There are several techniques for reducing nightmares and resolving the underlying cause. The withdrawal of the causative medication is often the first step, and if this does not resolve the problem, other interventions and etiologies should be explored. A gradual reduction of the dose may also be necessary. Ultimately, though, the most important thing is to recognize the symptoms of this disorder and take action.
One method involves trying to remember what happened during the dream. Identifying the traumatic event in the dream may help. A good way to keep track of the details of your nightmare is to write them down. If you have a dream about tearing up receipts, this technique might help you process your stressful experience. You can also try changing the ending of your dream to change its content. In addition to writing down your dreams, rating them can help you cope with them.
Another approach involves eliminating certain foods and medications. Many drugs list nightmares as a possible side effect. A recent study in the Sleep Research Society found that 30 percent of patients with burn pain reported nightmares that were associated with pain sensations. Further, researchers from the Open Pain Journal found that chronic back pain patients had a higher frequency of pain sensation dreams than those without chronic back pain. In addition to food and medications, the chronic pain sufferer is more likely to experience fewer sleep and less quality sleep, resulting in more nightmares.
Those suffering from recurring nightmares should seek help. A physician or therapist may be able to help you overcome your problems so that you can get better rest. Sometimes, the changes in your life can be enough to eliminate the recurring nightmares. Other treatments may involve working through a specific issue that is causing the recurring nightmares. There are also many other treatment options that can help you improve your quality of life and sleep.
For people suffering from nightmares, treatment for the disorder has improved over the last decade. New advances in understanding how dreams happen and how they affect our daily lives are being made available. In France, IRT has been widely acclaimed for reducing the frequency of nightmares from hundreds to fewer than five a week. In the year 2020, patients reported experiencing an average of 19 nightmares a month. There is hope, however, and if you are suffering from these nightmares, you can stop them for good.
The treatment of nightmare disorder involves specialized cognitive therapy and image rehearsal therapy. The goal of this therapy is to reduce the frequency of nightmares by altering the theme and ending of the dream. The therapist may rewrite the dream and rehearse it before bed. The rehearsed dream is then played out before sleep to get the negative content out of the subconscious mind. In studies, people with this condition responded well to image rehearsal therapy and reduced their occurrence of nightmares.