If you have been suffering from a trauma related nightmare for more than several months practice this exercise:
- Write down the disturbing dream and then change the nightmare anyway you wish and then write down the changed dream.
- Use imagery to rehearse your new dream scenario for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Next, describe your old nightmare and how you changed it.
- After this initial exercise, do not write down the old nightmare or the changed version, but establish the process mentally. Rehearse the new dream for at least 5 to 20 minutes per day but never work on more than two distinct “new dreams” during any one week.
After several weeks of such imagery rehearsal there should be a decrease in the frequency and intensity of nightmares.
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