Nightmares/night terrors? how do I get over this?

Question:

Ever since I was a teenager, I've had really bad nightmares (night terrors as my doctor would call them), they always revolve around incredibly gruesome things such as death, murders, ect. I didn't have the "best" type of childhood growing up (was put into protective custody for two years due to my stepdad abusing me) and certain things still haunt me from my past. Is there any type of medication that I could take which supresses dreams? Or if not, what can/should I do about this? These nightmares have made me even paranoid when I'm awake now (always checking doors and windows to see if they are locked, closet spaces to make sure nothing is there, ect..) I thought I would get over this after all these years. I'm 26 right now, but I cannot seem to shake this. Some advice would be wonderful, thank you.

Answers:
Do not eat anything at least 3 hours prior to going to bed at night- listen to soothing music before going to sleep. Try to join a yoga class, learn some relaxation methods that you can use prior to sleeping- you want to put the mind to a peace level where it will not be acting out thoughts during your sleep mode.

read about lucid dreaming and how to practice it.
It lets you take control while dreaming. I had an intense fear of the ocean and I started practice of lucid dreaming exercises and without even trying I came aware in my nightmare and confronted the waves and I had a lot of power it was great.
Fear knows no bounds and can keep growing. Once you fight the fear, you have killed it forever. I have not had an ocean nightmare since I fouht back from being more lucid while dreaming

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In your dreams you are re-living the experience/trauma of your stepdad's abuse. "Survivors often experience frequent sleep disturbances and nightmares. Links have been made between this and the fact that children are often sexually abused in their rooms, in their own beds". If you have not tried it, consider counseling. You need to talk with a profesional who can help you through this. They may prescribe medications that can help you sleep, or reduce anxiety.

~I wish you all the best and wellness. <3

my story is much the same as yours, till i discovered a book called "lucid dreaming" about being aware that you are asleep and taking control of your dreams.
its easy but can take some time.
stick notes to your wall to remind you to think about and remember your dreams and write them down be for the details fade away .
after a while you start to become aware you are dreaming and are awake with in the dream so you can confront the scary things, i was always running away so stop ed running and started chasing trying to touch the scary things but they would fade away or run from me.
then i started to have lots of fun in my dreams , ; beautiful woman...flying.time travel you name it i used to live to sleep just so i could dream it was so cool.
but the novelty wore off after a few years and i started to miss the nightmares.
i also recommend a stress deprogramming with a NLP practisoner (type of hypnosis) and learn a martial art (empower the body and the mind will be empowered too.)

Nightmares/night terrors? how do I get over this?

Health Resources