How to Get Rid of Bad Dreams

Bad dreams and nightmares are generally caused by stress, both physical and mental. Medications, fears, sleep disorders and recent loss can all contribute to frightful dreams. To ease your mind while you sleep, try these tips.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. First, consider reducing your stress about a situation by talking with friends and family.
2. Next, take up stress-reducing hobbies such as yoga, water color or swimming. Activities like these help keep your stress levels low, even when you can't pinpoint what is stressing you out!
3. Consider what recently changed in your life since the nightmares began. Did you begin taking a new medication? Did you recently have a death in the family? Start a new job? Ask your doctor about strategies for overcoming these obstacles.
4. Evaluate your drug and alcohol usage. If you are using either substance to excess, proper counseling can help you better manage the underlying reasons for addiction or dependence, as well as reverse the other related negative health issues.
5. Exercise regularly to help maintain your body clock and sleep patterns.
6. Try regulating your sleep schedule by shutting off the light at the same time each night and setting your alarm for the same time each morning. You will find it easier to sleep after a while, but if you have trouble falling asleep try Step 7.
7. Keep your bed as your sleep sanctuary. Don't use it as a setting for completing homework, eating, watching TV or reading.

Tips & Warnings

• Try these steps before resorting to over the counter sleep aids. If you still have trouble with nightmares, consider speaking with your physician or a mental health professional.