Thread: How can I avoid dreams when sleeping?

Do you mean bad dreams, nightmares or just dreams generally?

Hi TheDreamer,

A lot of people tell you that you can not control your dreams or nightmares. While that's true to a certain extent, there are certain behaviors that have been linked to what you dream. Trying to avoid daily activities and thoughts that are associated with nightmares could really reduce or even eliminate them all together. Certain dreams and nightmares usually occur out of doubts, anger but mostly fears. If this regularly happens to you throughout the day these thoughts and feelings will eventually seek a way out through your subconscious mind.

So how do you avoid getting nightmares?

Below you'll find a few things you can do to avoid getting nightmares:

1. I've said it before but I'll say it again; relaxation is the key to good and a peaceful night of sleep. Calm your mind and body before you go to bed. Meditate, do yoga or take a hot bath with aromatherapy soaps or oils. Your muscles, nerves and mind will relax and the relaxing scents of the used soaps will keep your relaxed while you fall asleep.
2. This might sound funny but is actually true. Do not eat spicy or fatty foods before bed as this causes gas and bed smells can actually turn into nightmares.
3. Nicotine has been linked to sleep disorders in a lot of studies. Stop smoking.
4. Do not use drugs or medicine that don't directly benefit your health.
5. When you wake up after a nightmare and are able Write down your nightmare when you wake up in a dream journal. Try to figure out how it relates to your life at present to prevent it from recurring.
6. To refer back to point 1, find a way to relax. If the above doesn't work, find your own preferred method of relaxation.
7. Drinking a hot cup of tea or a warm glass of milk before bed can help.
8. If you're sensitive to horror movies, horror novels or simply scary stories. Avoid them completely. These thoughts can stick around in your subconscious mind for a very long time.

Good luck!

I don't apperceive if you can absolutely abstain this, although some sleeping pills may beating you out abundant not to dream. I do apperceive that some medication can accord you nightmares as a ancillary effect, so maybe you should attending into annihilation that you are demography and acquisition out if that is the could cause of your distress.

I tend to get nightmares a few nights after watching a scary film, or during periods of high stress. I find it very difficult to relax before going to bed - I'm going to try the hot bath thing if I can find the time.

* Try to relax and think of things that makes you happy before going to sleep.
* Trying to find what's causing these dreams and try to fix it.
* If you do end up having a bad dream try and open your eyes, breath deeply and normally while the nightmare is ending
(it may feel like your eyes are glued shut)
* Get someone to sleep with you if it gets really bad, perhaps a sibling or get a friend to sleep over.
They'll help calm your mind down—for more than one night sometimes.
* If you wake up during the bad dream and go back to sleep and end up in the same bad dream,
change your sleeping position, if you can manage to go back to sleep the second time.
* Get up out of bed and walk around in your house and get a little drink of water before going back to sleep,
that should prevent the same nightmare from recurring.
* If these dreams still occur tell a professional or a trusted family member or friend. Someone who will not tell someone else.

I would agree that eating fatty and spicy foods is one of the main causes of nightmares. I've experienced it myself because I seldom have nightmares.

You can also read books that have good stories before sleeping. This will set your mind about good things before you sleep.

The best way to avoid nightmares is not to sleep at all.

Anyway, what is the problem with having a nightmare? Just think of it as a free horror movie screening.

Sleep without dreams? Why? You are missing out on the best part of sleeping! Many people would even dream without sleeping. lol Just kidding.

Seriously, you dream because there is still something unresolved in your mind when you went to bed. So, basically, your body goes to sleep but your mind is still at work. Try this simple tip:

1. Before you go to sleep, write down all the unresolved problems that is still pending. Write as detailed as you wish.
2. Fold up the paper you have written on in (1).
3. Burn the paper until all that is left is just ashes.
4. Flush the ashes down the drain.
5. Go to sleep.

Hope this is useful.