how do you calm down/distract yourself in the middle of the night?

[knuckles]

I feel somewhat lucky that I don't often have nightmares. I regularly have unpleasant dreams or bad dreams; the ones where I can stay in bed, distract my mind for at bit, maybe read for a little while - and then go back to sleep without getting pulled back into the same or similar dream.

But other times, the pull of the dream is so strong that I end up back in it, if I go back to sleep to soon after waking up. I really dislike that pulling feeling; when my eyes keep closing from being so tired/exhausted, and it's like I can sense the dream world seeping in like a fog.

So what to do to stay awake long enough for the dream to dissipate and for my mind to re-set, thus increasing my chances of catching some much needed restorative sleep...

I have tried the following with some succes:

• going for a walk, with or without my dog (as long as the bad dream didn't take place in the dark, this works well)
• reading; preferably something calming or funny - no thriller or crime novel for me
• looking at beautiful photos (latched on to the Photography tread last night - so glad I had just found it)
• reading threads in the Achievement sub-forum; the shared joy, pride and excitement has worked wonders for me
• sitting or laying next to dog or cat and feel/see their heartbeat or inhalation/exhalation (this is best used after I have calmed down using one of the above methods)

I have tried writing down what I have dreamt, sometimes just using key words - or omitting them completely. But it has always made me feel worse. It has never brought me a sense of release from the dream. And whenever I have found such notes later on (sometimes months and years later) I have put them in the trash or burned them - they have never seemed to hold anything but terror and bad things upon re-reading.

I know many of you suffer from much worse dreams at night, and maybe the tactics you use are very different. But if you want to share, I would like to know how you rid yourself of the clinging web of the bad dreams and find a way to return to a hopefully better sleep. I would love to be able to expand on my list.

 

[Deleted member 47099]

For me, the main thing is this:

One of my friends always says "Nightmares and crap dreams are the brain getting rid of that stuff. It's dreamed out now."

That really soothes me. The idea that it wasn't just some random/ useless negative experience.

But that this stuff was in my subconsious, and by dreaming/ processing it, my brain has dumped it now, gotten rid of it.

If it's a repetitive dream, I just figure it's something that bothers my brain a lot and it chooses to process it and get rid of it often.

Dunno why, but that really make me feel at peace with it.

 

[knuckles]

Well, crap dreams sure are crappy.
Am up again. Went to bed for a little less than two hours ago and have been waking up more times than I cared to count and then had a bad dream. Am so not at ease. Clingy bad-dreams-cobwebs all over.

Right now I sure could use some of your calm acceptance. Feel like crap.
Thanks for replying @Sophy

 

[Deleted member 47099]

:hug:

You said you've seen the photography thread on the forum - I agree that's a great thread :)

Have you looked at the one called "What song are you listening to?" It's in the same section of the forum.

People post pretty darn great music there! (youtube videos)

Hope you feel better soon!!

Feel free to talk if you want, just not sure, cos you said talking bout the dreams makes you feel worse, not better?

 

[Invisible Fire]

I usually get up and do word puzzles or anything to not think about the nightmare. Sometimes I will find alternate endings to the nightmare. I find writing it down and sharing with my T helps. Nightmares can throw me off balance for days.

 

[knuckles]

Hadn't thougth of that @Invisible Fire.

I usually rip out the page of the local newspaper with the sudoku. That might work for me. Sorry to hear nightmares can affect you for days. I can usually shake it off during the morning routines. I'm starting to think I am pretty good at forgetting all these various situations that trip me up. Right until I am in the thick of it again - then I seem to easily remember all the previous times the same difficulty has gotten in my way. Anyway, I'll probably have forgotten about this nights bad dreams before long. Fingers crossed

 

[knuckles]

Have you looked at the one called "What song are you listening to?"

Haven't checked that one out. Will do that. Music videos might be a good distraction; they are fairly short and doesn't require a working brain. Thanks Sophy - also for your offer of speaking more of the dream. That's kind of you; not relevant for me right now - but still very kind.

 

[Abstract]

television. Usually of the young variety.

 

[knuckles]

television. Usually of the young variety.

Thanks @Abstract. I don't have a television, but my laptop could do the job. I am not so savvy using the internet, but I do use Youtube. I have given up on films, but I can usually keep focus for the 20 minuttes-ish episodes of various series. I have found that animated series or short films seems to be a good fit for me currently. Finding a good enough one is not easy though - and not a task I would be up for on such a night. But if I had already found a serie I liked, watching an episode or two might be helpful for me. I'll add that to my list.

 

[Missycat]

Bad dreams , nightmares are awful. I used to suffer badly but since ive been in therapy they have improved.
I have a ‘calm’ app on my phone which settles me, i listen to music, i come on the forum and i check out you tube - these all help me settle a bit.
With my t i did some work on ‘dream interventions’ (google it or check out you tube) - i found it worked and helped reduce the bad dreams.

 

[knuckles]

With my t i did some work on ‘dream interventions’ (google it or check out you tube) - i found it worked and helped reduce the bad dreams.

Thank you @Missycat. I will look up dream interventions at see if it is something that might work for me.

 

[Abstract]

Hi knuckles. I become very hypervigilant and slipping back into sleep too quickly isnt a problem I have. Have you thought of splashing your face with cold water. It can reset your central nervous system a bit.

The tele I watch when like this is very basic and childish. Ashamed to say. It depends on the dream and whats happening but its often childrens tele. Mermaids and poneys. ? There is something about it that resets things for me. Maybe my brain is functioning more like a small child at that point so it feels more appropriate. Add in a heavy soft blanket and that is my approach.