Group treatment of combat nightmares in post-traumatic stress disorder

This paper outlines a method for detoxifying combat nightmares in a group treatment setting and illustrates the method in a three dream sequence. Aside from the initial trauma, there is no symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) more vivid, painful, humbling, and ego-shattering than the combat nightmare, which forces a reliving of horrifying events. When viewed as a direct road back to the trauma, the nightmare can be transformed into a powerful therapeutic tool if deciphered empathically in the company of combat veterans who, like the dreamer, have survived similar catastrophic events. Successful depotentiation of nightmares gives PTSD patients increased control and confidence in working through the aftereffects of trauma.