Adult nightmares

[Daisybell1]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this but who do I go to to seek help for nightmares? They'are not the wake up screaming type but more the haunting and very disturbing type when I think about them the next day. Some never leave me - there's one in particular which I had 15 years ago that I can still clearly recall.

Is this a gp thing?

You should record a food diary and even what youve done that day and see when they happen. Maybe a certain food or activity in your day is triggering them.

I get one reoccurring one that I've had since childhood but it rarely happens. Once a year maybe.

GP may be worth a visit but not sure what they would suggest.

I can't watch 'intense' tv before bedtime, like crime dramas etc as I get nightmares too. Always had them, used to get recurrent dreams too when a child. I've always put it down to a good/vivid imagination. They're not good- some nights I'm ok, others not so. Reading a newspaper article the other week on a murder had me up 4 hours later & I once saw a small scene of final destination and had dreams for months!! I don't watch horror films at all. I always used to laugh when the presenters of crimewatch said "don't have nightmares, see u next month"....I always did so don't watch it now. Think I'm just a born scaredycat!!

Agree about food/drink. I don't drink caffeine now at all (decaff tea and coffee, no coke etc), that made a huge difference. I also limit cheese.

Sorry I'm not much help, just wanted to say u are not alone

Also are u a light sleeper? Dreams you remember are normally during your light sleep cycle. If you have a deep sleep, you tend not to dream

I normally have nightmares when I'm stressed but I think there can be a lot of underlying factors. I think seeing your GP is probably the best idea, even if they can't help directly, you might be able to get a referral to a sleep specialist.

Thank you all, it's much appreciated. Elements that you all have mentioned could be relevant - new mum so diet not brilliant and light sleep, plus being a lot more emotional and finding things like the news far more harrowing than previously. I also suffer from insomnia especially when stressed so it's all adding up, isn't it?

I have a Dr's appt on Friday about something else so will raise it there.

Thank you again