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Getting Rid of Nightmares

It may sound amazing, but most people can control their nightmares – at least to some extent – by using their own waking imagination! Here’s how it works:

Every time you have a nightmare, take some time the next day to think about it. Close your eyes and imagine it in detail, just as though you were re-living it … unless it is just too upsetting to do so. (If so, you may want to get the help of a doctor or counselor to help you work through your nightmares.)

Here’s the trick: In your waking mind, instead of letting the nightmare end badly, imagine a new, happier ending. In the new ending, imagine yourself to be very brave, strong, and triumphant! Make yourself the hero of the dream, instead of the victim.

For example, if a monster is chasing you, maybe you want to turn around and fearlessly do battle. (Remember – this is your own dream, created by your own sleeping mind, so you really do have the power to make these kinds of changes.) Or maybe you want to make friends with the monster. Or watch it shrink up into a tiny bug and then squash it… The possibilities are endless!

If you really concentrate on it during the day, and rehearse your new ending enough times, eventually, it will affect your nightmares. Sometimes it will go exactly as you’ve planned, the very first time! (Hooray!) But other times, you may need to stick with it a while before the nightmare changes in the way you want.

By the way, if things seem to go wrong at first, you might try having a "Plan B" up your sleeve… like maybe calling on a magically-powerful dream friend to help you, or pulling a special magical charm out of your dream-pocket which will protect you until "Plan A" works.

A side-benefit: using these techniques often eventually leads to having lucid dreams, which can be fun and exciting! Good luck!