Write an article based on this "Tell funny stories. Laugh at yourself. Ask questions. Help people find a common bond. Let other people talk. Dance. Get their attention. If all else fails, go out and do stuff."
article: It can be tricky to tell a story that can entertain a crowd and make people laugh. Some stories are hilarious if you tell them to one person in private, while others really can win over a diverse group of people. Do not tell a story that would embarrass your friend or family members. The key is to keep the story short enough to hold interest, but long enough to have entertaining details that leave people wanting more. Tell the story with charm and confidence, and, if you can pull it off, you can even reenact parts of the story of do impressions of the people involved. While you shouldn't spend all night trying to tell stories to entertain people, one or two stories per night can really do the trick. Here are some things to keep in mind: A story that lightly and playfully makes fun of someone you all know, whether it's a friend or a teacher, can crack people up, especially if you know how to do impressions. However, if your story is mean-spirited in nature, people will be naturally turned off. Read the audience as you're telling the story. If they're making eye contact, not whispering to each other or playing with their phones, or even gently nodding as you talk, then they're engaged and want more. But if they're shifting on their feet, looking at each other, or act like they're in a dentist's chair, then you should probably wrap up your story sooner than expected. Be animated as you tell your stories. While you don't have to walk back and forth across the room and gesture wildly like Dane Cook, you should stand upright, maintain positive body language, and gesture occasionally as you tell your story. Build suspense when you talk. People need a reason to get to the end of the story. If they feel like they already know what happened, then they won't want to hear the end. Instead of saying, "Let me tell you the story about the crazy ex-girlfriend who painted my car pink," you can say, "You'll never believe what my ex did to get revenge on me" Then, the audience will want to keep listening because they'll want to know what happened next. One important part of being entertaining is to be able to laugh at yourself. People who are natural entertainers can laugh at themselves because they have the confidence to know they're funny and don't take themselves too seriously. If you show that you're comfortable with having a joke at your own expense and that you're not too proud to know when a joke has fallen flat, then people will feel more open and at ease around you. And hey, one of the ways to entertain people is to make fun of yourself in a goofy, silly, or offbeat way. You can show off your dancing skills while knowing that you have two left feet. As long as you're laughing, other people will think it's funny. Having people laugh at you is also can also cause them to bond and to be brought closer together. This works especially well if you're trying to entertain two groups of friends that don't really know each other. They may not think they have a lot to talk about, at first, but they'll feel more at ease once they all tease you about how much you love your cat. This doesn't mean you have to be self-deprecating or down on yourself to entertain people. However, if you're comfortable enough with yourself to laugh at yourself, then it can help you keep people entertained. You may not think that asking questions is very entertaining, but if you know which questions to ask and can keep a person engaged, then you can keep people interested because they'll be talking about their favorite topics themselves. As long as you act genuinely interested, and not like you're interrogating people, they'll be happy to open up about themselves. Here are some things you can ask them about: Their pets Their hobbies Their favorite bands Their favorite movies Their least favorite TV shows Their favorite thing to do to relax Another way to entertain people is to help them find a common bond. You may think that standing around with the people you're with is about as entertaining as watching paint dry until you find out that they are all avid fans of The Bachelor. You can try talking about movies, books, places you've lived or visited, favorite sports teams, or other subjects that are likely to start a lively discussion and see what people think about those subjects. Soon enough, people will have a more engaging, fun conversation because you've provided the topic. Sports teams are a good thing to talk about, because people are likely to have an opinion about them without feeling so maniacally devoted that they'll fight each other if they don't like the same teams. Avoid bringing up any controversial topics, such as abortion or gun control, or you're likely to start a lively discussion, but not one that will be very entertaining. You may think that the best way to be entertaining is to tell jokes, juggle oranges, do the moonwalk, or just do a million things to keep your audience engaged, but in reality, you have to take a break every once in a while to let someone else get a word in. If you're trying too hard or talking 90% of the time, then it's likely that people won't really be entertained. Your best bet is to try not to completely dominate any conversation, but to make a strong, entertaining impression when you do have a chance to talk. Make sure you're not dominating more than 50% of the conversation when you're talking to one person, and that you're not taking more than 1/3 of the time when you're with a group. You don't want to put too much pressure on yourself, and you don't want to wear on people, either. Another way to entertain people is to show off some dance moves. Whether you're a pro or a total amateur, if you're willing to make a fool of yourself, then you can definitely be very entertaining when it comes to busting out the dance moves. The most important thing is that you have confidence and that you don't worry about looking like a goofball. People will be relieved and happy that you're putting yourself out there, not expecting you to be perfect. Here are some dance moves that you can practice before your big debut: The moonwalk The helicopter The robot The worm Body pop Twerking If you want to be entertaining, then you have to know how to command attention. Though commanding attention is a skill that can take time to develop, there are a few things that you can do to make sure that the people you're trying to entertain are, well, actually entertained by you. Here's what you can do: Speak in a well-modulated voice Make eye contact when you speak Project confidence by standing tall and not fidgeting Be respectful to people so they listen to you If you feel as if there's nothing more to talk about, then finding an activity to do can help keep people entertained. Take your friends to an ice-skating rink, the movies, or to a cafe. Being in a new environment where interesting things are happening stimulates the brain, which provokes thoughts and images that are entertaining to your friends. If you get the sense that people are getting bored or restless, sometimes the best thing you can do is to suggest that you switch locations. Go bowling, play LIFE, or do something you haven't done since you were a kid. This can get people laughing and will keep them from taking themselves too seriously. Play a light game of basketball or volleyball. This will keep people entertained and active. Go out into nature. Taking a light hike or even walking around a lake at a local park can keep people engaged. Who says you're too old to go to the playground? Have a retro day on the swings, monkey bars, and merry-go-round with your friends.

Write an article based on this "Learn the main causes of nightmares. Discover other causes of nightmares. Examine your nightmares for repetition. Learn the differences between bad dreams, nightmares and sleep terrors. Talk to your doctor."
article:
Nightmares occur in both adults and children. Despite being a dream, nightmares are a real symptom of something that needs addressing in your waking life. The two main causes of nightmares are: Stress. Major life event, such as the loss of a loved one or trauma. Beyond the two main causes of nightmares, stress and trauma, there are a multitude of additional potential causes. Examine the following possible causes of your nightmares to see if any of them are applicable to your situation: A new drug prescribed by your healthcare provider. Certain medications could cause nightmares as a side effect. Interactions with existing prescriptions and any new medications could also be responsible. Ask your doctor about any new prescriptions and if they may be responsible for your nightmares. Drinking too much alcohol. Alcohol consumption can cause nightmares by interrupting deeper levels of sleep, when dreams often occur. Reduce alcohol consumption to improve sleep quality and reduce the frequency of nightmares caused by heavy alcohol usage. Eating just before going to bed. When you eat before bed, your metabolism increases, keeping you awake and preventing you from having deep, restful sleep. Avoid any snacks before bed to sleep better and lower the chances of having a nightmare. Illness with a fever. Being ill, especially with a fever, can interrupt sleep patterns and cause nightmares. After you recover from the fever or illness, your nightmares should reduce in frequency. If they do not, talk with your doctor and look for another possible cause together. Stopping certain prescriptions. Ending your usage of a prescription, with a doctor's order, can be responsible for nightmares. If you are experiencing nightmares after ending a prescription, ask your doctor if this may be responsible and what to expect as you end the medication. Your nightmares may have common elements or will be exact repeats of previous nightmares. If you have the same nightmare consistently there may be unique causes behind this type of nightmare. The two main causes repeating nightmares are: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 71% to 96% of those with PTSD have been found to have may have nightmares. PTSD is caused by a terrifying event, either witnessed or undergone directly. Severe anxiety or depression. Suffering from either severe anxiety or depression can cause repetitive nightmares. Work with your doctor, therapist, or counselor to help reduce your anxiety or depression, which will in turn help to stop your nightmares. Bad dreams, nightmares, and sleep terrors are considered to be different events. They all have their own characteristics, and knowing which one you are experiencing, can help you to gauge what level your nightmares are at. Bad dreams are unpleasant dreams and they do not awaken you. Nightmares have the images and sounds of a dream, and are so terrifying that you awaken. Sleep terrors have no images or dreams, only an extreme feeling of terror and sometimes sleep paralysis. Your doctor may be able to provide a prescription, or recommend an over-the-counter sleep aid, to help you combat your nightmares. Medications for nightmares are not for everyone, and may only work in certain cases. Some of the more common over-the-counter sleep aids are: Melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that is produced by your body and it controls your sleep-wake cycle. Effects may be mild but melatonin should increase the likely-hood that you will fall asleep easier. Melatonin may cause headaches and daytime sleepiness as side effects. Doxylamine succinate (Unisom Sleep Tabs). Doxylamine is an antihistamine and has a sedating effect. You may notice side effects such as daytime drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation and urinary retention. Valerian. Valerian is a plant that is used as a sleep aid. Studies are divided as to its effectiveness. There are generally no side effects when using Valerian. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Unisom SleepGels, others). Diphenhydramine is another antihistamine with a sedating effect. The drowsiness caused by diphenhydramine can help you to fall asleep. Pay attention to side effects such as daytime drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation and urinary retention. Sleep aids may leave you feeling tired and groggy during the day. Medication interactions are possible with sleep aids. Side effects and safety are uncertain with many sleep aids. Ask your doctor if sleep medications are right for you.