New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
| Stress can produce unpleasant dreams and disrupt sleep. Lavender is calming and can help prolong sleep and ease the stressful thoughts that can lead to nightmares. Place a bowl of saltwater beneath your bed, and before you go to bed, place a few drops of lavender on the surface of the water (do this each night until dreams improve). In addition, before sleeping, think back over the day's events in reverse order. This can help diffuse mental stress, which can sometimes cause nightmares to occur as the brain attempts to problem- solve during sleep. You may not find immediate answers or solutions, but sometimes insights may arrive in dreams. Try not to obsess over anything; briefly acknowledge situations and tell yourself you will "sleep on it." Breathe deeply, and briefly tense and release each set of muscles, from head to toe. Add more lavender so you can smell the relaxing scent. |
