Hello doc. I'm a 15 years old school going girl. And I've been having nightmares constantly for a week, to say. It's kinda awkward to tell. It's like I'm used to them now but sometimes they're so dreadful that I feel like screaming aloud in my bed (In midnight, it's so not okay you see). Last night I saw someone die before my eyes. And the scene is still lingering through my mind. Some of the dreams include being chased in a graveyard, ghosts roaming around in my house, and then this. A death and the spirits. I'm scared to death. I can't sleep. I don't want to sleep. But that's not possible of course. So please help me out on this. I don't wanna have those nightmares again. It's making me sick. Mentally sick. I want to go to a psychiatrist but I can't. For my parents think psychiatrists treat only a mentally retarded person.:(Please help me out. It's the only beam of hope I see.

Ms. Juhi ParasharPsychologist4yrs exp

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HI lybrate-user, Bad dreams can be very unpleasant. Apart from being an uncomfortable experience, they can also interrupt sleep. Nightmares can have many causes, but the main causes are stress and trauma. Thankfully there are some steps you can take to stop these nightmares from occurring, allowing peaceful and restful sleep to return. Follow these methods to avoid having these nightmares in the first place. Don't dwell on your nightmares. Even though they may be truly terrifying and stick with you, try your best not to worry about them. Allowing them to cause your more stress and fear will only increase the likelihood of more nightmares in the future. Try to focus on positive life events instead of fear and worry. Thinking of a safe space or a loved one will help keep your mind in a positive space. Think of how much better your sleep is becoming now that you are improving it. Don't take your worries to bed with you. As much as possible, leave any fears or concerns behind you as you lay down to sleep. Dwelling on these negative things as you fall asleep will only increase the likelihood of having a bad dream. As you fall asleep, focus your mind on the rhythm of your breath. Gently and naturally, follow your inhalations and exhalations with your mind. If your mind wanders, refocus on your breath. Focusing on your breath will allow your thoughts to pass by without disturbing your sense of calm. Try not to dwell on any thoughts as you fall asleep. Let your thoughts pass by without focusing on them or making judgements about them Practice visualizing a safe space. If you feel too stressed or find yourself focusing on negativity, try imagining a safe space. By visualizing a safe space, you can find relief from the source of your anxiety for a time, allowing you to return relaxed and refocused. Find a real, physical space that you can get comfortable in. Start to imagine your safe space. Your safe space can be any place at all, real or imagined, that makes your feel secure and relaxed. Use all of your senses in your imagining of your safe space. See, hear, smell, feel, and maybe even taste your secure and safe space. Be aware of your body and any tension you are carrying. Release and relax that tension as you enjoy your safe space. Be in your space for for at least five to ten minutes. When you feel relaxed, slowly return by opening your eyes and calmly sitting for another minute. Use imagery rehearsal therapy. If your nightmares have repetitive elements or happen frequently, you can use imagery rehearsal therapy to rewrite your bad dreams. Follow these steps to take control of your nightmare: If you have a recurring nightmare, write it down in detail. Make any changes you want with your nightmare or write an entirely new dream that you want to have. For example, if you encounter a monster in your nightmare, try changing it into a kitten. Before bed, and throughout the day, imagine your new dream with the changes you made. Visualize the new narrative and remind yourself that this is how the dream is now. Be confident that this new dream is the one you will experience instead of the old nightmare. There are a multitude of additional potential causes. Examine the following possible causes of your nightmares to see if any of them are applicable to your situation: A new drug prescribed by your healthcare provider. Certain medications could cause nightmares as a side effect. Interactions with existing prescriptions and any new medications could also be responsible. Ask your doctor about any new prescriptions and if they may be responsible for your nightmares. Drinking too much alcohol. Alcohol consumption can cause nightmares by interrupting deeper levels of sleep, when dreams often occur. Reduce alcohol consumption to improve sleep quality and reduce the frequency of nightmares caused by heavy alcohol usage. Eating just before going to bed. When you eat before bed, your metabolism increases, keeping you awake and preventing you from having deep, restful sleep. Avoid any snacks before bed to sleep better and lower the chances of having a nightmare. Illness with a fever. Being ill, especially with a fever, can interrupt sleep patterns and cause nightmares. After you recover from the fever or illness, your nightmares should reduce in frequency. If they do not, talk with your doctor and look for another possible cause together. Stopping certain prescriptions. Ending your usage of a prescription, with a doctor's order, can be responsible for nightmares. If you are experiencing nightmares after ending a prescription, ask your doctor if this may be responsible and what to expect as you end the medication. Your nightmares may have common elements or will be exact repeats of previous nightmares. If you have the same nightmare consistently there may be unique causes behind this type of nightmare. The two main causes repeating nightmares are: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 71% to 96% of those with PTSD have been found to have may have nightmares. PTSD is caused by a terrifying event, either witnessed or undergone directly. Severe anxiety or depression. Suffering from either severe anxiety or depression can cause repetitive nightmares. Work with your doctor, therapist, or counselor to help reduce your anxiety or depression, which will in turn help to stop your nightmares. Improve your sleep. Take actions to make the quality of your sleep improve. Poor sleeping habits can make nightmares more likely to occur. Take some of the following steps to help get a good nights rest: Get regular exercise. Exercise helps you fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply. Limit caffeine and alcohol. Both can reduce the quality of your sleep. Make time for activities that you enjoy. Practice meditation or relaxation techniques. Have a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday Make your bedroom a place for sleep only. Don't do any other activities in your bedroom that would be counted as ?waking? activities. By mentally establishing that your bed is a place for sleep and rest alone, you will be able to fall asleep more quickly and more deeply. Avoid any activities, even simple ones such as reading or watching TV, while in your bed. Only go to bed when tired and ready for sleep. See, You are not alone. Nightmares are extremely common, affecting eighty to ninety percent of people at some point in their lives. Most often, a counselor or psychologist will help you to overcome your nightmares and you can consult me for same. All the best Hope it helped. 

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