When the day comes to an end, we get into our beds with the intention of having a restful sleep. It’s a time for our bodies to rest and reset and prepare for the following day.
But sometimes that sleep isn’t as restful as we want…it’s scary, stressful, and at times unbearable.
We just lie there, having nightmares of past trauma, fears of the future, anxiety or even creepy and disturbing dreams.
It’s overwhelming and can feel like you just can’t seem to catch a break.
Sometimes we don’t even remember the dreams we had. Sometimes we can have the same feeling that we had when the trauma took place. Your body can feel the same emotions and feelings, making it seem as if you are back at that place and time again.
It can be scary…I know.
But the good news is there is ALWAYS something that we can do to help with the dreadful nightmares.
Here I will provide a list of things have personally helped me with my nightmares. I do not use all of these every night. I switch them up. You don’t have to try all of these at once either. You can just start with a few, see how you do and go from there.
1. Be mindful of the things you are watching and listening to right before bed. Nothing creepy, violent or something that could remind you of your past trauma.
2. Set the mood for your sleep. What I mean by that is, try to turn some lights off in your house and have maybe a few lamps on. Go for a dimmed setting if possible.
3. Make some sleepy time tea. Drink that in your bed if you would like.
4. Sleep with the tv on softly. Put something on that is peaceful and won’t be flashing bright.
5. Use a weighted blanket while sleeping. If you don’t have a weighted blanket that’s totally okay. Grab as many blankets as you can and place them on you creating a thick and heavy feeling. It will be a similar affect as an actual weighted blanket.
6. And this last one is my most used and favorite. I place one earbud in my ear and either turn on Abide Christian Meditation or even some classical music. This one really helps me a lot.
I hope you can find these tips helpful. Remember that if you feel like nothing is working, it’s probably time to speak with your doctor or a therapist so they can further help you.
Getting help is such a beautiful thing because there are so many different options out there to provide what works best for you and your mental health.
As Always,
You Deserve Peace
You Are Not Your Diagnosis
You Not Alone
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