phew
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2008
- Messages
- 170
Share your thoughts on this. I don't know if there's any merit to this idea, but I feel that they're somehow related.
Does a person's tendency to have nightmares have anything to do with their tendency to have a bad trip? Nightmares don't have to be frequent. If it's easy for you to get nightmares following stress in your life, then the same might apply when you trip. Some people don't have nightmares even after something horrible happens to them. I've been lots of traumatic situations and I don't have recurring nightmares about them. I've gotten into a lot of fights and I don't have nightmares about it. Miserable relationships as well, and I've been fine. Others are not so lucky, and the same things I went through could cause another person to have nonstop nightmares/bad trips.
Could the same factors that make nightmares more likely make bad trips more likely? The factors listed here, for instance:
Some of those do not apply, of course.
Now, look at the treatments for nightmares:
Could the same techniques used to prevent nightmares be used to prevent bad trips? Overall health (mentally and physically) are quite important when it comes to nightmares. The same could be said when it comes to tripping.
A bad trip could be thought of as a waking nightmare, yes? If one received the proper therapy (no medication needed as you just read!) before, during, and even after a trip, wouldn't that be effective in preventing that trip and future trips from going badly?
It seems so likely. The therapist has more access to you when you're tripping than when you're having a nightmare. They can watch you and change the set and setting, and attempt to understand what's going on inside your mind so that they can help you resolve it.
I don't see how a person can just have a bad trip for no reason. There has to be a reason. Taking too much, wrong place and wrong time, negative factors in your psyche, an unresolved issue that you're not admitting to yourself, witnessing some disturbing in front of you, or even being unprepared to deal with negative thoughts and getting stuck in a thought loop that gets worse and worse.
Does a person's tendency to have nightmares have anything to do with their tendency to have a bad trip? Nightmares don't have to be frequent. If it's easy for you to get nightmares following stress in your life, then the same might apply when you trip. Some people don't have nightmares even after something horrible happens to them. I've been lots of traumatic situations and I don't have recurring nightmares about them. I've gotten into a lot of fights and I don't have nightmares about it. Miserable relationships as well, and I've been fine. Others are not so lucky, and the same things I went through could cause another person to have nonstop nightmares/bad trips.
Could the same factors that make nightmares more likely make bad trips more likely? The factors listed here, for instance:
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/nightmares-in-adultsWeb MD said:What Causes Nightmares in Adults?
Nightmares in adults are often spontaneous. But they can also be caused by a variety of factors and underlying disorders.
Some people have nightmares after having a late-night snack, which can increase metabolism and signal the brain to be more active. A number of medications also are known to contribute to nightmare frequency. Drugs that act on chemicals in the brain, such as antidepressants and narcotics, are often associated with nightmares. Non-psychological medications, including some blood pressure medications, can also cause nightmares in adults.
Withdrawal from medications and substances, including alcohol and tranquilizers, may trigger nightmares. If you notice a difference in your nightmare frequency after a change in medication, talk with your doctor.
Sleep deprivation may contribute to adult nightmares, which themselves often cause people to lose additional sleep. Though it's possible, it has not been confirmed whether this cycle could lead to nightmare disorder.
There can be a number of psychological triggers that cause nightmares in adults. For example, anxiety and depression can cause adult nightmares. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also commonly causes people to experience chronic, recurrent nightmares.
Nightmares in adults can be caused by certain sleep disorders. These include sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. If no other cause can be determined, chronic nightmares may be a distinct sleep disorder. People who have relatives with nightmare disorder may be more likely to have the condition themselves.
Some of those do not apply, of course.
Now, look at the treatments for nightmares:
Web MD (same article) said:Treatments for Nightmares in Adults
Fortunately, there are steps you and your doctor can take to lessen the frequency of your nightmares and the effect they are having on your life. First, if your nightmares are the result of a particular medication, you may be able to change your dosage or prescription to eliminate this unwanted side effect.
[...]
If your nightmares aren't illness- or medication-related, don't despair. Behavioral changes have proven effective for 70% of adults who suffer from nightmares, including those caused by anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Imagery rehearsal treatment is a promising cognitive behavioral therapy for recurrent nightmares and nightmares caused by PTSD. The technique helps chronic sufferers change their nightmares by rehearsing how they would like them to transpire while they are awake. In some cases, medications may be used in conjunction with therapy to treat PTSD-related nightmares, though their efficacy has not been demonstrated as clearly as that of imagery rehearsal treatment.
There are a number of other steps you can take on your own that may help reduce your nightmare frequency. Keeping a regular wake-sleep schedule is important. So is engaging in regular exercise, which will help alleviate nightmare-causing anxiety and stress. You may find that yoga and meditation are also helpful.
Remember to practice good sleep hygiene, which will help prevent the sleep deprivation that can bring on nightmares in adults. Make your bedroom a relaxing, tranquil place that is reserved for sleep and sex, so that you don't associate it with stressful activities. Also, be cautious about the use of alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine, which can remain in your system for more than 12 hours and often disrupt sleep patterns.
Could the same techniques used to prevent nightmares be used to prevent bad trips? Overall health (mentally and physically) are quite important when it comes to nightmares. The same could be said when it comes to tripping.
A bad trip could be thought of as a waking nightmare, yes? If one received the proper therapy (no medication needed as you just read!) before, during, and even after a trip, wouldn't that be effective in preventing that trip and future trips from going badly?
It seems so likely. The therapist has more access to you when you're tripping than when you're having a nightmare. They can watch you and change the set and setting, and attempt to understand what's going on inside your mind so that they can help you resolve it.
I don't see how a person can just have a bad trip for no reason. There has to be a reason. Taking too much, wrong place and wrong time, negative factors in your psyche, an unresolved issue that you're not admitting to yourself, witnessing some disturbing in front of you, or even being unprepared to deal with negative thoughts and getting stuck in a thought loop that gets worse and worse.