I had a grief nightmare last night that sent me on a quest to research them. In the podcast today I discuss what areas of the brain are active when we sleep that are involved in dreams and nightmares. Nightmares occur during REM sleep. We have about four cycles of REM sleep a night. The longer we sleep the longer the REM cycles last which results in more nightmares and dreams in the early mornings. Several things can cause nightmares such as stress, medical disorders, medications, and bereavement. Using my dream as an example we walk through how to use the information obtained in the dreams to highlight areas that need attention in our lives. Our dreams and nightmares are often symbolic of our past experiences and current stressors combined with the current moment. Using these symbolic messages we can learn to cope with the nightmares. Several techniques are discussed for coping with nightmares. One technique is practicing an alternative outcome to the situation. A second technique is coping with the emotions that are triggered by the nightmares. Finally, use all the information from your nightmares to help you find a path to resolve the conflict or experience that is interfering with your sleep. Listen in and let me know what you think.
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Biography:
I was living the average life. I was married with two children working in a profession that I loved. On June 19. 2011 that life was destroyed and I became another person. My oldest son died unexpectedly. My son did not die from cancer. Chemotherapy killed him. It is a common experience, but I didn’t know that then. I thought that chemotherapy was going to save him. Almost immediately I felt betrayed by my profession because I was a counselor. I should have known how to handle his death. The loneliness started almost immediately. I felt so alone. I stopped sleeping and the people around me began to disappear. I knew I need community. 10 years later I am finally in a place where I am trying to build the community that I so desperately needed when Christopher first died. We can’t change that our children died, but we can help each other through it. Join me in creating a community for grieving mothers to share our stories with each other creating a sacred space for authentic grieving.
It is my mission for the podcast to provide grieving mothers everywhere a safe, sacred space where their grief is accepted. It is through the podcast that the culture of silence that surrounds the grief of the mother will be dismantled, and a culture of support will be created. It is our vision to create a community where we can share our questions, and concerns, and support each other.
I am here and I am listening. I am honored to hear your story.
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