What do your nightmares really mean. How can understanding recurring dreams improve your mental health. Why do adults experience fewer nightmares than children. What are the most common nightmares and their psychological interpretations.

The Psychological Significance of Nightmares

Nightmares, those unsettling nocturnal experiences that jolt us awake, drenched in sweat and heart racing, are more than just figments of our imagination. They serve as a window into our subconscious, offering valuable insights into our deepest fears, anxieties, and unresolved issues. While these disturbing dreams can be distressing, they also present an opportunity for personal growth and self-reflection.

Studies indicate that approximately 50% of adults experience occasional nightmares, with about 1% reporting severe cases that necessitate medical intervention. Although less frequent in adults compared to children, these nocturnal disturbances can significantly impact sleep quality and overall well-being.

Unraveling the Mystery: Common Nightmare Themes and Their Interpretations

By delving into the symbolism and underlying meanings of recurring nightmares, we can gain a deeper understanding of our psyche and address potential areas of concern in our waking lives. Let’s explore some of the most prevalent nightmare scenarios and their possible interpretations:

1. The Crumbling Smile: Teeth Falling Out

Dreams of losing teeth are astonishingly common among adults. These nightmares often manifest as waking up to find a toothless reflection in the mirror or experiencing the unsettling sensation of loose teeth. But what does this dental distress signify?

• Self-esteem issues: Teeth are closely linked to our appearance and confidence. Losing them in a dream may reflect insecurities about your image or social standing.
• Fear of powerlessness: Some psychologists interpret tooth loss dreams as a manifestation of anxiety about losing control or influence in one’s life.
• Communication concerns: Teeth play a crucial role in speech. Dreams of losing them might indicate worries about expressing oneself effectively or fear of saying the wrong thing.

How can you address these underlying concerns? Consider engaging in activities that boost your self-confidence, seeking opportunities to assert yourself positively, or working on improving your communication skills.

2. The Relentless Pursuit: Being Chased

Chase dreams are another frequent visitor in the realm of nightmares. Whether you’re fleeing from a tangible threat like a predator or an abstract entity like a stack of paperwork, these dreams often leave you feeling panicked and vulnerable.

• Avoidance behavior: Being chased in a dream may signify that you’re running from a problem or responsibility in your waking life.
• Fear of failure: The pursuer in your dream could represent goals or expectations you feel are catching up with you.
• Unresolved trauma: Sometimes, chase dreams may be linked to past traumatic experiences that haven’t been fully processed.

To combat these nightmares, try confronting issues head-on in your daily life, setting realistic goals, and considering therapy if past traumas are resurfacing.

3. The Sudden Plunge: Falling Dreams

Dreams of falling are so common that they’ve become a cultural touchstone. Often accompanied by a physical jolt upon waking, these dreams can leave you feeling disoriented and anxious.

• Loss of control: Falling dreams often reflect feelings of helplessness or loss of control in some aspect of your life.
• Insecurity: They may indicate a lack of support or stability in your personal or professional life.
• Fear of failure: The sensation of falling could symbolize anxiety about “falling short” of expectations or goals.

To mitigate falling dreams, focus on areas of your life where you can exert more control, build a strong support system, and work on boosting your self-confidence.

The Naked Truth: Vulnerability and Exposure in Dreams

Finding yourself suddenly naked in a public setting is a nightmare scenario that many can relate to. This dream often leaves the dreamer feeling exposed, embarrassed, and vulnerable.

• Fear of judgment: Being naked in a dream may reflect concerns about being judged or criticized by others.
• Imposter syndrome: It could indicate feelings of being unprepared or unqualified in a particular area of your life.
• Desire for authenticity: Paradoxically, nudity dreams might also represent a longing to be more open and genuine in your interactions.

To address the underlying issues of these dreams, work on building self-acceptance, addressing areas where you feel unprepared, and cultivating authentic relationships.

Navigating the Nightmare Landscape: Strategies for Coping and Understanding

While nightmares can be distressing, they also offer valuable opportunities for personal growth and self-reflection. Here are some strategies to help you navigate and learn from your nightmares:

1. Keep a dream journal: Record your nightmares in detail upon waking. This practice can help you identify patterns and recurring themes.
2. Practice mindfulness: Engaging in mindfulness meditation can help reduce anxiety and improve overall sleep quality.
3. Seek professional help: If nightmares are severely impacting your quality of life, consider consulting a sleep specialist or therapist.
4. Rewrite the ending: Try visualizing a positive resolution to your nightmare scenario during your waking hours.
5. Address underlying stressors: Work on resolving real-life issues that may be manifesting in your dreams.

The Science Behind Nightmares: Unraveling Neural Mechanisms

Understanding the biological basis of nightmares can provide valuable insights into their occurrence and potential management strategies. Recent neuroimaging studies have shed light on the brain regions involved in nightmare generation and processing.

Key Brain Areas Involved in Nightmares

• Amygdala: This almond-shaped structure plays a crucial role in processing emotions, particularly fear. Hyperactivity in the amygdala has been associated with more frequent and intense nightmares.
• Prefrontal Cortex: Responsible for executive functions and emotional regulation, reduced activity in this area during sleep may contribute to the vivid and often irrational nature of nightmares.
• Hippocampus: This region, crucial for memory consolidation, may influence the incorporation of waking experiences into nightmare scenarios.

How does understanding these neural mechanisms help in managing nightmares? By targeting these specific brain regions through techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) or imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), individuals may be able to reduce the frequency and intensity of their nightmares.

Cultural Perspectives on Nightmares: A Global View

The interpretation and significance of nightmares vary widely across different cultures, offering a rich tapestry of beliefs and practices surrounding these nocturnal experiences.

Cultural Interpretations of Nightmares

• Native American traditions: Many tribes view nightmares as spiritual messages or warnings that require interpretation by a shaman.
• Chinese culture: Nightmares are often seen as visitations from ghosts or deceased ancestors, potentially carrying important messages.
• Ancient Egyptian beliefs: Nightmares were thought to be the work of demons, and various amulets and rituals were used for protection.
• Modern Western psychology: Influenced by Freudian and Jungian theories, nightmares are often interpreted as manifestations of repressed desires or unresolved conflicts.

How can understanding these cultural perspectives enhance our approach to nightmares? By broadening our interpretative framework, we can gain new insights into the potential meanings and significance of our disturbing dreams.

Nightmares Across the Lifespan: From Childhood to Old Age

The nature and frequency of nightmares evolve as we age, reflecting changing life circumstances, cognitive development, and neurological changes. Understanding these shifts can provide valuable context for interpreting and managing nightmares at different life stages.

Nightmares in Different Life Stages

• Childhood (3-12 years): Nightmares are most common during this period, often featuring monsters, darkness, or separation from parents.
• Adolescence (13-18 years): Nightmares may reflect social anxieties, academic pressures, and emerging existential concerns.
• Young Adulthood (19-30 years): Career-related stress, relationship issues, and financial worries often manifest in nightmares during this stage.
• Middle Age (31-60 years): Health concerns, family responsibilities, and midlife crises may influence nightmare content.
• Older Adults (60+ years): Nightmares may decrease in frequency but can be influenced by medication, health issues, and end-of-life concerns.

How can this life-stage perspective inform nightmare management? By recognizing the typical concerns and stressors associated with each life stage, individuals can better contextualize their nightmares and develop age-appropriate coping strategies.

The Healing Potential of Nightmares: Therapeutic Approaches

While nightmares are often viewed negatively, some therapeutic approaches actually harness their potential for healing and personal growth. These methods aim to transform nightmares from sources of distress into opportunities for insight and emotional processing.

Therapeutic Approaches to Nightmares

• Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT): This technique involves reimagining and rewriting the nightmare scenario during waking hours, potentially reducing its frequency and intensity.
• Lucid Dream Therapy: By learning to recognize when one is dreaming, individuals can potentially alter the course of nightmares in real-time.
• Exposure Therapy: Gradually exposing individuals to the feared elements of their nightmares in a controlled setting can help reduce associated anxiety.
• Nightmare Rescripting: Similar to IRT, this approach involves changing the narrative of the nightmare to a more positive outcome.

How effective are these therapeutic approaches? Studies have shown promising results, with many individuals reporting reduced nightmare frequency and intensity, as well as improved overall sleep quality and daytime functioning.

The Role of Sleep Hygiene in Nightmare Prevention

While understanding and interpreting nightmares is valuable, preventing their occurrence in the first place is equally important. Good sleep hygiene plays a crucial role in reducing the frequency and intensity of nightmares.

Key Elements of Sleep Hygiene

• Consistent sleep schedule: Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day helps regulate your body’s internal clock.
• Relaxing bedtime routine: Engaging in calming activities before bed can help transition your mind and body into sleep mode.
• Comfortable sleep environment: Ensure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature.
• Limit screen time: The blue light emitted by electronic devices can interfere with your body’s production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone.
• Avoid stimulants: Caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol can disrupt sleep patterns and potentially increase nightmare frequency.

How can improving sleep hygiene impact nightmares? By promoting more restful and uninterrupted sleep, good sleep hygiene can reduce the likelihood of experiencing nightmares and improve overall sleep quality.

In conclusion, while nightmares can be distressing, they also offer valuable insights into our subconscious minds. By understanding their potential meanings, exploring cultural perspectives, and implementing effective coping strategies, we can transform these nocturnal disturbances into opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery. Remember, if nightmares persist and significantly impact your quality of life, it’s always advisable to consult with a healthcare professional or sleep specialist.

Dream decoding: What do my nightmares mean? | by Siestio

5 min read

·

Feb 29, 2020

Nightmares are awful.

They wake you up in the middle of the night, often leaving you breathless, covered in sweat, and terrified about some imagined threat.

Sometimes, #Nightmares don’t even have to make sense to fill you with fear. You may end up staring at the ceiling all night, struggling to get back to sleep after a dream about a pile of angry paperwork chasing you through your office building.

The good news?

As horrible as nightmares might be, they’re also very informative.

Psychologists believe that nightmares give us a useful insight into our subconscious and the issues that we need to overcome in our day-to-day lives. If you can get to the bottom of the reason for your nightmares, then you could make some significant progress in the conscious world.

So, what do the most common nightmares mean?

Understanding the meaning of common nightmares

Nightmares aren’t as frequent in adults as they are in children — but we still have them.

Around 50% of adults have had an occasional nightmare, according to studies. Additionally, about 1% of all adults say that their #BadDreams are bad enough that they need to seek medical help to regain control over their sleeping patterns.

Although your nightmares might not be that bad, even one occasional disruption can be enough to send your sleeping schedule spiralling out of control. If your nightmare becomes a recurring issue, it may also prevent you from falling asleep at night, by filling you with feelings of anxiety.

The easiest way to overcome this issue is to figure out what your nightmares mean. When you know why you’re dreaming about specific topics, you can find ways to overcome your fears.

Here are some of the most common sources of #NightmareFuel to get you started.

Nightmares aren’t as frequent in adults as they are in children — but we still have them.

Around 50% of adults have had an occasional nightmare, according to studies. Additionally, about 1% of all adults say that their #BadDreams are bad enough that they need to seek medical help to regain control over their sleeping patterns.

Although your nightmares might not be that bad, even one occasional disruption can be enough to send your sleeping schedule spiralling out of control. If your nightmare becomes a recurring issue, it may also prevent you from falling asleep at night, by filling you with feelings of anxiety.

The easiest way to overcome this issue is to figure out what your nightmares mean. When you know why you’re dreaming about specific topics, you can find ways to overcome your fears.

Here are some of the most common sources of #NightmareFuel to get you started.

1. Your teeth are falling out

Dreams about losing teeth are very common for adults. You might see yourself with nothing but gums when you go to your bathroom mirror one morning in your dream, or your teeth might just feel wobbly in your mouth. It probably won’t surprise you to learn that these dreams often have something to do with your self-esteem. If you’re worried about your image, then you’re likely to have nightmares about your teeth. Some psychologists also believe that teeth-related dreams indicate worry about losing your power. Losing your teeth would cause you to feel helpless in day-to-day life, after all.

2. You’re being chased

Another common nightmare for adults involves being chased. Sometimes, you may be chased by something logical, like a murderer or a pack of wolves. Other times, the thing that’s chasing you might be ridiculous when you look back at it — such as a pile of documents on your desk. According to experts, dreams about being chased indicate that you’re feeling nervous about a lack of progress that you’re making towards your goals. If you’re worried that you’re not achieving your targets fast enough, then you may be more likely to experience a chasing dream.

3. You’re falling

According to one survey from 2016, dreams about falling are some of the most common nightmares of all. Usually, when you dream that you’re falling, you’ll wake up with a jolt, feeling as though you’ve suddenly dropped onto the bed, even though you haven’t moved. Some experts believe that these dreams are caused by your brain mistaking the feeling of your body relaxing when you’re going to sleep for the sensation of falling. These nightmares may also be a sign that you feel as though you don’t have enough control over something.

4. You’re naked

Another common cause of #SleepProblems is the dream that you’re naked in an inappropriate place. For instance, you might be standing in front of your class at school, about to give a presentation, and you suddenly realise that you’re not wearing any clothes. You might also be naked when giving a presentation at work, or when you’re walking down the street. This dream indicates that you feel vulnerable in some part of your life. Perhaps you’re worried about fitting in at work, or in a new class at school.

5. You’re trapped

Dreams about being trapped are another common occurrence for many adults. You may be stuck in a room with no windows or doors, or you could be unable to get out of a car or train that’s about to crash. Although this is one of the most common nightmares that adults face, it’s also a straightforward one to interpret. If you’re dreaming about being trapped, there’s a good chance that you feel restricted about something in your day-to-day life.

Nightmares often happen spontaneously, without warning. However, many doctors, psychologists, and other specialists believe that there may be certain triggers that cause us to experience specific themes in our nightmares.

When you fall asleep at night, your brain uses dreams to make sense of the things that you’ve experienced during the day. That means that your nightmares are also a way for your mind to handle the stresses and concerns that you face in your conscious life. When you think about your nightmares from that perspective, it’s easy to see how #DreamDecoding could be useful.

By paying attention to your nightmares and looking at the common issues you face during bad dreams, you can begin to understand what might be causing your feelings of stress and anxiety in the conscious world. If you can tackle those triggers when you’re awake, you’ll be less likely to have nightmares again in the future.

Want to learn more about the most common nightmares? Check out our complete guide here.

On the other hand, if you want more insights into the world of sleep and dreaming, check out siestio.com and subscribe to our blog!

Siestio. Sleep Matters.

Nightmare Meanings Of The 9 Most Common Bad Dreams

BY KATHERINE HURST

Even the most well-adjusted people have frightening or distressing dreams now and again. Sometimes, you might find yourself having unusually frequent nightmares or even repeatedly experience the same awful dream. In the worst cases, you can end up with disturbed sleep and images from your nightmares may haunt you for the rest of the day. But can you learn anything about yourself by thinking about the themes of these sorts of dreams? Sleep studies and psychological research suggest that you can and that your nightmares may, in fact, be a very useful guide to unmet needs and unresolved issues in your life.

If you’ve ever asked yourself “what do my dreams mean?”, this beginner’s guide will help you get a handle on any underlying messages from your subconscious. We’ll explore the nature of nightmares, and then look at what an expert dream analyzer would say about nine of the most common.

The Definition Of Nightmares

Not all negative dreams qualify as nightmares. To be nightmares, bad dreams need to be vivid experiences that make you feel sad or scared. Nightmares take place during the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep, usually after you’ve been asleep for several hours. Often, it will feel like nightmares last for a particularly long time, and it’s common to remember many of the details when you wake.

Nightmares are common in both childhood and adult life. You may experience more of them (or have nightmares that have a greater level of intensity) when you’re facing a time of high stress.

If you have a nightmare disorder, you can end up avoiding sleep in order to escape these types of dreams, and you may begin to suffer from chronic exhaustion. If you’re worried about the frequency or nature of your dreams, talk to your doctor; sleep specialists and therapists may be able to help with nightmare disorder treatment.

9 Nightmares And What They Mean

Nightmares come in thousands of different forms, and no two are entirely alike. When it comes to meanings, nightmares are often easier to analyze if you look at the key themes or events taking place.

However, a dream’s meaning isn’t always as obvious as you might think. As we go through nine of the most common bad dreams meanings, think about when you last had a dream like this (and what was going on in your life at the time). In retrospect, you’ll likely be able to see connections between your nightmares and the things that were most troubling to you at the time.

1. Seeing The Dead

When you first start experimenting with an interpretation of your dreams, you are likely to think that seeing the dead is about missing a specific person or fearing for your own safety.

In some cases (e.g. when you dream about an uncle you lost in the last year), your mind really is just trying to process your grief. At other times (e.g. when you’re waiting on the results of important medical tests), you might be struggling with an increased awareness of your own mortality.

However, it’s also wise to look beyond the surface here. For example, dream specialists say that seeing dead people in your dreams can indicate a general difficulty with letting something go; that could be anything from a job to a relationship or a house.

So, if there is no particularly emotionally evocative content to your dream, think instead about something from which you might be afraid to move on.

2. Teeth Falling Out

When nightmares are explained, their meanings can sound baffling at first. Dreams about losing your teeth are a good example. A shockingly large number of people have had at least one nightmare in which their teeth began to fall out or were forcibly removed. Most of the research around this type of dream suggests that it relates to some type of underlying insecurity or anxiety. For example, perhaps you’re about to leave your comfort zone for some reason. Or, maybe, you’re feeling like you’re falling short of expectations in some important part of your life.

On the other hand, nightmares about losing teeth can also be linked to insecurities about physical appearance. Perhaps you might have recently felt unattractive, or maybe you’re having difficulty with the way you’re changing as you get older.

Ask yourself what might be making you insecure, and come up with 3-5 things you can do to tackle this anxiety.

3. Partner Leaving

If you’re in a generally happy relationship, the idea of your partner leaving might be one of the very worst things you imagine.

First, it’s important to look at your relationship and consider what might be making you feel less secure. In some cases, the origin of your fears will be obvious (e. g. worries about infidelity). At other times, it might only be on reflection that you realize your fear you’re not good enough for your partner. If the latter is the case, consider where these negative messages might be coming from in your past.

If you’re not in a relationship but you dream that you are with a partner and are subsequently left, this can indicate that you’re anxious about the possibility of never meeting the right person. However, there’s always room to be proactive in looking for love; you just have to be willing to take a few calculated risks!

4. Getting Injured

There are lots of different ways you can be wounded in a dream. Your nightmare might involve anything from a painful cut to a disfiguring accident or to major burns. In all cases, the prevailing theory is that dreams about injuries are usually connected to feeling weak or powerless in some aspect of your life. This is particularly likely if you dream about having a broken leg or another major fracture.

Ask yourself where you might be feeling weak, and why. If you work on the source of weakness, you’re less likely to have this nightmare again in the future.

As with nightmares about teeth, dreaming that you’re injured in a way that has a huge impact on your looks can also signal insecurities about your appearance. For example, perhaps you are worried that someone only values you for your looks (and that if you didn’t have them, you would not be worthy of love).

5. Being Trapped

If you have a phobia of being trapped, you’re not alone. As well as being a common fear, this is also a frequent nightmare for many people, and it can mean a variety of different things. Sometimes, it merely reflects your phobia, in the same way, that dreaming of spiders might relate to your irrational fear of these insects.

(Do you have a phobia? Click here to read our 6 top tips on overcoming an irrational fear.)

That being said, nightmares about being physically trapped can also be a sign that you feel psychologically trapped in some way.

You might feel trapped in an unfulfilling relationship, or you may feel hemmed in by debt, limited at work, or stuck in a particular location. As with the above nightmares, addressing the “stuckness” in your waking life can stop the dreams.

And if you can’t change your circumstances, perhaps changing your perspective on them might be enough. Challenge yourself to think of 5 good things about the place you’re currently at in life.

6. Falling

Just as dreaming about flying is one of the most commonly reported positive dreams, many people experience awful nightmares about falling. Whether you fall down from something, fall out of a plane or just find yourself falling with no explanation, you can wake up with a racing heart and a deep feeling of helplessness.

Often, the sources of these nightmares will be a degree of anxiety you feel in your waking life; worries about being out of control in some way, with an underlying feeling that a negative outcome is inevitable.

Just remember that no matter what your circumstances, there’s always room to exercise your agency and work towards something better. When you’ve figured out what makes you feel out of control, look for at least one thing you can control. And if there truly is nothing you can change, consciously turn your energy towards a different area of your life; one you can influence.

7. Being Chased or Attacked

If you speak to psychologists who specialize in dreams, they’ll tell you that the most frequently reported nightmares involved being chased or attacked. You might be running from monsters, hurt by people you know, or in peril due to the actions of strangers.

In all such cases, the underlying theme is most likely to be fear; often of confrontation, and what it could mean.

This could be a highly personal type of confrontation (e.g. one with a partner), a professional confrontation with high stakes (e.g. one with a boss), or it might even be that you’re scared of any and all forms of conflict.

When you’re being chased, what this tells you is that you’re trying to evade conflict, but that deep down you know it’s likely something you have to face. The key is to face it on your own terms and to give some serious thought to the main points you want to make to the other person.

If your sleep is affected by this, why not consider a self-hypnosis to improve sleeping.

8. Nudity

The classic nudity dream involves suddenly finding yourself naked in front of your old high school class, or during a work presentation. This is a nightmare that can sound funny in the abstract, but when experienced, is very humiliating and degrading. The message from these sorts of dreams is that you’re afraid of being judged (whether by one person or more broadly).

And if you have this nightmare on a regular basis, it could be that fear of judgment is actually holding you back.

It is only when you learn to live in an authentic way that you can truly find and follow your purpose. If you spend all your time trying to please others, you lose sight of what you really want. It can be helpful to consider that you likely give a great deal more thought to the question of how people see you than these people themselves actually give to judging you!

9. Missing Important Events

Finally, missing important events is common nightmare fuel. It could be an exam, your wedding, a job interview, a medical appointment or anything else that matters a great deal to you.

Regardless of what the event is, the nightmare will likely revolve around you feeling stressed, mortified, and sad. Unsurprisingly, the theme here is about expectations and your worries that you might not be able to live up to some such expectations.

If you frequently dream about missing important events, ask yourself what expectations make you feel anxious.

Are they personal or professional? Life-long or recent? Answering these questions will give you a clue as to whether you need to do some self-reflective work on your early life or rather just need to take a critical look at the present. It can also be useful to think about the contrast between expectations and reality. Do you think you have realistic expectations of yourself, or are you a perfectionist?

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What does my nightmare mean? 2 councils of psychologists, consultations

Hello!

Help deal with the nightmare. I am in the yard of my parents and observe the actions of a certain mafia. One of them holds the parents of my close friend Sveta at gunpoint and demands something from them. Two twin boys came with him. They are kind of strange, in a hat, like Indians, without pupils. When an adult from the mafia has already agreed, the twins unexpectedly kill Sveta’s parents. First mother, then father. Horror! Horror seized me and I thought: “Here it is! That’s who the mafia actually sent!”

Next, I am a mafia executor and I kill Sveta and my sister (my only close friends) one by one. I myself am horrified, I cry, but I kill. They also cry, but do not resist. I say that this is an order from above. I want to kill them quickly, without suffering. But for some reason they take a long time to die. I see a disgusting wound on the forehead from a bullet, then a misfire, then another shot. I ask: “Are you in pain? Are you okay?” and I want to know what is behind death? Sveta dies silently. And the little sister manages to say: yes, good. Other people… And crying dies. I realize all the horror of what is happening and gaspingly say: “I will miss …”

Such an atmosphere of sleep is stinking, hopeless, dead.

The first thought after sleep is that it is not for nothing that people need human relationships in this cold world. I sob all day and feel as if the world has fallen on me, it can crush me. Fear is indescribable inside.

Lately nothing has been going well in my life and I asked that I dream the answer to the question: What happened to me? because I understand that problems have been dragging on since childhood. And this horror happened.

Aigul, hello! What is your dream about? The dream is multifaceted … One side of the dream, you write that nothing has been going well in your life lately. When all sorts of bad events happen in life, and it’s hard to deal with them, you involuntarily want to find out who is to blame for this and punish the offender … But it’s hard to punish and get angry, these are the most beloved and dear people! How do you deal with expressing anger to your loved ones? And yet, another important side: it seems to me that your dream is about an existential given. As if you are asking yourself what is the meaning of life, we will die anyway! And you yourself answer yourself that the meaning is in love: “I will miss you!” And one more thing… Aigul, in fact, we will all die. It’s embarrassing, scary, and hard to come to terms with. But while we are alive, a lot can be done: to love, to be friends, not to put up with difficulties, to live through them, and everything will work out! Call if something comes up. I wish you success. S.

Androsova Sofia Izmailovna, psychologist, Ufa

Similar question

What does my long and frequent sleep mean? (1 answer)

Hello, Aigul. When the mafia kills your Sveta, it is reality that kills you. When you kill other girls, it is also the same reality that kills you. This is how a dream works. It masks your fears and thickens your fears. It is important for you to understand with your fears of life. In fact, this is the result of an identity that was not formed in childhood. Therefore, your socialization is difficult, and you have a lot of aggression and irritability that you have been carrying in yourself for years. The way out is in long-term therapy to build your identity. succeeds, does it on his own. Contact if you need help.

Karataev Vladimir Ivanovich, psychotherapist-psychoanalyst Volgograd

Similar question

What do my dreams mean? (1 answer)

“I’m afraid to fall asleep again”: what people who suffer from nightmares see | Articles

Surely everyone can remember a dream that horrified and numbed you. From time to time such nightmares visit our consciousness. They relieve tension and help the nervous system prepare a person for real risks while awake. But there are people who have nightmares on a regular basis. Terrible dreams are exhausting and can cause sudden injury. Facebook even has a support group that brings together people suffering from regular nightmares. What to do if sleep does not bring joy and rest, Izvestia sorted it out.

Horror of the night

“Every night is a kind of madness that is difficult to cope with. I recently broke a few ribs because I jumped off a damned balcony. I hate this. Sleep does not bring me rest”;

“I often wake up at night and ‘see’ something falling on me from the ceiling. It can be spiders, snakes, rope, even the ceiling itself!

“I always see the same black demon. Many years have passed… so I am no longer afraid.”

Such descriptions are given by people suffering from regular nightmares. As you know, terrible dreams visit us in the third phase of sleep. This is deep dreamless sleep that occurs 30 to 60 minutes after a person falls asleep. Cycles follow each other throughout the night. It is known that in children phase number 3 is repeated more often, so nightmares usually occur in adolescence. However, according to scientists, 2% of the adult population also suffer from regular nightmares.

One of the causes of nightmares in adults is sleep deprivation. When the body is overtired, it enters recovery stage #3 faster and stays there longer.

Photo: Global Look Press/imago-images/Ute Grabowsky

However, nightmares can have an important protective function . A study on this topic was published in 2020 by neurophysiologists at the University of Geneva. According to threat modeling theory, nightmares allow the nervous system to train behavioral responses by simulating dangerous situations. In other words, nightmares are dreamed of in order for a person to be ready for threats while awake.

Scary sleep

It happens that nightmares are accompanied by intense panic attacks. A person can scream, choke, toss and turn during sleep . Sometimes such actions frighten the sufferer more than a nightmare.

“Sometimes I find myself screaming terribly in the middle of the night and I find it hard to believe that I can scream so loudly. The next morning I have a sore throat… I can’t even scream like that during the day if I try,” shares a user named Joshua.

However, screaming is a relatively harmless part of the nightmare. It’s much scarier when a sleeping person suddenly starts behaving like a waking person. A person can talk, laugh, cry during sleep, rearrange things on the nightstand, put on and take off shoes.

Doctors call this behavior parasomnia. It is defined as a disorder that causes unusual behaviors during sleep. Usually a somnambulist walks, eats or talks with his eyes open, but without awareness of what is happening.

If uncontrolled, parasomnia can be very traumatic. On the social network, a girl under the nickname Jen retells the story in horror: “My mother called me yesterday. She was taken to the hospital after a nightmare caused her to jump out of bed and hit the wall. Now there are seven surgical staples in her head!”

Photo: Global Look Press/imago-images/Ute Grabowsky

“A couple of hours when I’m not afraid”

In an effort to unite people suffering from nightmares, a thematic support group has appeared on Facebook. It has over 500 participants from all over the world. The group provides a safe space for nightmare sufferers to look for similarities in symptoms, share medical prescriptions, and blow off steam.

“My nightmares really annoy me. Yesterday I had a dream in which I was choking on a pile of coins that got into my throat. That evening I had another nightmare – I was sure that I was suffocating from broken glass that had once been a figurine of a ballerina. Why don’t I just have a normal food-related choking dream??? Now I am awake and afraid to fall asleep again,” writes Mindy.

In the morning, the band members are usually broken and in a bad mood. Some feel shame and embarrassment at the fact that their cry raised the whole house to its feet.

A depressed state affects literally everything.

“I had to leave my job. My nightmares were so terrible that they affected my ability to cope with simple tasks, ”says Holly.

“There are only a few hours a day when I’m not afraid,” comments Barbara below.

Users report that nightmares become more frequent during times of high stress. The loss of a loved one, overwork, neurotic disorders affect the plot of dreams.

Photo: Global Look Press/imageBROKER/Oleksiy Maksymenko

Heavy blanket and pleasant music

One of the main topics in the group is prevention and treatment. Community members can complete the “What medication do you take for your nightmares?” survey. According to the current result, the majority do not struggle with frightening dreams (216 votes), the rest drink clonazepam (26), prazosin (23), melatonin (17) and practice self-medication (11).

For a neurologist, the choice of such drugs does not seem entirely out of place.

— Clonazepam is an antiepileptic drug that reduces convulsions and anxiety. Its side effect is drowsiness, which is why patients suffering from nightmares turn to it. But you need to be careful – the medicine is addictive, says neurologist Anna Moskalenko. – Melatonin is more likely to be needed to restore the circadian rhythm, that is, sleep-wakefulness. In moderate consumption, it is harmless, without addiction. Prazosin is usually used for urination disorders, but its side effect is the same drowsiness. Still, more often with sleep problems, we will prescribe antidepressants. And in a good way, in this case, cognitive behavioral therapy is needed.

Photo: Global Look Press/moodboard/Chris Robbins

If drugs don’t work, users try to find solace in specific rituals.