A 2010 study in Hong Kong indicates that one in 20 individuals experiences nightmares at least once a week. Dr. Michael Nadorff, Associate Professor of Psychology, says that not everyone with nightmares remembers them. Nardoff explains that most dreams are negative, but many are forgotten.
Dr. Michael Nadorff, Associate Professor of Psychology at Mississippi State University and President-Elect of the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine, says that not everyone who has nightmares remembers them. Nadorff explains that most dreams are negative, but many are forgotten. Nadorff shares some tips for preventing nightmares! How can you avoid them?
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Nightmares: What Causes Them?
The frequency of waking up at night may surprise you. Nadorff says we all have negative dreams, but not everyone remembers them. The only way to remember them is to wake up during them. The only way to remember a nightmare is to wake up from REM sleep. Nadorff says waking up from REM sleep is not harmful. Dreams can be scary, but Nadorff thinks they can also indicate a healthy brain. It’s beneficial to have nightmares after trauma.
Keeping Nightmares At Bay
Nadorff offers a few tips for avoiding disturbing nightmares. Setting up a regular sleep schedule is the first step. Nadorff advises setting a bedtime and waking time roughly the same every day. When you’re in REM sleep, your body can’t control its body temperature, so you’ll have a lower body temperature. Negative dreams are more likely to be remembered if you wake up during REM sleep. Nadorff says drinking liquids too late at night can also increase nightmare recall.
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How Does Image Rehearsal Therapy Work?
Image rehearsal therapy is quite simple. Nadorff recommends rehearsing a dream patients want when they have nightmares. In addition to writing out their new vision, he says, “we suggest practicing it about twice a day for five to ten minutes each time.” He says This must have been pretty important. Nadorff explains that when someone enters REM sleep, the brain will likely encode a memory of the image rehearsal. It is possible to trick the brain into thinking an alternative dream has significance by visualizing it this way.