Sexual Nightmares and Your Health

Sexual nightmares and your health go hand in hand, though it's not only the nightmares that have an impact on your health. Most people that have sexual nightmares have been sexually abused at some point in their lives and that abuse alone is enough to impact their overall health.

Anxiety Cause by Nightmares

The biggest impact on your health from nightmares is going to be anxiety. Anxiety can cause all sorts of physical problems including high blood pressure, insomnia, nervousness, itching and eating disorders, just to name a few. That's why it's important to reduce your anxiety as soon as possible.

Physical Harm and Nightmares

There is also the possibility of harm that is done to your body as you have your sexual nightmare. These types of nightmares tend to have a recurring theme that stems from being sexually abused. As such, you may be victimized in your nightmare, but may struggle to fight. My own position was that I would actually hurt myself struggling in my nightmares, often waking up to a stripped bed and scratches on my body from fighting in my sleep. If this is the case with your nightmares, it is probably a good idea to have someone check on you as you sleep or sleep close enough to someone that they are able to help you as you struggle through your nightmare.

Sexual Health and Nightmares

Sexual nightmares can even have an impact on your sexual health. You may wake up to a loving partner who has no idea that their touch at that moment has propelled you to a place of confusion and fear. Take the time to explain this to your partner so that he or she can understand and comfort you through this rather than feeling the pangs of rejection that you have no wish to inflict upon him or her.

Controlling Your Nightmares

When I was a child I could control my dreams. I would make friends with monsters by realizing that I was in a dream and that the monster was really just lonely. As I grew older, I learned that most people didn't do this and came to understand I was "not normal". As a result, I lost that ability. However, I have learned that to some extent I can control my nightmares before I have them, as can anyone.

The trick is to turn the nightmare to your advantage. Many people who have been sexually abused and have sexual nightmares as a result still feel that hideous pang of guilt that most sexual abuse victims feel. You will likely feel it when you wake up, as well as fear. It's time to take back control and feel some anger. It's okay to be angry at the perpetrator. They deserve it, even if we have difficulty realizing that.

By allowing ourselves some level of control, we take the power away from the perpetrator. We all saw how the lack of fear worked out for Freddy Krueger, right? While Nightmare on Elm Street is just a movie, the idea that fear propels nightmares is indeed a true one. Take that fear away by imagining the nightmare turned to your advantage. If you do this often enough, it will bleed into your nightmares.

Waking Up From Nightmares

When you wake up from a nightmare of any kind, you may find that you have labored or rapid breathing, perspiration and a state of confusion. If you have a partner, discuss your nightmares with that partner and ask for permission to wake him or her up for comfort. You may find a feeling of safety in the arms of a loved one.

When you wake up in fear, your entire house can feel like the Twilight Zone to you. Try getting up out of bed, turning the lights on and taking a walk around the house. Focus on your breathing as you do this. The walk will help to clear your head as well as allowing you to check out the safety situation of your home. Take a walk into the kitchen and get a nice cool glass of water. This will help to calm you down and may serve to ease the pain of a throat that may be dry or sore from the labored breathing, crying or yelling.

If the situation is extreme, you might consider having a sleep study done. Physicians who specialize in people who have problems sleeping will observe you as you sleep and may have techniques that will apply to your personal situation.

The Bright Side of Nightmares

Oddly enough, there is a bright side to sexual nightmares. In my experience, my physician told me something that I never would have thought of. He said that my nightmares were my mind's way of dealing with a trauma that my conscious mind may have repressed. The nightmares were a sign that I was actually starting to feel safe enough to allow my mind to explore those issues. In other words, these sexual nightmares are your body's way of taking out the trash. As scary as they are, they may just be a means to an end. So, when you wake up from a sexual nightmare, don't forget to embrace the fact that your life is safe enough now to allow your mind to do this cleansing activity. Acknowledging your current safety may be the key to moving away from the fear of the nightmares.

Reference:

http://www.livingwell.org.au/CommonProblems/Dealingwithnightmares.aspx