Nightmares are not pleasant, so it makes sense to try and avoid them. There are several possible causes, and here are five of them:
Stress: Too much stress in life is the main reason for bad dreams, especially if the stress causes feelings of fear and anxiety. There are many ways of dealing with stress, including meditation, mindfulness exercises and restful music.
Prescription drugs: Nightmares can be the side effect of some prescription medicines. These include antidepressant drugs, blood pressure pills and tranquilizers. Not everyone on these medications will get nightmares, but if you suspect that your medication is them, consult your doctor, who may prescribe an alternative treatment or adjust the dose.
Addiction withdrawal: If you become addicted to recreational drugs or alcohol, then withdrawing without medical supervision can result in hallucinations and nightmares. It can also cause a lot of physical pain. Withdrawing under expert medical care can include drugs that help reduce the painful aspects of withdrawal, including nightmares.
Sleep deprivation: A lack of sleep is another cause of nightmares. If you go a few days without enough sleep, then nightmares may occur when you finally get some shut-eye. You could also suffer from hallucinations.
PTSD: People who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (or PTSD) often get nightmares in which a painful traumatic event from their past is replayed. There are effective treatments for PTSD, including cognitive behaviour therapy and EMDR (or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). These therapies should stop the nightmares
If you want to avoid nightmares, then firstly learn how to relax. If you drink, be moderate and make sure that you get enough sleep. Make your bed as comfortable as possible, purchase a luxury kingsize mattress and snuggle under the bed clothes. You should enjoy happy dreams if you do!
