What is a Nightmare?

Omgamandaa | Jun 4, 2010 |

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Nightmares.

Everyone has nightmares at some point in their lives. They can be incredibly frightening if you don't know what is going on and sometimes, they can be incredibly stressful! Do you really know what a nightmare is, though? Most people know that a nightmare is a bad dream, but they probably don't know the details about what a nightmare really is.

Nightmares are most common amongst children, typically between the ages of three and six. This is because, at that age, we are developing our fears and our imagination is very active. Nightmares are frightening or unpleasant dreams that disrupt sleep. Sometimes, nightmares can even cause stress in your day to day life, instead of just while you're sleeping. It can be incredibly relieving to wake up and realize that the dream was not true, but then you have this feeling that you need someone there. Children especially, need to be comforted when they wake up from nightmares, as they are more likely to burst out into tears once the realize what is going on.

How to comfort a child after a Nightmare

Listen to your child. They want to explain to you what is going on and why they are scared, so you should give them that opportunity.
Provide a nightlight. Most children sleep a lot better knowing that the nightlight is there. If they wake up, they aren't consumed in total darkness. It makes things a lot easier.
Check under the bed and in the closet for monsters. Even though it is silly, it can be very reassuring for the child to know there is nothing there.
Sing to your child. Singing a soothing song can help the child drift back into a peaceful sleep.
Stay with your child until they fall asleep, but don't bring them into your bedroom. It is important for a child to learn to sleep by themselves and not be dependent upon an adult.

Just remember that nightmares are common, and everyone experiences them at some point. Eventually, they will occur less frequently, but until that happens, you should be aware that your child needs your support during these times. This is how young children deal with stress and eventually they will find better ways of dealing with it, as they get older. Just don't get frustrated if your child wakes you up every other night needing comfort, this behavior could rub off on the child and they may begin to resent you.

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Comments

Jun 5, 2010 3:20pm

Glunn11
Amazing article. Don't have any kids, but I think many parents could definitely benefit from reading this one. I had a lot of nightmares when I was little, and it always helped when my parents checked for the monster in the closet ;)

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