If You’ve Tried Everything and Still Can’t Get Rid of Your Nightmares, Read This
If you have been struggling with nightmares for a long time, you may feel like you have tried everything and there is no hope. You may be wondering if your nightmares will ever go away. In this blog post, we will answer that question for you. We will also discuss the relationship between PTSD and nightmares, and whether or not therapy can help.
Let's face it: Nightmares are hard to live with
We know that nightmares can be exhausting and frightening. If you have nightmares early in the night, they may wake you up and keep you from getting enough REM sleep to really be refreshed in the morning. And if you have recurring nightmares, you may even start noticing anxiety when you think about going to sleep. Furthermore, nightmares are associated with a variety of other mental health concerns.
Will my Nightmares ever go away?
You've tried everything. And I do mean everything. Staying up later. Going to bed earlier. Avoiding caffeine. Taking a warm bath before bedtime. Keeping your bedroom dark and cool. Reading blog posts (including this one or this one on our website). But no matter how hard you try, the nightmares keep coming.
Photo by John Bussell on Unsplash downloaded 11/19/22
The truth is, nightmares can become a vicious cycle: the more anxious you get about going to sleep, the less restful sleep you will get and the more nightmares you may experience. It can feel like an endless loop that you can't escape from.
And now you find yourself googling, "Why won't my nightmares stop" or "How to stop trauma nightmares" or "Why do I have nonstop nightmares?"
The good news is that it IS possible to break the cycle and find relief from nightmares. It's just going to take some dedicated time and effort. And it's probably time to speak to a professional.
What is the Relationship Between PTSD and Nightmares?
It is not unusual to experience nightmares after a traumatic event. In fact, it's very common for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to have recurrent and distressing nightmares that are related to the trauma they experienced. These dreams can be reliving the traumatic event itself or may simply reflect general themes associated with the trauma.
There are a variety of great, effective, evidence-based treatments available that can help treat PTSD. Treatments such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) can work together to target both PTSD symptoms and the nightmares associated with them.
It's important to note, however, that even if you successfully treat your PTSD, you may still experience residual nightmares that need to be targetted directly. I focused on treating PTSD for years and would occasionally see some residual nightmares even after someone's other PTSD symptoms had decreased. That's what led me to discover specific treatments for nightmares and eventually get trained in Cogntive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares (CBTn).
So, if you've experienced something traumatic and successfully completed a PTSD treatment but still find yourself having nightmares, there is still hope. Targeting the nightmares very directly with a specific nightmare protocol may be the next step you need to consider.
Can a Therapist Help with Nightmares?
Photo by Kateryna Hliznitsova on Unsplash downloaded 11/19/22
In short, yes! A therapist trained in a specific nightmare protocol such as CBTn can help you learn to better manage your nightmares.
And honestly, if you find yourself reading this particular blog post, it's probably time for you to reach out for help. It's not easy to live with nightmares day after day and night after night. And you don't have to. Your nightmares are just a bit persistent and need some extra targeting to get rid of.
You don't have to live with Nightmares
Nightmares can become a very difficult cycle to break, on their own or when they are related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you've experienced something traumatic and noticed an increase in nightmares, it is important to seek professional help as soon as possible.
Treatments such as cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) can effectively target PTSD symptoms which often help with trauma nightmares as well.
But if you find yourself trying everything and still struggling with nightmares, it's likely time to reach out for help from a professional trained in a trauma protocol such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares (CBTn).
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares in Missouri
If you're looking for help with PTSD-related nightmares or just nightmares in general, our therapists at Aspire Counseling can help. If you're just coming in for nightmares, we'll likely use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares (CBTn) which only takes around 6 sessions. In fact, if you have another therapist you like and are seeing for other issues, you may ask if they feel it would be helpful to supplement with a quick round of CBTn with one of our clinicians.
The bottom line is that you don't have to just accept the nightmares as part of your life. Aspire Counseling offers Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares (CBTn) in our counseling office in Columbia, MO or to anyone in Missouri online. If you're just coming in to treat the nightmares, this may take as few as 6 sessions. Or, if you want to treat overarching PTSD, depression or other concerns that's possible as well. Reach out today and start getting help for your nightmares!
About the Author
Jessica Tappana is owner and therapist at Aspire Counseling. She specializes in working with college students and adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, OCD and much more!
Jessica Tappana , LCSW, is the owner and director of Aspire Counseling in Columbia, MO. She specializes in working with individuals who have experienced trauma or severe anxiety and has treated clients with nightmares for years. She was recently trained in Cogntive Behavioral Therapy for Nightmares (CBTn), and is also trained in PTSD treatments including Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Jessica is passionate about helping her clients break free from the cycle of nightmares to live more peaceful, fulfilling lives. She is licensed in the state of Missouri and works with clients all over the state through online counseling sessions.
