How To Prevent Recurring Nightmares & Sleep Better
How To Prevent Recurring Nightmares & Sleep Better
While most of us have experienced a nightmare or two in our sleep, recurring nightmares are a less frequent occurrence. It happens when the same nightmare is repeated over and over again over a long period of time.
Whether the dream itself ranges from bizarre to frightening, if you’re experiencing it in a frequency of over three times, then it can be described as recurring.
Your sleep is supposed to be a restful and calming period of time, which is why nightmares can be a disruptive, stressful, and generally unwanted interruption in your rest.
Understanding why you might be getting your recurring nightmares can bring you a lot closer to working out how to solve them.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to stop nightmares, from why you might be experiencing them in the first place to the unexpected ways a great memory foam or hybrid mattress might help.
Why Am I Getting Nightmares?
Sleep experts have different theories when it comes to the root causes of nightmares. When you’re trying to work out where yours might originate from, it helps to look back.
The famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud used to believe that nightmares were a product of repressed anxieties. While more modern researchers indicate this frightening type of dream due to a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Your nightmares might also have other causes, which include underlying medical conditions. This might be something as simple as sleep apnea or narcolepsy.
Sometimes, it’s something more serious, so speak to your physician if you’re experiencing a prolonged experience of recurring nightmares.
Certain blood pressure medications can also induce recurring nightmares, so check with your doctor if you’re noticing a change after switching any medication.
Whether you have a hyperactive imagination or you’re experiencing a high amount of stress during this time, understanding the root cause of your nightmares can make a big difference. Doing so can help in understanding why and how to troubleshoot the problem.
How To Stop Nightmares Easily
Once you’ve understood the root of your nightmares, it’s going to become a lot easier to work out how to stop them.
Recurring nightmares can be better understood when you’re trying to work actively on building a bedtime routine for yourself that is calming and keeps you feeling well-rested.
Investing in the Most Comfortable Mattress for your Sleep
The quality of your mattress will make a significant difference in the overall quality of your sleep. Hybrid mattresses are a great, versatile choice for sleepers who want to recover from a good night’s rest.
Hybrid mattresses also help to minimize motion transfer on your bed. This can be useful if you’re waking up or having nightmares enhanced by a disruptive partner.
How do you know when you’ve found the best hybrid mattress for your sleep? Good quality hybrid mattresses are going to be made of materials that are independently certified materials.
The best hybrid mattresses know that comfort can be extremely subjective. The company will allow you to trial their products for a limited period of time before you need to commit to your purchase.
Create a Sleep Schedule That is Sustainable For You
A sleep schedule can help add structure as well as a sense of stability to your regular routine. Give yourself the same bedtime to adhere to every night. Wake up at the same time each morning and you’re going to find it becomes a lot easier to structure your days.
Waking up at the same time every day, even through weekends, can help contribute significantly to the quality of your rest.
Recurring nightmares can be a sign there isn’t enough consistency in your sleep. Try thinking about when you’d like to wake up, and work seven to eight hours back from there.
Sleep calculators can also be handy if you’re trying to work out the best sleep schedule for you and are just not sure what your options are.
Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol Too Close to Bed
If you’re experiencing recurring nightmares, your biggest priority is going to be to try and restore peace into your nightly routine.
One way you might be able to do this is by ensuring you’re staying away from stimulants. They can interrupt your sleep before you try and wind down for the evening.
Alcohol can have an especially disruptive impact on the overall quality and quantity of sleep you’re able to settle down within a night.
Inculcate Healthy Sleep Routine Habits
There are a couple of key ways you can add healthy sleep back into your daily routine. These are especially important when you’re trying to prevent recurring nightmares from taking place often.
Stay away from sleep habits that are going to further add stress and disrupt your sleep routine. Stay away from screens or anything with blue light.
Dim the lights in your bedroom a few hours before you wind down. Take a warm bath before you go to bed so that you’re comfortable enough for a good night’s sleep.
Are You Ready to Sleep Better?
When you’re learning how to minimize recurring nightmares, focus on building your sleep routine so that your bedtime remains as calming as possible.
Whether it’s by finding the best hybrid mattress you can for your sleep or consulting a physician about any changes to your medication.
You May Also Like:
- Tips for When You’re Having Trouble Sleeping
- How to Turn Your Bedroom Into a Sleep Friendly Space
- 7 Bedroom Essentials for Optimal Sleep
- The Best Pacifier for Sleeping Babies in 2020
The key to dealing with recurring dreams lies in ensuring you’re able to locate a source.
By learning how to manage your anxiety better and investing in a bedroom that feels genuinely comfortable to you, you’re going to find getting a good night’s sleep is a lot easier.
Do you have tips on how to prevent recurring nightmares?
-Dr. Drayman
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I am a retired GP that is passionate about health, parenting, and helping others. I am a grandparent to 3 amazing little boys and mama to 2 incredible women.