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Nightmare Cycle Cracked: Oklahoma Study Reveals Cause
9 Apr
Summary
- Child's fear of sleep can cause recurring nightmares.
- New DARC-NESS model personalizes treatment for children's nightmares.
- Therapy empowers children to overcome nightmares and improve sleep.
A significant portion of young children experience frequent, frightening nightmares that can disrupt sleep and impact mental well-being. Researchers in Oklahoma have pinpointed a key factor: a child's fear of falling asleep after a nightmare can trigger these repetitive episodes, leading to anxiety and distress.
To combat this, a new clinical approach named the DARC-NESS model has been introduced. This model goes beyond the nightmare's content to understand the child's interpretation, bedtime anxieties, and post-awakening coping mechanisms. By personalizing treatment, therapists can help children manage their fears and improve sleep habits.
Empowering children to address their nightmares can lead to better sleep, increased energy, and improved behavior, according to child psychiatrists. While not always stemming from easily identifiable causes, persistent nightmares may also be linked to an overactive amygdala, the brain's fear center, or even underlying trauma or brain disorders.
