Sleep
Nightmare Disorder
Frequent, vivid nightmares that wake you with distress and make you reluctant to sleep.
What it can feel like
- Repeated nightmares with detailed recall
- Waking abruptly, anxious or frightened
- Difficulty getting back to sleep
- Daytime tiredness and dread of bedtime
- Avoidance of sleep or of the bedroom
Not everyone has every symptom, and you do not need a label to deserve support.
Things that help
01
Rescript the nightmare
Write the dream down, then rewrite it with a different ending, and rehearse the new version for a few minutes daily. This is a proven technique.
02
Ground after waking
Turn on a dim light, name the date and the room, and do something ordinary for ten minutes before returning to bed.
03
Protect the sleep routine
A consistent wake time and a wind-down hour reduces nightmare frequency and the fear around sleep.
Want to actually do these? Save them to your practices and tick them off as you go.
Add to my practicesWhen to reach for more support
Image rehearsal therapy is highly effective. Ask a GP if nightmares are frequent, or linked to trauma.