Have you ever dreamed about being chased, falling, lost in the wilderness or in an out of control vehicle? Nightmares can be totally disturbing so if you don’t want to be bothered by harrowing images in your sleep and wake up in the middle of the night trembling with fear, consider these tips from an expert mattress store for Dawsonville. It’s time to finally put your nightmares to sleep – for good.
Establish a routine. While you cannot totally eliminate the risk of having nightmares, you can drastically improve your chances of sleeping peacefully through the night by establishing a good bedtime routine. Basically, you need to go to sleep and wake up at about the same time every day.
This may sound easy but some people will find this difficult to accomplish, especially if their internal body clocks are out of sync. If you’re one of them, get your internal body clock back on track by getting your daily dose of sunlight, doing some moderate exercise, and winding up before retiring for the night.
However, also remember that alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine can disrupt sleep patterns and affect the quality of your sleep so if this is your idea of a relaxing routine, you might want to look at some other ideas. Also, avoid eating foods that may cause indigestion.
Seek comfort. Some kids feel more secure when sleeping with their favorite toys or blanket. Some prefer having a night light while some prefer to leave their doors open at night. Believe it or not, the same can be said for adults. So do what it takes to make you or your child feel safe and secure during the night and hopefully, you can put the nightmares to sleep. Also make note to not read your favorite Stephen King Book or watch Walking Dead before bedtime. We know how hard that is!
Talk it out. Don’t keep bad dreams to yourself. Talk it out with someone who will listen. Consider discussing it with your partner, therapist, or support group. Experts suggest that you can also write it down and change the ending (through a process called Image Rehearsal Therapy or IRT).
Deal with stressors. Stress can increase your risk of nightmares. In fact, studies indicate that an extremely stressful situation (e.g. a traumatic life event) increases the odds of having the same nightmare over and over again for a period of time. This is why experts recommend de-stressing before going to bed, especially if you’ve just had a particularly tough day. A lot of people claim that soaking in a nice, warm bath, listening to soothing music, and meditating before bed really makes a difference.
Play video games. Playing video games before bedtime can benefit some people, according to a study of American and Canadian soldiers without PTSD. This particular study reported that the subjects had less threatening nightmares when they play video games before going to sleep. However, this may not have any beneficial effects on women who previously experienced severe stress or trauma.
Seek professional help. Frequent nightmares can be disturbing. About 4% of the adult population and 50% of young children aged 3 to 6 are affected with nightmare disorder (also called dream anxiety disorder), a sleep disorder involving disturbing dreams. This condition greatly impairs an individual’s quality of life, causes major distress and behavioral problems during the day, and makes them avoid sleep altogether (which may lead to more serious health-related concerns). Nightmare disorder is a serious problem so consult a physician or counselor if you have frequent nightmares that persist over time.
Get the right mattress. Experts agree that your environment greatly affects the quality of your sleep so choosing the right mattress and setting the right conditions can promote better sleep and help banish bad dreams for good. Do you think you’ll be more comfortable in a memory foam, a latex foam, or an innerspring mattress? Different people prefer different types of mattresses so know what you like and go for it! Remember, you spend about 1/3 of your life in bed so choose wisely.
Sometimes, all it takes is a comfortable, high-quality mattress to make bad dreams disappear. At Fred’s Beds, we have everything you need for a good night’s sleep – for less! Visit our store in Cumming, a hop away from Dawsonville. You can also Contact Us Now or give us a Call at 770-628-5875 today to get the best deal on the most luxurious, top of the line mattresses. Yes, you can get the mattress of your dreams without paying a fortune!
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