Just a bad dream

[Storyteller.]

Just a bad dream
By Robin (PSY)

You are clinging to the edge of a cliff. Your grip is slipping and suddenly you begin to fall. Before you can hit the ground, you wake up. Your heart is racing, your palms are sweaty, but you sigh with relief as you realize that it was all just a horrible nightmare. After giving yourself a moment to calm down, you roll over and go back to sleep. It's over.

Unfortunately, some individuals suffer from recurring nightmares. These nightmares may emerge for the first time in early childhood following a traumatic event, such as the separation or divorce of parents. Later on in life, during times of extreme stress or turmoil, the nightmares may emerge once again. Scientists cannot say with absolute certainty why we dream the things we do, nor can they offer fool-proof methods for controlling nightmares as they occur; however, some psychologists have developed techniques for coping with, and eventually overcoming, recurring nightmares.

Recurring nightmares can cause an individual to feel anxious and helpless, so you may wish to seek reassurance from your family members and friends. Discussing the nightmare with others may help relieve that anxiety. Oftentimes, when we examine nightmares in greater detail, we begin to see gaps in the nightmare's timeline, or we find elements in the nightmare that do not make sense. Finding these flaws can help you realize that the nightmare is simply that: a nightmare. You may discover that it would be impossible, or at least highly unlikely, for the events portrayed in the nightmare to take place in the “real world”.

Once you have taken steps to relieve your anxiety, begin rescripting your nightmare. Create several new outcomes for the events in your nightmare. For example, if the nightmare always ends with someone getting hit by a car, imagine the car veering to the side, the person jumping out of the way, the car stopping at a red light or stop sign, etc. If you were able to find flaws in the nightmare's logic during the reassurance phase, take advantage of them and incorporate elements into your nightmare that will result in a more positive outcome.

After rescripting your nightmare, use rehearsal to “work through” the nightmare and its various outcomes with your family members and friends. If your nightmare focuses on someone else, discuss how that person could avoid or overcome the negative situation. If your nightmare focuses on yourself, find solutions that you could utilize, should you ever find yourself in a situation similar to the one portrayed in the nightmare.

Finally, take control of your fears and find a resolution. Continue to review the new outcomes you created during the rescripting process, and review the solutions you discovered during the rehearsal stage. Examine any past or current events that might have triggered the recurring nightmares, and work toward resolving those as well. Resolving the nightmare may take time, so be patient and continue to seek help from those around you.

If the recurring nightmares continue to interfere with your daily life, or if the nightmares' intensity increases, you may want to consider seeking additional help for resolving them. As stated earlier, these nightmares may emerge following a traumatic event, so speaking with a therapist or psychologist may help you gain closure in regards to that traumatic event. Nightmares may also be influenced by physical ailments or drug use, so you may want to consider visiting your family doctor for a comprehensive exam.