Everyone seems to have a solution for fending off nightmares. When I posed the dilemma to a group of friends, I recieved so many varied responses -- some funny, some fascinating. Here are just a few I gathered:- Drink warm milk.
- Or...cut dairy from your diet completely.
- Take a sleep aid, like Ambien or Lunesta.
- Put a dream-catcher by your bed.
- Keep a dream journal, and write down the dream as soon as you wake.
- Abolish guilt {perhaps nightmares are a product of guilt?}.
- Play relaxing music or a funny movie in the background.
- Keep a glass of half-full water on your nightstand -- an old wive's tale.
- Learn to wake yourself while dreaming, or train yourself to lucid dream.
- Be grateful that your dreams, rather than your life, are nightmarish!
I personaly like Nietzsche's bit of snarky wisdom on what to do when you wake up after a nightmare: "You ingrates! You should go to sleep again and dream better!"
::The images above are from the Coma pool on Flickr. Also check out Coma Magazine, to see more work from these amazing surrealist photographers...who seem to have a bit of experience with nightmares.
