“Tired of Bad Dreams? Tips to Chase Them Out of Your Bedroom”

Metro told you before how it is that your brain wakes you up with a bad dream. You wake up sweaty and your heart racing, like you just ran a marathon. After a long day you are ready for a good night’s sleep, but the impressions of the day do not always allow that. If only there was a remedy that chases away bad dreams…

Sleep consultant Maryanne Taylor chimed in Metro UK a number of tips to chase bad dreams out the door.

You’ve had a long day at work or school and when you walk into your bedroom you give in to your desire and crawl into bed. You read a book or watch your favorite series, but the clock is ticking and it’s time to go to sleep. It all starts well. Unsuspectingly, you start dreaming and doze off peacefully. But then, you suddenly wake up because your nice dream has suddenly taken a strange turn. Bathed in sweat, you look for the light switch to see if you are safe. You drink some water and try to forget the bad dream so that you can fall asleep again. But because of the adrenaline that flows through your body, this does not work. Conclusion: your good night’s sleep is ruined and you feel miserable. So any tip to chase away bad dreams is welcome.

Culprit of bad dreams

“We know that you cannot completely control your dreams. Still, there are techniques you can use to minimize the likelihood of bad dreams,” says Taylor, who founded The Sleep Works in 2010. It is important to relax before falling asleep. So try to turn off your brain in time. “The more active your brain is before you go to sleep, the more likely you are to have nightmares. Stay away from electronics and distracting TV shows. A relaxing calming activity, such as a warm bath or shower, will reduce your anxiety. Listening to music or an audio book and doing breathing exercises also contribute to relaxing your body and brain.”

Don’t forget your bedroom

Easier said than done you might think, but the fact remains that lowering your stress level can improve your sleep, and therefore also your dreams. Does this sound a bit too difficult? Don’t worry, there are plenty of other things you can do to relax. “Exercise is also a stress reduction technique. By walking, running and doing yoga, your body releases endorphins. These are mood-enhancing chemicals in the brain. In addition to a hot bath and shower, talking to someone and spending time with family and friends also helps,” says Taylor.

Your bedroom itself is also more important than you think. When your room is a mess, so is your brain. You have to put a little love into the place where you sleep. “Make sure your bedroom is a restful place. Not too cold, but not too hot either, and dark and quiet,” she says. “You can add relaxing elements, such as an oil diffuser or white noise machine. That can contribute to the quality of your dreams.”

How do you get rid of it?

A nice cup of coffee for you after dinner dip may be good for your mood, but not for the quality of your sleep. Your brain will thank you for tapering off your caffeine and alcohol intake in the evenings. “Caffeine and alcohol can affect sleep quality and can induce vivid and disturbing dreams.”

It’s probably not the first thing you think of when you wake up with a start. But it’s important to write down your bad dreams. “Writing down your past dream can help you process underlying emotions and triggers that may contribute to the dream,” says Taylor. “If the dreams continue regularly, write down what you remember each morning. This can also help identify patterns or themes that may arise throughout the day.”

With these tips you can hopefully crawl into bed with peace of mind and finally enjoy a good night’s sleep.

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