you should rest and reconsider your attitude towards those things that cause stress.
Remember, bad dreams cannot do you any harm. On the contrary, with their help, your consciousness is freed (reworked) from what once worried you or a serious traumatic event happened to you.
Simply put, through sleep, this pain comes out of you and bothers you less when you are awake. You, as it were, are freed from unnecessary "garbage" through terrible dreams.
But why, then, nightmares often do not go away, but become more sophisticated and terrible?
It depends, first of all, on your attitude towards them. If you try to fight them and identify with what you saw, then by doing so, you yourself do not let dreams tell your story and hold on to them.
Therefore, if you just let these dreams be, then wait until the end of the story they tell you, you will notice that the nightmares no longer appear in your dreams.
The main thing here is the understanding that dreams are just stories that always come from the past with a high degree of fantasy.
Let them be. Don't try to get rid of them. Don't interpret them. Just be aware that dreams, like events in your life, do not even happen to you. They happen for you. You seem to be watching a movie with your participation. And when the movie ends, the nightmare just disappears.
Treat your dreams with love. Accept them without resistance and then even the worst dream will become an exciting adventure for you.