Nightmares after Meditation?

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Kanen
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:12 am

Nightmares after Meditation?

Post by Kanen »

So I'm not sure if this is the place for this, but if it's not, I'm sorry.

So I've been meditating (mindfulness of breath) for about a month now, and have been really enjoying it. I normally meditate twice a day, morning and night, for 15-20 minutes. Lately, though, I've been having trouble sleeping because of nightmares or just restless dreams (where it feels like I have so many thoughts going through my head while I'm asleep that I can't rest). I don't know if meditation is the cause of this, but it's one of the few things that has changed in my life. I was just wondering if this was normal, and if so, why is it happening? Is meditation bringing things up in my mind? Or am I just starting to be more mindful of my thoughts, even in my dreams? I'm not even sure if there's an answer, but I thought I'd ask.

Thanks!

-Kanen
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Ben
Posts: 18438
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:49 am
Location: kanamaluka

Re: Nightmares after Meditation?

Post by Ben »

It could be. But it could also be your diet as well.
The important thing is not to give it any importance. It is just phenomena rising and falling.
kind regards,

Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725

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Kim OHara
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Joined: Wed Dec 09, 2009 5:47 am
Location: North Queensland, Australia

Re: Nightmares after Meditation?

Post by Kim OHara »

Hi, Kanen,
It could be that you're meditating a bit later in the evening than is ideal. Look at this thread - http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=17995 - and see if it resembles what you're experiencing.
If it does, making your evening meditation earlier may be all you need to do.

:namaste:
Kim
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