(Foreword: This is the continuation of our response to Anxious Julie for her quest for help for nightmares.)
DEAR Anxious Julie,
Alright, moving on...here are more reasons why you are experiencing them.
Medications
There are some medicines, which can make nightmares more likely. The list is down below:
* Antidepressants
* Antimicrobials
* Beta-blockers
* Blood pressure medicine
* Drugs for Parkinson’s disease
* Drugs to help you stop smoking
* Stimulants like amphetamine and methylphenidate (like those used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy)
If you are taking them, it’s high time that you talk with your doctor, so these medicines can be changed.
Substance Misuse and Withdrawal
Use of alcohol or drugs and withdrawal from them can make you have more nightmares. So, check this section.
Loss of Enough Sleep
If you lack quality sleep, you could set off nightmares. So, be sure to have a regular sleeping habit and get sleep hygiene, so you could doze off comfortably.
Eating Before Bedtime
If you have a pre-bedtime meal or snack, this can speed up your metabolism, which can make your brain more active, which can make you more prone to nightmares. So, avoid these indulgences.
Sleep Apnea
When you briefly stop breathing during your sleep, nightmares are more likely to visit you. It isn’t sure why, but some researchers think that the stress comes up with the condition and causes them.
There was some research, which suggests CPAP therapy can lower the odds of getting these awful nightmares. As a matter of fact, one study showed that 91 percent of participants claimed that their nightmares went away once they had CPAP therapy.
Well, we’re out of page again. Let’s continue this next time. Until then again!
Dr. Fritz
(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist and surgeon and a clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15 year stint with her radio program, “Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni Dr. Fritz.” For your questions, you may e-mail them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. If you don’t wish your letter to be published, we regret that we cannot answer them. Thank you for your understanding.)