8 Ways to Avoid Nightmares and Get More Restful Sleep

Pay attention to your medicine

As you already know, depression and anxiety can lead to nightmares and sleep deprivation, but there are some medicines prescribed to treat these conditions that could adversely affect the quality of your sleep as well. So, before taking your meds you should talk to your doctor about these pills, such as SSRI (selective serotonin response inhibitors). 

According to Michael Breus, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, a diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine, and Fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, these meds, namely SSRI, could actually intensify your dreams and it can lead to nightmares. 

Before you change anything about your lifestyle or the medications that you take, you must talk to your doctor, because it is very important to find out the opinion of a specialist. In some cases, patients should reduce the dosage of their meds or replace them to sleep better, but their doctors should make this decision. 

“If you suspect that a medication is disrupting your sleep or causing you to feel drowsy during the day, talk to your doctor. He or she may be able to switch you to a different one that has a different side effect profile, reduce the dosage of your current prescription, or suggest a different type of treatment altogether so that your sleep isn’t affected,” writes Sleepfoundation.org.