Psychologist Questions Psychologist

How do you get rid of nightmares?

I am a 30 year old male and I have nightmares. How do you get rid of nightmares?

2 Answers

That’s actually a complicated question – it’s not like getting rid of dandruff by buying a medicated shampoo. It involves many questions: how long you have had them; whether they are all on the same topic; whether they followed some particular event, especially a trauma; whether you are on some new medication; whether you have tried a substance (illegal or legal); whether you have an illness with a fever; etc. So, first thing is to pursue the meds question: if you are taking some new medication, go to your prescriber. And if you are experimenting with any other substance, stop using it. If none of that is relevant, please go to a psychologist/psychiatrist/ clinical social worker and investigate the other possibilities. If you deal with the problem, the nightmares will decrease and disappear. What a relief!
Good luck – and by the way, telemedicine is fine for this problem. You don’t need to be seen in person.

Peace,

Dr. Marian K. Shapiro
See this link for some insight:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nightmare-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353520

Or:
https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/nightmares-in-adults