Any Advice for Starting My Day After Vivid Nightmares?
Hi, wonderful 7 Cups community members. I am wondering if anyone out there has any suggestions/methods that have worked personally for them in terms of getting rid of "nightmare hangovers."
I fairly frequently wake several times a night after nightmares, and can manage more often than not to go back to sleep. If they arrive close enough to wake up time, though, and have been vivid/intense enough, I often find that I am unable to rest anymore. I try to begin my day, but the emotional anguish of the nightmares coupled with physical aches that I think may be caused by being so tense from them make me feel terrible. I am anxious, liable to snap/lose patience at the drop of a hat, and extremely fuzzy-headed. Sometimes it takes me hours to shake it off. And sometimes, I can't get my day going at all.
I have tried going back to bed. I have tried meditational and mindfulness exercises, both before and after sleeping. I have worked very hard on establishing sleep routines (although not 100% good at it). I have tried pampering myself with emotional and physical treats. I have, embarassing to say, even resorted to a couple of alcoholic beverages to try to even the mood (I don't need to hear how unhealthy that was, everyone! ;) I know it was inappropriate and useless, and is nothing I have a problem with. I was just desperate.). I have no one to talk with in person, and the group chats here don't quite seem like the proper place to ask for this level of assistance/help. I have tried 1-1s with some great Listeners here, although not about this specific issue. They are a wonderful resource, but I don't personally find them all that helpful.
If there is anyone out there who has experienced a similar phenomenon, and has found success with any methods I have not yet experimented with, I would love any potential suggestions. Dealing with this issue is very frustrating for me, I would would so much like to find a way to proactively manage it without resorting to asking my psych folks for pharmaceutical intervention. But, at this point, these "hangovers" are becoming debilitating.
Thanks, everyone! And sleep well.
My boyfriend struggles with this same problem. He has nightmares almost every night, and as a result rarely gets a decent night's sleep. I don't know what he's tried for it, if anything, but I can at least tell you that you are not alone.
Are the nightmares similar to each other, or are they all random and different? I recommend keeping a dream journal and recording your nightmares, especially right after you've woken up from one. It may help you to write it down. You could show this journal to your doctor or therapist, and discuss what psycological issues or what problems in your life may be causing the nightmares. if you suffered a traumatic experience in your life, or have a psycological disorder, that may be a cause for the constant night frights. Talk to someone about it, and record what you see in your nightmares (and dreams if you have them).
I hope this helps.
@TheLPSoldier Thank you for the reply and your support! I do try to write both dreams and noghtmares down. I experience much anxiety, which I know comes out in my dreaming. I have a lot going on with my Bipolar II circus, so there is plenty going on that is messing with me. There is no specific pattern of themes happening in them-- very different in nature from night to night. It's just kind of a mess. I just need to be able to process them faster and better! <3
I have just moved home after dealing with a huge life upset. I haven't been able to sleep since I got here for the same reason. I have vivid and exhausting nightmares that leave me feeling sad, drained, and traumatized. I dread going to bed.
I've thought about writing them down to try and get the feelings and thoughts out.
I'd also appreciate any advice and a glad I'm not the only one.
I have nightmares pretty often, too. Things that nobody else would consider a nightmare but that make it really hard to move forward with my day. I used to keep a dream journal, but I found I would dwell too much on dreams and not enough on life. What I do now is distract myself. When I wake up from a nightmare, I think about it long enough to be able to sort through it later, then distract myself by reading, chatting with someone, playing with my cat, checking social media- anything to get my mind off unsettling dreams. Later, once my day is moving forward, I find time to review my dream, work through the imagery so I understand it. For me, understanding is key. Once I understand something I can usually move past it. I'm not distracting yourself is actually helpful for anyone but me, but it may be worth a try if you haven't tried it already?
Best of luck, and sweet dreams.
@SerendipitousWillow Thanks honey. Seems like you have your negative dream experiences in check. I am glad for that!
Actually, lately, I have undertaken some meds that cause nightmares as a side effect and mine have perversely gotten more insistent and worse. I wish I could find a way to "win" here. I am feeling miserable.
Anyone else with ideas? I am getting a wee bit desperate.
I feel you. I have Exploding Head Syndrome that make my nightmares get my adrenaline going tenfold, and I can't go back to sleep even if I want to.
I don't know if it'll help, but what I do is keep a dream journal. It helps me to get it out on paper, and I usually do so whilst listening to some peppy music, especially with nightmares (my personal preference is kpop, celtic, or power metal). I also find that a cup of coffee and sitting out on the porch with music and/or a book helps. Busy work also helps me focus, especially cleaning my horse's stall (I know that one doesn't apply for many people). I don't normally try to go back to sleep because I can't and sometimes don't want to.
I hope that helps, and good luck!
