Nightmares are a common symptom of trauma survivors and is listed as a symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) along with many other diagnoses, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). These night terrors can be terrifying and create a very real stress response in the body. In fact, the body is unable to tell the difference between reality and dream when it is happening! This can be debilitating for some as it can take away many hours of needed sleep. Thankfully, there are many ways to work with nightmares in a therapeutic setting. The primary goal of this type of dreamwork is to integrate and process the trauma in a way that allows the brain to categorize and make sense of the events or associated narrative.
Online Articles
Nightmare Deconstruction and Reprocessing for Trauma-Related Nightmares https://societyforpsychotherapy.org/nightmare-deconstruction-and-reprocessing-for-trauma-related-nightmares-an-integrative-approach/
What Is Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT)? https://psychcentral.com/blog/a-brief-guide-to-imagery-rehearsal-therapy-irt-for-nightmare-disorders-for-clinicians-and-patients
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Nightmares https://www.asdreams.org/article-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-nightmares/
Scientific Studies
Management of nightmares in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder: current perspectives (2018) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6263296/
Position Paper for the Treatment of Nightmare Disorder in Adults: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Position Paper (2018) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29852917/
Decreased posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms following a lucid dream healing workshop (2023) https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000456
Books
PTSDreams: Transform Your Nightmares from Trauma through Healing Dreamwork (2022) by Linda Yael Schiller
The Terror That Comes in the Night (1989) by David Hufford
Wrestling with Ghosts (2004) by Jorge Conesa Sevilla PhD
The Art of Transforming Nightmares (2021) by Dr. Clare Johnson
Sleep Paralysis: A Guide to Hypnagogic Visions and Visitors of the Night (2020) by Ryan Hurd
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