You've probably had nightmares and they can be pretty scary. After all, you don't know you're dreaming until you wake up. You sleep in different stages throughout the night. One of these stages is called the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep state. You dream during REM. Sometimes the dreams are about bad or scary stuff -- and that is called nightmares.

• Why do you get nightmares?
• How do you get rid of nightmares?
• What can you do if you have nightmares?

Why do you get nightmares?

Nightmares are a way for your body and brain to deal with stress or tension during the day, and to process sadness or major events or trauma. Reading scary stories or seeing scary movies and before you go to sleep can also cause nightmares. Some medications for kids can also cause nightmares. So, it's important to tell an adult if you are taking a medicine and notice that you are having more nightmares.


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How do you get rid of nightmares?

It is impossible to completely prevent nightmares and almost everyone gets them at least once in a while. Here are some tips:

• Try to have a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at approximately the same time every day (even on the weekends) so your body can get used to it.
  
• Try using a nightlight, which can help you be less scared if you wake up from a nightmare, or if being in the dark causes your nightmares.
  
• Keep your bedroom door open and your window locked and closed.
  
• Don't watch scary movies or read scary books before bed because they can leave scary thoughts in your head at night.
  
• Try to relax before bedtime-don't eat too much or exercise before you go to bed.
  
  
  
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  What can you do if you have nightmares?

  
  If you have a nightmare, talk to a parent -- hugs help too. Other ideas include:
  

  • Draw a picture of your nightmare and throw it away.
    
  • When you wake up from a nightmare, imagine a happier ending than the scary one.
    
  • If you have lots of bad nightmares, your parents might take you to a psychologist or psychiatrist, who can help you figure out why you're having bad dreams and what they might mean.
    
  • Your parents could take you to a sleep clinic or doctor for evaluation. If you have nightmares all the time, it could be because of a medical condition. If you have terrible nightmares, doctors can prescribe medicines to help you sleep.
  
  Everyone has nightmares. Just remember -- they're not real.
  
  
  
  
  
  
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