How to get rid of bad dreams and nightmares

Nightmares can be triggered by many factors, including: Stress or anxiety. Sometimes the ordinary stresses of daily life, such as a problem at home or school, trigger nightmares. A major change, such as a move or the death of a loved one, can have the same effect.

For some people, medicines, alcohol, drugs, lack of sleep, fever, or anxiety sometimes cause nightmares. Often, though, nightmares seem to be triggered by emotional issues at home or school, major life changes (such as a move), trauma, and stress — even if what happens in the nightmares seems unrelated to your life.

Bad dreams are a perfectly normal occurrence unless they begin to disturb the child’s sleep pattern and/or interfere with his or her psychological and social development. Adults can also have nightmares, although they do not usually have them as often as children.