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When the Boogieman feels real: Tips to stop your kids nightmares
Function of Dreams.
–The highest prevalence of nightmares has been shown between the ages of 5 to 10 years old (Schredl, Fricke-Oerkermann, & Mitschke. 2009).
-Nightmares appear to be an evolutionary tool for survival in that our brains can problem solve a variety of scenarios (Barrett, 2016).
Bedtime Routine.
-Kids need 8-10 hours of sleep.
-Nightmares occur more often with sleep deprivation.
-Make sure they are safe.
Activities:
-Practice Mindfulness
-Rewrite the ending
-Change the ‘channel’
-Stay Away Monster Spray
No new images.
-Reduce images they might encounter that could be apart of their nightmares (movies, haunted houses, youtube, tv shows, people scaring them.
Seek support.
-Medical professionals: Primary care doctor, possible sleep study, vitamin deficiencies
-School personnel: Teachers, School counselors, school friends
-Mental health: Mental health therapist/counselor.
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Stay Away Monster Spray Recipe
Ingredients:
-6-8 ounces of Water
-4 drops of Lavender essential oil/Orange essential oil/Spearmint essential oil
-(Optional) 2-3 sprays of parents perfume/cologne
Directions:
-Fill bottle with water
-Add essential oil
-Shake well
-Spray in corners, under bed, and in closet for a monster free night.
Jessie Shepherd, MA, LCMHC is a Mental Health Counselor in Utah. She has a Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Utah. Her focus is treating trauma, eating disorders and adjustment issues in adults, adolescents, children and their families. She utilizes Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Neurological Feedback. She also works with performance anxiety and performance enhancement using EMDR and Neurological Feedback.