Nightmares Again

[Deleted]

I've literally tried everything that I can think of to stop them. I had them all the way through growing up, then they stopped around august, now they're back again. They've been back for about 2-3 weeks now. I've tried some different mind clearing techiniques before I sleep, I've tried to get myself to lucid dream, I've 'emptied' my dreamcatcher, I've moved it positions, I've even got a new one, I wake myself up every so often, I don't eat/drink before I go to bed.. nothing works.

It's getting pretty tiring. My parents say that it's just because I have exams and that I'm stressed out, but if that's the case then I've been stressed my whole life lol. Other people have suggested fights with family/friends, that I'm worried about something etc, but really, I'd just like some more help on how to stop them. My only other option right now is sleeping pills and I don't really want to go down that road.

Take last night's dream for example:
I was with my grandparents and my sister and my grandparent's maid at their house. The maid was cleaning so we all went into the garden to check the vegetable patch (sounds cute, huh?). We came back in and there was a pigion in the kitchen and it flew up the stairs so my sister, gran and the maid went up to catch it. The next thing I remember is that there was a man standing at the window at the door. My grandad said to come away from the door and not to open it. Then when I looked around I saw that there were men at all of the windows and they were all wearing masks apart from the guy at the door. I told him to phone the police when the guy at the door started picking the lock and I felt myself freak out. I crawled into the kitchen and said that I was scared and pressed myself against the cupboard doors on the floor. I woke up after that.

It might not seem that scary but it really terrified me. I hate the thought of people looking in my window at night and tapping/knocking is even worse. I hate answering the door lol. I always make people text me when they're at my door rather than knocking. I also really hate people wearing masks- especially guys. It's not every mask, it's usually black masks or faceless masks or clown masks that get me the most.

Does anyone have any new ideas that might help stop these nightmares?

[Re Harakhti]

That's very disturbing, to be honest I've never come across all those elements in one dream, I'd have to know more about it to make sense of it.

Sometimes breaking out of nightmares is only possible when you understand why you are having them and what they mean. If you get them frequently you need to see if they have any similarities to each other, and whether or not they are justified/the result of something you've not dealt with in the past, or may be facing now or in future.

[Railaybara]

@cap
I know a lot of my nightmares always end up having a similar meaning, or are always telling me something that ends up being something I need to know.
I'm not sure on this one, mine just went away after praying to God and such asking not to have them. I do get them every once in a while, and when I do they're bad...and I feel bad that I have no advice.
Because I know how you feel. I guess keep trying to feel completely relaxed when you sleep or just be so tired that you just pass out...but I'm not sure of any real advice.
-Rail

[Deleted]

@ Cap

If you're Christian, you could pray. I do that. I used to get horrible nightmares, but no more.

[Deleted]

@re
They're all different now. They used to feature the same man but now they just seem random.

@rail
Don't feel bad, I'm greatful for your reply ^^

@seric
I'm not Christian but I do believe in the Christian God. I won't say what my religion is because when I mentioned it to other people it hasn't been very well received. Most people don't understand it and jump to conclusions.

[Deleted]

@ Cap

I'd like to hear it, if you want to, please PM me about it. It sounds interesting.

[Railaybara]

@cap
It would be interesting to hear your religion too, actually.
Do you remember mostof your dreams exactly?
-Rail

[Deleted]

@rail
I do remember 99.9% of my dreams. I'll PM you about the religion.

[Railaybara]

@cap
Is the theme mostly of fear and destruction like the one you have, or do they differ?
-Ssyjin

[Deleted]

Mostly around the same themes:
Murder, rape, torture, pain, fear, abandonment, darkness and lonliness.

[Railaybara]

@cap
I see.
Those seem to be common themes.
-Ssyjin

[Deleted]

@rail
I think it's because it's what a lot of people fear.

[Deleted]

I know how you feel. My nightmares are incomprehensibly odd, but still horrify me. What helps for me is some simple meditations. And when I mean simple, I mean simple. I have horrid concentration skills at night, so....

Breathe in a rhytm that is comfortable to you while laying down. When you feel relaxed, imagine yourself with the person you are most comfortable. Tell them about your day and what you accomplished, but stick to the good. Do not focus on it too much - this doubles as a sleep aid.

After you do this, or before, tell yourself "I have good dreams." You can also do this with other things "I have a positive attitude towards life," for example. Believe yourself, and it will become true. This is especially for improvement (as in "I have good dreams.") on one's self.

[Deleted]

@nevermore
I do meditations before bed. That was what I meant by the 'mind clearing' stuff

[Railaybara]

@cap
Sometimes when I do meditations before bed, it actually causes me nightmares or flashbacks from times before....that arn't from this life. Or bringing me places that I've been before.
What if you try not to meditate before bed? Or maybe that is just me.
-Rail

[Deleted]

@rail
I'll try it.

[Railaybara]

@cap
Let us know how is goes.
-Rail

[Deleted]

Cap, try not to let yourself get too hot or cold while you sleep. Being too hot or cold can cause nightmares in some people. It does for me^^;;

[Deleted]

@cap

Yeah, please don't start with the sleep aids. After so many you begin to rely on them for any sleep at all. I take them sometimes, but only if I absolutely have to because I tend wake up every hour on the hour. I would suggest having some kind of "security blanket" when you go to bed. By this I mean like how a little kid takes his teddy with him to bed: keep something that you think comforts you close by when you sleep. Even if it is that "teddy." I don't think anyone can judge someone for still sleeping with one. I hope your nightmares go away, and I hope I helped at least a little.

Take care, okay?

~Shirou

[Deleted]

@rail
I didn't meditate before sleep last night and I didn't have a nightmare but I don't know if t was by coincidence or not.

@wolven
Because it's starting to get really cold here, the house is always kept toasty. I never wake up sweating or chittering so I don't think it's that.

@shirou
I actually go to sleep with a teddy XD his name is Polar Bear. Very creative, I know.

[Railaybara]

@cap
In that case, it seems that you should try this again to be safe.
-Ssyjin

[Deleted]

@ Shirou

I sleep with a little white tiger... and that huge black monster (Stan) I showed you. XD They help me quite a bit.

[Deleted]

@cap
That is actually really adorable. xD I sometimes sleep with a little fox I call Foxy, so I'm just as creative, I suppose.

@seric
I saw those. I won't judge. ^-^