Sleep Deprivation  Article Reprint

Original Article: http://www.sleep-deprivation.com/articles/causes-of-sleep-deprivation/nightmares.php

 

Nightmares: Why We Have Them and How to Stop Them

While both children and adults experience the occasional nightmare, a small segment of the population suffers from nightmares on a regular basis. The vivid nature of these dreams not only causes them to remain in our memories long after waking, but can also be the very cause of waking.

When a disturbing nightmare causes someone to wake up, he generally has a harder time getting back to sleep as the intensity of the recent dream lingers on the mind. As a result, recurring nightmares disrupt sleep and are classified as a sleep disorder.

Some of the common emotions that nightmares arouse include:
  • anger
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • fear
  • guilt.

Nightmares also tend to have common, recurring themes. According to a recent survey by Travelodge, the three most common themes in nightmares are:

  • being chased (While adults generally dream about being chased by a man, children dream of being chased by a threatening animals or a made-up figure.)
  • falling
  • having your teeth fall out.
Experts say scary dreams are not always a bad thing. Some researchers say they are the subconscious part of the brain letting off some steam.

Causes of Nightmares

While past generations thought nightmares to be inspired by the work of demons and monsters, today, we know that nightmares can be caused by a variety of physical, mental and emotional causes. Here are some of the common causes of nightmares:
  • alcohol consumption
  • anxiety
  • fatigue
  • fever
  • post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD)
  • pregnancy
  • prescription or illicit drugs (The most common drugs associated with this problem include heart medications and certain antibiotics.)
  • psychiatric illness
  • stress
  • withdrawals from addictive drugs.

Treating Nightmares

Treatment for nightmares varies, depending on the cause of the disorder. For example, while someone with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) will need therapy and prescription drugs to stop having nightmares, another person who has withdrawals may have to endure his nightmares until his body has detoxed.

If your child has the occasional nightmare, this may be a good opportunity to discuss his or her fears. Although most children don't need medical treatment for the random nightmare, repeated traumatic nightmares may require the help of a therapist. Experts can help children open up about their dreams and identify their source.

In adults, nightmares can create a similar situation for self-exploration. Some people use the symbols they see in nightmares to examine things happening in real life. They try to turn the negative experience of having a nightmare into a positive learning experience.

If you are bothered by your nightmares, some specialists recommend that writing down what you remember from your dreams. Then they advise visualizing the dream and changing the ending to make it less scary. Talking-out a nightmare may also help you to understand it and let it go.

Since most occasional nightmares are linked to stress, incorporating more exercise, relaxation techniques and meditation into your life can help reduce the occurrence of nightmares. Should your nightmares persist, consult your doctor.

Resources

AS Dreams (2006). Common Questions About Nightmares. Retrieved January 15, 2007 from the AS Dreams Web site: http://www.asdreams.org/nightma.htm.

Mind Disorders (2006). Nightmare Disorder. Retrieved January 15, 2007 from the Mind Disorders Web site: http://www.minddisorders.com/Kau-Nu/Nightmare-disorder.html.