How do you handle a bad dream?

[zhuzhu]

I often find myself waking up with racing heart beats and aching muscle from a bad dream. I had one this morning and woke up more tired than before going to bed. Also the sense of fear I felt in the dream persisted after waking up, even when I know perfectly well that it was "just a dream".

Having nightmares is so all-consuming and defeats the purpose of a good night rest. How do you handle the leftover effects of a bad dream? Do you have any preventative measures for nightmares that you can share? Thanks!

 

[redfaerythinker]

Pick a really nice, warm fuzzy thing, like puppies or bunnies. And repeat over and over that you will NOT dream about them.

 

[yssie]

I usually get up and come out into the hall, and make myself a cup of some non-caffeinated tea - I find the warm drink soothing.

What never works is lying in the dark trying to go back to sleep right away, I just play whatever I just saw over and over and wind up taking longer to get back to sleep than if I'd got up and done something.

Once I dreamt of a terrible accident on highway 101.. I told FI to take a different route home. Though I knew it was just a dream, I felt better.

 

[Sabine]

For me, I do try to go over the dream over and over in my head, and the more I try to remember it, the less clear it gets until it all stops making sense and loses clarity. In the middle of the night, I usually force myself to get up to use the bathroom even if I'm freaked out to, and by the time I'm back in bed, I'm fine and can fall back asleep.

 

[oranges]

Like Sabine, I always get out of bed and go to the bathroom--for some reason it works every time.

 

[stone-cold11]

Been a long time since I last dream. Probably lack of sleep?

 

[Porridge]

I used to have awful nightmares before I broke up with my ex. I'd wake up in a panic, with the pillow wet from tears and my face puffy and my whole body tensed. It used to help to fall asleep with the tv on for some reason! I'd put an episode of a funny tv show on my laptop and drift off. It helped to get up and do something distracting, like listen to the radio or so some work.

It also helped to break up with the ex

 

[luv2sparkle]

I hate bad dreams. I just awoke from one. I was mad at my husband in it, the feeling still persists a bit now. It will pass, but I hate
the feeling.

If I wake from one and it is still dark, going to the bathroom helps, but at times I have gone back to bed and had the dream continue.
I hate that.

 

[Tuckins1]

I will usually snuggle up to DH and think about cute little babies or puppies or something. Now, if the dream was about zombies, I might wake up DH and make him check the house for the walking dead. I might also have to turn on cartoons (like Simpsons or Spongebob) so I can watch something completely silly before I can fall back asleep!

 

[zoebartlett]

If my husband is with me he usually wakes me up if I'm mumbling or something. For some reason, he can usually tell when I'm having a bad dream. Once I'm awake, I usually get up to get a drink of water or sometimes milk. That helps but I'm not sure why. I've woken up to find myself crying but I haven't been able to remember whatever dream I had just had. Weird.

 

[Maisie]

I usually get up and go to the loo or something. Anything to divert my attention from the bad dream. I am in the midst of coming off my anti-depressants so I am in line for some nightmares. I sleep alone now so I am not looking forward to it

 

[Haven]

I can't remember the last time I had a bad dream. I think having the mushy kitties and the dog in bed with us helps. It's hard to think bad thoughts when there's a furry kitty cuddled up next to you.

Do you have any pets that can sleep in bed with you?

 

[kittybean]

I'll usually get up and use the bathroom or get a drink, then lie down again and snuggle with DH until I fall asleep again.