Counseling Services: How to Relax After a Nightmare

April 21, 2022 | Counseling ServicesAndromeda Peters, LICSWNightmares can be disturbing and frightening. Our minds and bodies respond to the dream, as if it is a real-life event. Waking up from a nightmare cannot only make it challenging to fall back asleep, but it can also make it challenging for us to feel safe in the moment. We may wake up from nightmares with perspiration, a racing heart rate, racing thoughts, panic attacks, nausea, dissociation, disorientation to our surroundings and time and place, and other anxiety symptoms. What’s more, trauma responses can come to the surface resulting in fear-based responses at bedtime. We may find ourselves feeling anxious in the evenings, being fearful of falling asleep, and attempting to stay awake as long as possible.This all said, impaired sleep can affect our functioning in our day-to-day life, creating significant impacts on our lives, our jobs, relationships, and other responsibilities. This is why it’s important to “reclaim sleep” af...