Nightmare disorder: causes, symptoms and treatment methods Nightmares are unpleasant and frightening dreams that usually come to a person deep in sleep and cause them to wake up with fear and worry. These types of dreams can temporarily increase heart rate and breathing and create a sense of insecurity. Various reasons such as stress, anxiety, past bitter experiences, medication or psychological problems can cause nightmares. Sometimes nightmares need treatment or counseling.

What is nightmare disorder? Nightmare disorder or dream anxiety disorder is a type of sleep disorder (parasomnia) that affects about 4% of adults. This disorder involves complex and disturbing dreams that usually involve frightening images or situations, such as death or threats to one's safety. Nightmares often occur when dreams are longer and more vivid. After waking up, the person usually quickly regains consciousness and regains control. However, these experiences may cause severe distress and negatively affect a person's emotional and physical well-being over time. Nightmare Disorder Criteria - Long and deeply disturbing dreams that are well remembered and repeated many times. The theme of these dreams is usually a person's attempt to escape from dangerous situations that threaten his life, security or physical health. They often occur in the second half of the main period of sleep. - After waking up from these disturbing dreams, the person's senses quickly return and he becomes alert and alert. - This disturbance, from a clinical point of view, causes significant suffering (distress) or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of life. Nightmare symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (eg, drugs of abuse or prescription drugs). - If there are mental disorders or physical complications at the same time (comorbid), these disorders alone cannot explain the disturbing dreams that are the predominant complaint. (Source: American Psychological Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5-TR, Dr. Mehdiganji, Tehran, Savalan) Causes of nightmares according to DSM-5 - Stress and anxiety are the most important causes of nightmares. - Traumatic experiences or upsetting events such as losing loved ones. - Disturbance in sleep patterns, lack of sleep, fatigue from long flights, illness or fever. - Side effects of certain drugs or treatments. - Taking or stopping taking medications such as sleeping pills. - Drinking alcohol or stopping drinking it. - Breathing problems during sleep such as sleep apnea. - Sleep disorders such as narcolepsy or sleep anxiety. - Eating food within a short period of time until bedtime. Daily exercise prevents nightmares Researchers at the University of Texas have found that people sleep better at night when they are physically active for at least 60 minutes a day. Exercise also reduces the amount of time people spend in the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep — where dreams and nightmares typically occur. According to Johns Hopkins University, this period of time is when most people experience nightmares. This finding is in line with the advice given earlier by doctors to reduce nightmares. Sleep scientists at Stanford University have also stated that regular exercise, yoga and meditation can help reduce stress and improve sleep quality. As a result, it leads to the improvement of nightmares. Are nightmares in middle age a sign of dementia? A new study shows that nightmares in middle age can be a sign of the possibility of developing dementia later in life. People who have nightmares at least once a week are four times more likely to develop dementia than others. It is still unclear whether everyday stressors cause nightmares that eventually lead to dementia, or whether the nightmares themselves are an early symptom of dementia. Early signs of dementia - Memory disorder - Apathy and decreased motivation - Problems in finding the right words Difficulty in performing daily activities - Mood changes - Lack of communication with surrounding events - Orientation disorder (The results of this study were presented at the annual conference of the European Academy of Neurology.) When should you see a doctor? Occasional nightmares are usually nothing to worry about. If your child is having nightmares or you yourself suffer from nightmares, you can bring this up with your doctor during a routine checkup. But in case of the following symptoms, medical advice is necessary: - Nightmares continue frequently and continuously. - They regularly disturb a person's sleep. - They have created a fear of sleeping. - They have caused behavioral problems or disturbances in daily functioning. Nightmare disorder treatment To treat the disorder of nightmares, there are different methods that should be chosen according to the mental and physical condition of the person, after consultation with a specialist. These methods include the following: - **Conversation with expert counselors** at Pirouzi Psychology Center can be effective in reducing nightmares. **Daily exercise** can help improve mental and physical health and reduce many psychological problems, including nightmares. Try to make exercise a part of your daily routine. - It is better to avoid caffeinated drinks, alcohol, sedatives and similar substances before going to bed. - Some drugs may cause sleep disorders in addition to causing insomnia. In this case, it is necessary to consult with the psychiatrist of the Victory Clinic to adjust the medications. Learning relaxation techniques can be effective in reducing nightmares. Talking to friends or family members about nightmares can help reduce stress and ease problems. Also, the use of traditional medicine with the use of teas such as thyme, chamomile tea, borage, mountain tea, lemon balm and similar herbs can have positive effects in the treatment of nightmares. Pirouz Psychology Clinic can help treat nightmares by providing specialized and consulting services. The specialist team of this clinic uses scientific methods and modern psychological treatments to identify the causes of nightmares and design treatment plans that suit the individual needs of each patient. From specialized consultations to teaching stress management and relaxation techniques, Pirouz Psychology Clinic has been able to help many of its clients reduce and treat nightmares and improve their sleep quality and mental well-being.

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