How do i prevent nightmares?

You can't: Nightmares are interesting. In young children they often are simply reliving their day in their sleep and can present as a nightmare. They are a common childhood occurrence. With nightmares children will wake and be scared. Night terrors are a sleep disorder that are also common. The child is not awake when they are talking, crying or sleepwalking. See tip for more info.

Prazosin: Also, prazosin (a medication for blood pressure) is effective in reducing nightmares, particularly in people with ptsd. It is not sedating, but it is thought to alter sleep architecture for the better. It is started at low dose (1-2mg) but doses as high as 10-12mg or more may be necessary. 5mg seems about average from my experience. Side effects are related to a decrease in blood pressure.

Reduce Stress: I find that writing in a journal about the emotions of the day is a very helpful way to process stress. Other individuals benefit from meditation, light exercise, soothing tea. The mindbody workbook, is a tool i developed to help people process stress and tension associated with physical symptoms.

See below: If nightmares are a constant problem, please obtain a psychiatry referral from your primary care doc. There are many different causes for nightmares that should be ruled out before one can conclude that it is a coping problem.