The nature of nightmares: why you have bad dreams

At about the age of  three years, a person can already see and emotionally experience dreams. Most of them will not be remembered, some will leave pleasant memories, and others will rattle your nerves. Surely everyone had to wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat or get up in the morning with a bad mood due to a bad dream. Why do you have bad dreams, and is it possible to somehow reduce the likelihood of a nightmare?

• Why do you have bad dreams: the opinion of scientists and  psychologists
• Top 5 nightmares everyone has seen
• Can can influence your dreams

Why do you have bad dreams: the opinion of scientists and  psychologists

What happens to us s sleep scientists are still vague. As a matter of fact, they don’t have an answer: why do we need sleep at all. But one thing is certain, all people dream. And even those who have been deprived of sight or hearing since childhood, falling asleep, plunge into the world of dreams filled with various images.

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How dreams are formed until the end is not yet clear. Studies have shown that they occur during both deep sleep and REM sleep. Scientists believe that brain activity does not decrease during a night's rest, only neural impulses are not regulated by consciousness and can lead to chaotic visions. The dream lasts no more 1–2 minutes and most of the plot we  think” waking up.

From the point of view of researchers, there is no difference in whether a good dream or a terrible one, the mechanism of occurrence is the same. The strength of experiences plays a role, and not their emotional coloring. In addition, scientists tend to believe that bad dreams are simply remembered better, as well as unpleasant events, so they seem brighter.

Psychologists have a different opinion about why bad dreams occur. They claim that this is a signal of fatigue, stress, nervous overstrain, which does not find a way out. And the more we suppress negative emotions in ourselves, hiding them behind a forced smile, the more often they will splash out in terrible dreams. Also, such dreams may indirectly indicate the onset of depression, and also post-traumatic disorder.

Read also: Child has nightmares: what causes and how to deal

Top 5 nightmares everyone has seen

Any single dream is unique, but the  common features allow us to classify unpleasant dreams by "themes". Why do I have bad dreams with the same plot? Psychologists have an opinion on this matter. Let's take a look at the most popular types of nightmares and see what they mean.

Run danger

A very common dream — you are under attack or just feel threatened, want to run away or scream. But it doesn't come out, the body becomes wadded, the legs don't move, it's impossible to shout. This is a very common dream, it speaks of the presence of unresolved problems that put pressure on and take too much energy.

Seeing yourself sick, dying

A very unpleasant dream that sticks in memory for a long time. In fact, he testifies to some kind of hidden dissatisfaction with his life and subconscious desire to change everything. It's worth considering, maybe this signal should not be ignored and it's really time to reconsider life priorities.

Losing a loved one

Survive, even in a dream, the death of a loved one — very hard. Usually such dreams end with waking up with tears in the eyes. This does not portend anything bad, which even dream books confirm. But  such a dream can speak of too strong attachment, isolation on this person, fear of losing him.

Experiencing a catastrophe, natural disaster

If in a dream you faced with an inevitable, destructive disaster (flood, explosion, fire), this may indicate increased anxiety, doubts, fear of some business. By constantly thinking about the problem, exaggerating its complexity, you project  her in her dream in the form of a terrible catastrophe.

Being naked or inappropriately dressed in a public place

Surely everyone will remember a dream in which it somehow suddenly turns out that everyone around is dressed, and you are completely naked, or without some important wardrobe item (most often without pants or without a skirt). This dream — marker of your self-worth. The more difficult you experience this situation, the more unpleasant memories of such a dream, the greater the self-doubt. It also indicates a great dependence on the opinions of others.

Despite the fact that dreams are echoes of our experiences, shouldn't take them seriously. A serious, neglected problem will manifest itself not only with nightmares, but rather they will be its indirect symptoms. But if dreams become so intrusive that falling asleep is just scary, you should consult a psychotherapist.

Read also: Why do we twitch when we fall asleep

Is it possible to influence your dreams

Though the nightmares — a variant of the norm, all the same I want to encounter them less often, and ideally not to see them at all. Is possible? If you know why you have bad dreams, then you can somehow avoid this? Here are some tips to help 

• More physical activity. How tired you should be and pass out as soon as your head hits the pillow — the best cure for vivid dreams.

• Calmness and peace.Don't fall asleep in an excited state (after a quarrel, watching a spectacular movie, news), find time for meditation, a relaxing bath, slowly drink a cup of mint tea or warm milk with honey.

• Comfortable environment. Make sure your bedroom is reasonably dark, cool, and quiet. It is these conditions that contribute to the normal production of the sleep hormone melatonin.

• A rational approach. When falling asleep, remember that a dream — it's just a dream. Don't dramatize and don't try to find some ominous signs in nightmares. With setting like this, you and probably will remember what you dreamed.

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And more. Nightmares are more often seen by people with a developed imagination, creative, extraordinary personalities. And if you are wondering why you have bad dreams with such a strange plot, maybe the answer is in your ability to see life as bright and interesting? Come up with a colorful happy ending for your "beloved" nightmare. Maybe next time you will wake up smiling.

Read also: Power of nature: a pillow with herbs for healthy sleep

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