Nightmares. They’re something, especially as a child, almost all of us have had. While it’s true that they’re common within children, an adult having nightmares isn’t unheard of. It’s estimated around 1 in 2 adults will have a nightmare on occasions.
So, what exactly is a nightmare? These are dreams which are vivid and disturbing enough to wake you up from your REM sleep. Often, you’ll wake up with your heart pounding, due to the fear of what you’re experiencing. Most dreaming takes place during REM sleep. This is a stage which throughout the night gets progressively longer. This is what makes you more likely to experience a nightmare later in the night, rather than when first going to sleep.
Nightmares often occur randomly and without any real ‘reason’. Although, it has been found those having a late night snack may be more prone to this type of dreaming due to the increase in metabolism. It’s also thought that certain medications can cause nightmares. For example those that affect the brain, such as antidepressants.
Nightmares can have a big impact on your life, and can even have an impact on your health. While the effect can be harder on some more than others, it’s important to seek medical advice on this if you’re having a nightmare on a regular basis.
Luckily, there are treatments for nightmares. The steps which can be taken can help reduce the frequency of these, and hopefully lessen the effect they’re having on your life. One of the stages is to find whether a medication is causing them. If it’s a side effect of your prescription, then you may be able to change this to get rid of this unnecessary side effect. Nightmares can also be associated with stress. So another way you can eliminate a potential nightmare is by keeping your bedroom as a relaxing environment. By not doing stressful activities such as work or paying bills, you’re likely to be calmer, which can result in a more peaceful night’s sleep.
