Is there a ‘cure’ for nightmares?

[sunshineandshowers21]

I’ve always had nightmares even since I was little but lately I’m having multiple nightmares every single night. Stuff like my family dying, my children being abducted, home invasions... and when I wake up I feel very disoriented and ‘out of it,’ sometimes I see things that aren’t there or have a pressing feeling in my chest like something really bad is about to happen. These nightmares are now really affecting my sleep and I am constantly exhausted. I’ve tried all sorts to try and stop these nightmares - no tv before bed, no phone, nightlights, no caffeine before bed, warm baths, sleep sprays, breathing and relaxation techniques - but nothing seems to work. My partner thinks I should see a doctor but I wouldn’t even know what to say or even what a doctor could possibly do. I just feel an idiot being nearly 30 and being afraid of going to sleep because of nightmares. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Following - as this happens to me and its emotionally and physically exhausting.

Seeing a doctor isn’t a bad idea, they might be able to help. This may not be helpful, but my daughter used to wake up about 2am with awful nightmares most nights. We started waking her up about 1.30/1.45 to go to the toilet and have a drink and the nightmares stopped. I think we must have disturbed the cycle. Then once she stopped having them the stress of bad nights stopped as well which I think was making her worse. Something like that might be possible.