· A nightmare,
also called a bad dream, is
an unpleasant dream that can cause a strong emotional response
from the mind, typically fear but also despair, anxiety and great sadness.
·
They often set heart pounding
from fear.
·
The dream may contain situations of discomfort,
psychological or physical terror or panic. Sufferers often awaken in a state of
distress and may be unable to return to sleep for a short period of time.
·
Frequent occurrence of nightmares, however, becomes
a disorder when it impairs social, occupational, and other important areas of
functioning. At this point, it may be referred to as Nightmare Disorder
(formerly Dream Anxiety Disorder) or "repeated nightmares," which is
a term defined more specifically as a series of nightmares with a recurring
theme.
·
Nightmares, which tend to be more common in girls
than boys, usually begin in childhood before age 10 and are considered normal
unless they significantly interfere with sleep, development, or psychosocial
development And between 2% and 8% of the adult
population is plagued by nightmares.
CAUSES OF NIGHTMARE
Nightmares tend to occur most often
during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when
most dreaming takes place. Because periods of REM sleep become
progressively longer as the night progresses, nightmares most often experience
in the early morning hours.
Nightmares in adults are often spontaneous. But they can
also be caused by a variety of factors and underlying disorders.
Nightmares can have
PHYSICAL CAUSE
PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSE
Physical causes such as sleeping in an uncomfortable
or awkward position, having a fever.
psychological triggers that cause nightmares in adults.
For example, anxiety and depression can cause adult nightmares.
Post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) also commonly causes people to experience chronic, recurrent
nightmares.
LATE NIGHT DINNER
Eating before going to sleep, which triggers an
increase in the body's metabolism and brain activity, is a potential stimulus for
nightmares.
MEDICATION
A number of medications also are known to
contribute to nightmare frequency. Drugs that act on chemicals in
the brain, such as antidepressants and narcotics, are often
associated with nightmares.
Non-psychological medications, including some blood
pressure medications, can also cause nightmares in adults.
ALCOHOL
Withdrawal from medications and substances, including
alcohol and tranquilizers, may trigger nightmares.
SLEEP
DISORDER
Nightmares in adults can be caused by certain sleep
disorders. These include sleep apnea and restless legs
syndrome.
If no other cause can be determined, chronic nightmares
may be a distinct sleep disorder.
Sleep
deprivation may contribute to adult nightmares, which
themselves often cause people to lose additional sleep. Though it's possible,
it has not been confirmed whether this cycle could lead to nightmare disorder.
FAMILY HISTORY
People who have relatives with nightmare disorder may be
more likely to have the condition themselves.
DEATH OF RELATIVE
Death of a loved one (bereavement) is another cause
of night mare.
Most nightmares are a normal reaction
to stress, and some clinicians believe they help people work through traumatic
events.
MANAGEMENT FOR A GOOD SLEEP
& NIGHT MARE
Set a schedule
Go to bed at a set time each night and get up at the same time
each morning. Disrupting this schedule may lead to insomnia. Sleeping in on
weekends makes it harder to wake up early on Monday morning as it resets sleep
cycles for a later awakening.
Exercise
Aim to exercise 20 to 30 minutes a day. Daily exercise often helps
people sleep, although a workout before bedtime may have an adverse effect. For
maximum benefit, work out about five to six hours before going to bed.
Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol
Avoid drinks that contain caffeine, a stimulant. Sources of
caffeine include coffee, chocolate, diet drugs, soft drinks, non-herbal teas,
and some pain relievers.
Smokers tend to sleep very lightly and often wake up in the early
morning due to nicotine withdrawal. Alcohol robs people of deep sleep and REM sleep,
so drinkers also sleep only lightly.
Relax before bed
A warm bath, reading, or another soothing routine can make it
easier to fall sleep. train to associate certain restful activities with
sleep and make them part of bedtime
ritual.
Sleep until sunlight
If possible, wake up with the sun, or use very bright lights in
the morning. Sunlight helps the body's internal clock reset itself daily. Sleep
experts recommend exposure to an hour of morning sunlight for people having
sleep issues.
Don't lie in bed awake
If can't fall asleep, don't
just lie in bed. Do something else, like reading or listening to music, until
you feel tired. The anxiety of being unable to fall asleep can actually
contribute to insomnia.
Control the room temperature
Maintain a comfortable temperature in the bedroom. Extreme heat or
cold may disrupt sleep or prevent from
falling asleep.
HOMOEOPATHIC
TREATMENT FOR NIGHT MARE
The homeopathic remedies given below indicate the therapeutic affinity
but this is not a complete and definite guide to the homeopathy treatment of
this condition.
The selection of remedy is based upon the theory
of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach.
several remedies are available to treat that can be selected on the basis of CAUSE,
sensations, modalities , & Symptoms of the complaints
Aconite-
For children and women, with feverish heat,
thirst, palpitation,anguish, restlessness.
Guaiacum-
Nightmare when tying on back, waking with
screams, feels unrefreshed when waking up, everything seems too tight ; feels
exhausted, as after great exertion, especially in thighs and arras; great
accumulation of wind in abdomen, with pinching from incarcerated flatulence.
Mezereum-
Awakens after
midnight from vivid dreams, and with nightmare, worse on awaking; burning and
uneasiness in stomach, relieved by eating.
Nitric
acid-
Nightmare shortly
after falling asleep ; shocks on dropping to sleep ; on awaking feels as if he
had not slept enough excessive physical irritability, with weakness and
trembling, especially in the morning.
Nux
vom-
Nightmare after
taking a heavy supper or taking alcoholic beverages ; during sleep
blowing-snoring respiration; dreams full of bustle and hurry ; springs up
delirious, has frightful visions, awakens in fright from the least noise.
Opium-
Severe paroxysms,
with suppressed breathing, halfopened eyes, open mouth, stertorous breathing, rattling,
anxious features, cold sweat, twitchings and convulsive motions of extremities
; stupid sleeplessness, with frightful visions ; before midnight.
Pulsatilla-
Stertorous
inspirations ; anxious sad dreams, with weeping ; lying on one's back, with the
arms stretched above the head, or with the arms laid crosswise on the abdomen,
and the feet drawn up ; dreams of black beasts ; talking, whining, and
screaming during sleep ; unrefreshing sleep, sleepy and drowsy by day.
Sulphur-
Light, unrefrcsbing
sleep, with aching or beating pains in the head, dreams about fire, the arms
stretched above the head, the eyes sometimes half open ; talks loudly while
asleep ; jerks and twitches during sleep ; awakens with a start or scream.
Terebinthina-
Nightmare shortly
after falling asleep ; frequent waking and tossing about at night ; great
languor and loss of strength ; worms, with foul breath, choking sensation in
throat ; dry hacking cough ; vertigo.
OTHER
HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINE
Alumina
Carb. veg
Ignatia
Kali
Lach
Natr. mur
opium
Sarsap
Sepia
Spig
Sil
Sulph
Anac
Ars alb
Phos
Phos. ac
Thuja
Bell
Etc.
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