How to stop nightmares or night terrors?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 35 years old, and I have nightmares or terrors almost every night, filled with fear and anger. These dreams pull me deeper into the experience, and the fear feels real, nearly like I am physically feeling pain, even though it is not happening in reality. When I try to wake myself up, I can not always do it, and sometimes, when I finally manage to wake up, I fall back into the same dream. When that happens, I am too scared to go back to sleep. After the dream, I feel sad and depressed and often want to cry. I have been experiencing these dreams since I was a child. How can I stop them?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

You can not stop dreaming, but you can reduce night terrors. They are usually caused by anxiety or stress in your life, and dreams reflect your subconscious stress. To help with this, try following these lifestyle changes:

Exercise daily for 30 to 45 minutes, even if it is just a walk.
Meditate for 20 minutes each day. Sit comfortably, focus on your breath, and let your thoughts come and go without trying to stop them.
Eat healthy, home-cooked meals and avoid junk food.
Drink enough water each day.
Spend quality time with friends and family or video call them if you're far away.
Engage in creative hobbies like reading, journaling, painting, drawing, or learning something new, like a language or musical instrument.
Get seven to eight hours of sleep every night.
Avoid tobacco, alcohol, or any substance abuse.
You could take three milligrams of Melatonin about two hours before bed.

These steps should help reduce the frequency and intensity of your night terrors over time.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.