🔼: [[💡 Dreams]], [[⭐️ Sleep]], [[💡 Trailheads]], [[Symptoms of Unresolved Trauma]] # Nightmares Nightmares are [[💡 Trailheads|trailheads]]. They're often more disturbing after we wake than they are while we're having them. During an intense nightmare, even if it's about something that actually happened to us, our heartbeat remains significantly slower than it would be if we were really experiencing the subject of the dream during waking life. Some believe they're an attempt by our [[💡 Parts|Parts]] to process [[⭐️ Emotions|emotions]] and difficult memories — like an attempt at [[🛠 Exposure Therapy|exposure therapy]] or [[🔑 Exiles have a Drive For Redemption|Repetition Compulsion]]. Some studies have shown that treating nightmares can accelerate the other aspects of [[🦮 How to Recover from Trauma|the trauma recovery process]]. ## Causes - Poor [[⭐️ Sleep|Sleep]] ([[Nightmares and poor sleep can create a vicious cycle]].) - [[💡 Trauma]] - [[💡 Sleep Apnea]] - [[💡 Restless Legs Syndrome]] - Some medications and supplements - Late night snacking - [[💡 Alcohol]] - Nicotine ## Tools [[🛠 Dream Analysis]] [[🛠 Imagery Rehearsal Technique]] [[🦮 How to connect with Parts through Symptoms]] — you can ask who is giving you the dream, what they’re trying to say, and who are the parts involved. You can also focus on the figures in the dream and find out of they’re parts. If they are, you can get to know them. ## Decrease Nightmares - [[Video Games 🎮]] - [[🌿 Lavender]] essential oils or dried lavender in a cotton or muslin bag under our pillowcase. - Reprocess memories in [[💡 Therapy]] - Practice [[🕯️ Grounding]] after a nightmare. - [[🦮 How to Improve Sleep|Improve your sleep]] - Smart Watch App, vibrates during nightmares to take you out of REM sleep - [[💊 Prazozin]] - PTSD Coach, PTSD Mindfulness Coach, Family Coach, Progressive Exposure Coach, CBTI