A Bad Dream Is More Than Just A Dream - The Science of Nightmares

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A Bad Dream Is More Than Just A Dream: The Science

Of Nightmares
Mar 31, 2015 07:00 AM
By Lizette Borreli
@lizcelineb
Why your nightmare is more than just a bad dream and what it means for your overall
health. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
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The jolt of fear and terror felt as we run for our lives to escape danger quickly
eases us back into consciousness in bed to help us flee the dreamscape.
Nightmares tend to creep in and out at night in our lifetime, primarily during
childhood, but why do they happen in the first place? Do we ever outgrow bad
dreams?
Why Nightmares Happen

Nightmares can be vivid and frightening detailed images that can leave us in a
state of panic and fear after we wake up. Most young children experience
nightmares, with an estimated 10 percent to 50 percent between the ages of 5
and 12 years having nightmares severe enough to disturb their parents,
according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Childrens
nightmares may stem from listening to a scary story, TV show or movie, or even
feeling anxious and stressed during the day from starting school to a death in the
family. Typically, most kids will grow out of them, but what happens to adults?
Only two to eight percent of the adult population is plagued by nightmares, says
the AASM, which involves some of the same triggers seen in childrens
nightmares. Lauri Quinn Loewenberg, a professional dream analyst and author
of Dream On It, Unlock Your Dreams Change Your Life, stresses the importance of
understanding that dreaming is actually a thinking process; a continuation of
our thoughts stream from the day. [T]he nightmare is when we are thinking
about difficult issues during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) and trying to sort them
out. We often try to ignore our difficult issues with distractions during the day
but when we are asleep and are forced to be alone in our own heads, these
difficult issues will be addressed, she told Medical Daily in an email.
Unresolved conflict is not the only causation of nightmares, poor eating habits
can also contribute to the frequency of these terror episodes. People can have
nightmares after having a late-night snack. Eating meals or snacks that are high
in carbohydrates in the late hours of the night can increase brain activity and
body metabolism.
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Carol Wasserman, a certified holistic health practitioner with a private practice in
Manhattan, N.Y., also suggests an unknown allergy can trigger reoccurring

episodes. For example, if you have an allergy to peaches, but are not aware, you
could be getting nightmares, and once you stop eating peach ice cream at night
the nightmares stop she told Medical Daily in an email. Wasserman adds she
was unaware she was allergic to shrimp and had nightmares after consumption.
Every time I ate shrimp I had a restless night and bad dreams. So I stopped the
shrimp and now I sleep peacefully.
Nightmares in adults can be spontaneous, but are generally triggered by
psychological factors like anxiety and depression, and the result of poor
nutrition. Moreover, sleep disorders including sleep apnea and restless legs
syndrome can cause people to experience chronic, recurrent nightmares. What
happens to the brain when these factors contribute to the onset of nightmares?
The Brain During A Nightmare

Nightmares tend to occur in the last third of the night when REM sleep is the
strongest. Sleep is divided into four stages: stage 1 (sleep onset), stage 2 (light
sleep) and stages 3 and 4 (deep sleep) the REM stages. REM sleep occurs every
90 minutes during the night, and is associated with high brain activity, rapid eye
movements and inhibited voluntary motor activity. Typically, dreaming occurs in
all stages, with 80 percent of people awakened during REM sleep and sleep onset
(stages 1 and 2), while 40 percent of persons are awakened from a deep sleep,
according to an article in the American Family Physician.
The amygdala, which is regulated by the front lobes of the brain, seems to be the
culprit when it comes to nightmares. Neuroimaging studies of the brain while
dreaming show the amygdala is highly activated during REM. In Patrick
McNamaras book, Nightmares: the Science and Solution of Those Frightening Visions
During Sleep, he emphasizes the amygdalas role in handling negative mentions
such as fear and aggression. This may explain why the over-activation of the
amygdala during REM can produce fear-responses in the dreamer.
[O]nce we enter REM sleep, which is when dreaming takes place, the brain is
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working differently (certain parts of the brain become dormant while others
become highly active), so instead of thinking in literal terms and words you are
thinking in pictures, symbols and emotions... metaphors! Loewenberg said.
The Dreamers Who Have More Nightmares

Most young children are susceptible to nightmares, and a pocket of the adult
population will experience the occasional nightmare in their lifetime. However,
which adults are more prone to bad dreams than others?
Several studies have found age, personality type, and trauma can influence the
frequency of nightmares for dreamers. A 1990 study published in the Journal of
Abnormal Psychology found 47 percent of college students had at least one
nightmare in a two-week study. These nightmares were not tied to self-reported
anxiety, suggesting nightmares are more prevalent than previously thought in
young adults.
However, an everyday fear, like a car accident, is known to trigger nightmares in
the blind. A 2014 study published in the journal Sleep Medicine found blind people
have four times more nightmares than those with vision. The study confirmed
the nightmares were associated with emotions the blind experience while awake,
such as the potential of embarrassing social situations like spilling a cup of
coffee.
I have found that it can depend on past trauma and, more common, personality
type, Loewenberg said. She added, the more sensitive people, those who avoid
confrontation at all costs and who get let down very easily are more prone to
nightmares, simply because life and choices are more difficult for them.
The Dark Truth Behind The Nightmare

There a few common symbols in nightmares, such as death and murder. Death is
typically about something changing or ending. When dreaming about death and
children, they tend to occur when the child has reached a milestone such as
learning how to walk, starting preschool, or learning how to drive. Loewenberg
shares, dreaming our child dies, for example, is typically caused by the difficult
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realization of how fast time is going and the young, needy child we love to cuddle
and care for is dying off and a more independent child is emerging.
Like death, murder is about an ending or change, but with a forced ending. We
often tend to dream someone is trying to murder us when we are feeling
pressured to put an end to or change something either about ourselves or our
lives. Loewenberg uses the example of when a relationship has ended or when
theres a pregnancy; the pregnancy forces a dramatic change in our behavior.
However, the causation of nightmares can be tied to a difficult issue from long
ago. One of Loewenbergs clients had nightmares her husband would leave her in
a dark, frightening parking lot at night, or that she was being attacked in a war.
The client was in a happy marriage, financially secure, and healthy. But it turns
out, she was abused by both her parents as a child and made to feel unloved and
unwanted. She never got help with her childhood trauma and learned how to
process it so those feelings and memories were pushed down, Loewenberg said.
Like the client, unresolved conflicts dont go away, and shape our personality.
Childhood trauma can lead to feelings of insecurity or constantly seeking
validation, and feel like youre constantly under attack if you receive criticism.
This suggests our life experiences, both past and present, not only have an
influence on our lives but in our dreams as well.
In order to have a better grasp of our dreams, we must begin to address the
issues that plague us in the day. We talk to ourselves all day long while awake.
That doesn't change when we sleep, Loewenberg said. She advises, the better
conversation you have with yourself while awake will ensure better dreams at
night.
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15Comments
Sortby Oldest
Thankyou!!!Thisarticlehelpedmemuch!
AlsopostonFacebook
LogIntoPost
JuniaNoelWarehouseOperativeatOmegaPlc
Theoriginofnightmares
Youarecauchemarderandyouareoverwhelmedbyfear...Iftheyareoftenisolated,these
unpleasantimageshauntsometimesregularlyyournights.Butwhencethesedreamsthat
havegonewrong?Whatcausesthem?
Whilethescenarioofpleasantdreamsisoftenunrealistic,nightmaresisterrifying,because
itseemstodescribearealdanger(threatofdeathonthemselvesoralovedone,
threatenstheintegrityofhisbody,threatofabandonment,etc.).Sometimesthesleeper
managestotearhimselfawaytothe"film"inisawakening.Butassoonasheabandons
himselfba... SeeMore
LikeReplyMar31,20157:11am
Somemeasurestofightnightmaresapplytoeveryone.First,moviesandstoriesofhorror
shouldbeavoidedbecausetheycauseanxietyintheindividualandcaneasilycause
nightmares.Indeed,thishappensbecausethenightmaresindicateourStateofmind.In
ordertofightthemandsleeppeacefullyonadailybasis,needtoknowthecauseofher
nightmaresandfindanappropriatemeasuretostop.
Helpthechildtofightnightmares
Severalfactorscancauseanxietyofthechildwhichthemostcommonisblack.Toprevent
nightmares,wecanputanightlightinherbedroomsothathefeelsreass... SeeMore
LikeReply
1Mar31,20157:19am
7/12
1/13/2016
KristenKadiWorksatSelfEmployed
Thankyouforwritingaboutthis!ItnowmakessensewhyIseemtohavemorenightmares
thandomostpeople.IamhighlysensitiveandIoftenavoidshowingmyfeelings
particularlyinfamilymatters!
LikeReply
2Mar31,201512:51pm
ItmusthaveBeenhardinAnyMatter.DonotworryItwillgoaway.
LikeReply
2Mar31,201512:58pm
Ialsohadtostopwatchingterrortypeofmovies,itwasveryhardtogiveupDexter!I
LOVEDit,butitbegancreepingintomydreams,suddenlyIwasinonnighttimedream
murders,orknewofmurdersinthenightmares,andindanger!!Idwakeupwithheart
pounding,shaking,andsweaty!Yikes!Nothanks!!
LikeReplyMar31,20151:00pmEdited
Ithappentometo,thenextday!WatchabettermovieandyouwillForget!
LikeReply
1Mar31,20151:08pm
JuniaNoelPossibly,althoughTheShininggavemenightmaresformanymany
years!ITstoppedwhenIgotdivorced!LOl!Iusedtoworkwithawiselibrarian
whosaideverythingyouread,watch,think,livesinyourenergeticbody,and
becomesapartofyou!Sobecarefulwhatyoutakein!(Isoagree!But
sometimesmydarksidelikesthosescaryshows,Iwasluckythe6thsenseonly
gavemeoneor2nightmares!)
LikeReply
1Mar31,20151:10pmEdited
TheworsthadpasserThen,staypositive,andlettimeslowlyrecoveryour
woundsandItwillgoaway!
LikeReply
1Mar31,20151:18pm
MarthaHp
Onewaytokeepnightmaresandbaddreamsfrombecomingpartofamentalhealthissue
forchildrenistoteachchildrenthatinfacttheyaretheauthorsoftheirbaddreamsand
thatbaddreamscanbeunderstoodastheresidueofupsetfeelingsfromthedaybefore.I
wrotethechildren'spicturebook,Mommy,Daddy,IHadaBadDream!tohelpchildren
withbaddreams.Joeyabouncykangaroohasaseriesofbaddreamswhichhisparents
lovinglyhelphimtounderstand.AsJoey'sfathersays,"Dreamsarestorieswetell
ourselvesforareason.Wejusthavetounderstandthereason."Thebookhel... SeeMore
LikeReply
1Mar31,20152:51pm
Amazing^^Itmustbeagreat!
LikeReplyApr1,201512:36am
MaryCardone
8/12
1/13/2016
MaryCardone
IfyouchangethepictureinthisverygoodstoryIwillshareit,butassaultingmyfriends
withhorrorisnotmyideaofsharing.Whatwereyouthinking?
LikeReply
6May29,20158:10pm
AshleyKamaliJonesHauntActoratKnott'sScaryFarm
Well....Mary,itISaboutnightmares.Sonightmaresareconsideredhorror.
LikeReply
1Nov6,20154:38am
ElizabethLawsonBurntMillSchool
Ijustwokeupfromanightmareabout20minutesago,itwashorrifyingIhadanightmare
aboutmeshootingmyownfatherdeadbutinthenightmareIwouldn'townuptoitIcould
justhearmyownscreamsandcrieswishingformyfatherback.Inthearticleaboveit
mentionsaboutmurderbutneveraboutyoubeingthemurderer,thisisnowthe2nd
dreamaboutmy
Fatherpassingaway(heisstillaliveandwell),thefirsttimeIgottold
ThathepassedawayandthemostrecentwastonightwhenIshothim
LikeReplyAug11,20159:38pm
BelindaMcDonaldWaxahachie,Texas
Itotallyunderstandyourfear.IhavenightmaresofALLsortsofsituations.I'llkeep
youinmyprayers.Ihopetheygetbetter&stopforyou.
LikeReply
1Sep10,20156:21am
AustinTreagusWorksatBostonPizza
SoaccordingtothearticleTrumacausesyoutohavebaddreamsbuthowdoyoufixit
howdoyoumakethemgoaway,becausehavingthesedreamsI'mhavingandmakingme
trustandbelievemyhusband.AndIknowthat'snotfairbutmydreamsarequiteaccrete
andit'ssohardtobelievehimwhenhesaysthisiswherehewaswithwhobecauseofthe
dreamandIjustwantthemtostop.
LikeReplySep4,20159:25am
BelindaMcDonaldWaxahachie,Texas
Ihavemajornightmaresmultipletimesnearlyeverynight!!!Regardlessofwhetherit's@
12:00midnightor5inthemorning.Ijusthad2traumaticnightmaresallwithinthelasthour
&ahalf.Theydidn'tstarttilaround5:45thismorning.Iliterallywokemyselfupscreaming
forhelp!!Thisisjusttoomuch!!!I'mgettingtothepointofnotwantingtogotosleepunless
someoneishome&IlayinbedwiththemsoifIstarttohaveanightmare,theycanwake
meup.
LikeReply
1Sep10,20156:15am
SunshineStone
JustwokeupfromoneofIhadtopraytoovivid!
LikeReply
1Sep22,20154:09am
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Under the Hood

A Bad Dream Is More Than Just A Dream: The Science

Why Nightmares Happen

Carol Wasserman, a certified holistic health practitioner with a private practice in

Manhattan, N.Y., also suggests an unknown allergy can trigger reoccurring

The Brain During A Nightmare

The Dreamers Who Have More Nightmares

The Dark Truth Behind The Nightmare

How to Burn Stomach Fat

Best Memory Supplements

Get Rid of Body Odor

Early Alzheimer Signs

Tips to Sleep Better

Now In Philippines! Woman

3-Tablet Key To A Flat Belly.

Stubborn Belly Fat? Understand Its Cause And

How Do People Get Rich

Talisay Boy Exposes His

This Is The Best

Join the Discussion

Baby Boy, Ollie,

Brain Scans Reveal

Older Men Who Pay

Here Are All The Ways People Are Judging

Under the Hood

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