Your Privacy is Important to us

We encourage you to review our Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms listed here. In case you want to opt out, please click "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link in the footer of this page.

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

We won't sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.

Continue on TOI App
Open App
Login for better experience!
Login Now
Welcome! to timesofindia.com
TOI INDTOI USTOI GCC
TOI+
  • Home
  • Live
  • TOI Games
  • Top Headlines
  • India
  • City News
  • Photos
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Entertainment
  • Movie Reviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcasts
  • Elections
  • Web Series
  • Sports
  • TV
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Events
  • World
  • Music
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Auto
  • Education
  • Log Out
Follow Us On
Open App
  • ETIMES
  • CINEMA
  • VIDEOS
  • TV
  • LIFESTYLE
  • VISUAL STORIES
  • MUSIC
  • TRAVEL
  • FOOD
  • TRENDING
  • EVENTS
  • THEATRE
  • PHOTOS
  • MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MOVIE LISTINGS
  • HEALTH
  • RELATIONSHIP
  • WEB SERIES
  • BOX OFFICE

Suffering from frequent nightmares? Here's what you should know

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Jul 9, 2021, 08:44 IST
Comments
Share
1/13

​Suffering from frequent nightmares? Here's what you should know


Do you experience nightmares that don’t let you sleep the rest of the night? Do they reoccur often? Here are certain notions related to the nightmares that you need to know before it advances into a serious problem.

Many people say that it's only the young people who are prone to nightmares- which isn’t true. Nightmares which means widespread or frightening dreams can be frequent in any age or to someone who is related to anxiety or terrifying events in the past. If these nightmares are so prevalent then you’re certainly suffering from a nightmare disorder due to you certain other causes highlighted below;

2/13

Stress

If you’re unhappy, tense or anxious in your daily life, it can significantly trigger nightmares due to your unbalanced mental health condition. A person with chronic stress is more likely to develop nightmare disorders.

3/13

​Drugs and medicines

Certainly drugs can considerably impact the reactions in your brain that can result in nightmares. Blood pressure pills, antidepressants, and Alzheimer's disease meds, are generally linked to the nightmare causes.

4/13

​Trauma or painful past

When a person undergoes a miserable experience in life such as severe injury, physical or sexual abuse, or other traumatic events, it certainly affects mental health, which then leads to nightmares of such fearful events. Psychiatrists also link nightmares as one of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder that cause sleep deprivation due to petrifying nightmares.

5/13

​Horror movies or books

Horror movies, books or suspense shows before bedtime can make you experience horrible dreams. It can make you feel scared, while thinking and reimagining the terrifying scenes from such shows can give rise to some creepy nightmares.

6/13

-​Binging mindlessly before bed

Even if you ain’t stressed or watching horror movies but still experience inappropriate nightmares, that might be due to your eating or drinking habit before bedtime. Avoid binging mindlessly before bed as it significantly raises the body's metabolism and increases brain activity.

7/13

I​ncomplete sleep

An improper sleep routine can give rise to nightmares. Since our brain is like a monkey. If you decide not to think about certain aspects, the brain will keep generating thoughts related to it, hence some unwanted thoughts can lead to chronic nightmares accompanied by uneasiness and fatigue. Try inculcating meditative rituals before sleep to get rid of these common nightmare issues.

8/13

​Balanced sleep cycle


The secret to avoiding nightmares is to stick to a balanced sleep routine. Try including hygiene practices such as bathing and brushing before bed, in order to calm and relax your body to get ready for a good night's sleep. See that you avoid unnecessary activities such as binge watching movies at night. Early to bed habits can generously reduce your sleep related problems.

9/13

​Relax and Meditate before bed

Ensure that you relieve your all day stress through meditation and yoga. Try doing some effective breathing exercises in order to soothe your body and exhale the stress out. This is the best technique to regulate your mental health and reduce chronic nightmares.

10/13

​Analyse your medications or prescribed drugs

As explained above, if you are on certain meditation or drugs then try analysing what amount or which drug is causing you the terrible nightmares. Accordingly seek help from your doctor and if possible avoid or find a substitute of that medication with such undesired side effects.

11/13

​Avoid horror content

Why to watch or read anything that gives you negative vibes or fear? Avoid such unnecessary stuff like terrifying movies or reading a disturbing book. It can certainly result in nightmares, while keeping you awake all night.

12/13

​Communicate with your close ones

In order to relieve anxiety, sharing or talking is the best technique to relieve it or seek help. Try talking to your friend, parents, grandparents or anyone about the past events that disturb or haunt you. They might sensibly give you ideas to overcome it, while consoling you to move on from that horrific past. You can talk or even write to get them out of your head to deal with nightmares and stress in a positive way

13/13

Treatment of mental health

It is crucial to cure your weakened mental health condition. See a doctor to seek help in case of stress, anxiety, depression, or PTSD. This will automatically aid in the resolution of nightmare-inducing thoughts and sensations. Look for therapeutic aid such as; talk therapy, Image rehearsal therapy, lucid dreaming treatment, hypnosis, and progressive deep muscular relaxation to drastically improve your mental as well as physical health.

Start a Conversation

Post comment
Featured In lifestyle
  • Chinese proverb of the day: “A woman gets thirty percent of her beauty from nature and seventy percent from...” — why this centuries-old saying is about much more than cosmetics
  • Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal's penthouse is a relaxing abode of minimalism with bright bohemian colours: Art inspirations to steal
  • Quote of the day by Jay Shetty: "When you learn a little, you feel you know a lot. But when you learn a lot, you realize you know very little"
  • Meet the 'deadly chaser' snake whose venom stops your heart, brain and kills you in under an hour
  • Consistency matters more than grand gestures in parenting: 4 ways busy parents can make children feel secure and valued
  • Why morning body aches happen even after a full night's sleep and what you can do about them
  • The body check: What constantly cold hands and feet could reveal about your health
  • 7 myths about obesity that need to be left behind
  • Meet Rounak Adhikary: Ashneer Grover once told him ‘Tu Baith Jaa Yaar’ and cut off his pitch mid-sentence; now he's living every startup founder's dream
Photostories
  • From 'Near Misses' to 'I Do': 5 Relationship lessons we're taking from Dua Lipa and Callum Turner
  • Virat Kohli's favourite superfood salad is all you need during summer afternoon
  • Virat Kohli Numerology: How Number 5, Master Number 33 and Raj Yoga Shaped King Kohli’s Success
  • Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal's penthouse is a relaxing abode of minimalism with bright bohemian colours: Art inspirations to steal
  • ​Pancreatic cancer: New ‘breakthrough’ pill, Daraxonrasib, doubles life expectancy and survival for patients in trial​
  • Not just giants: Fossil of the smallest dinosaur, about the size of a crow, found
  • Snakes that are highly social: If you see one of these snakes, chances are there are more hiding close by
  • Born on a Friday? What it reveals about your personality, money, love and future
  • Acidity after every cigarette? Gastro experts reveal what Tobacco is secretly doing to your gut
Explore more Stories
  • 2
    ​How Hrithik Roshan inspired millions to take up strength training​
  • 8
    Why your compost bin smells bad: 7 Simple ways to compost kitchen waste without the odor
  • 8
    Prune these 10 plants in June for more blooms, healthier growth, and a lush garden throughout the monsoon season
  • 5
    Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal's penthouse is a relaxing abode of minimalism with bright bohemian colours: Art inspirations to steal
  • 4
    Snakes that are highly social: If you see one of these snakes, chances are there are more hiding close by
Up Next
  • ETimes
  • /
  • Life & Style
  • /
  • Health & Fitness
  • /
  • Health News
  • /
  • Suffering from frequent nightmares? Here's what you should know
About UsTerms Of UsePrivacy PolicyCookie Policy

Copyright © Jun 1, 2026, 01.12PM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service