About this topic
Your brain is very active, even when you are asleep. There are many stages of sleep. You sleep more deeply in some stages than in others. The REM stage is one of them. REM stands for rapid eye movement. During this stage you have dreams and your eyes move quickly behind your closed eyelids. As you dream, you may see strange images, have ideas, or find yourself in odd places. Dreams can make you feel happy or sad. Sometimes, you may feel afraid and frightened. ‚
A nightmare is a bad dream. It happens when your dreams are scary and seem to be real. Bad dreams can cause strong feelings of fear, terror, and worry. These may all of the sudden wake you from sleep. Nightmares are not real. They are normal things that happen to us at some time in our lives. ‚
What are the causes?
- Stress
- Traumatic events like an accident, loss of a loved one, threat of injury or death
- Reading scary bedtime stories or watching scary movies
- An illness with fever
- Obstructive sleep apnea or other sleep problem
- Taking certain drugs
What can make this more likely to happen?
Bad dreams are more common in young children. They happen more often if you are worried or have low mood. You are at a higher risk for nightmares if you drink too much beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol). Illegal drugs may also cause nightmares. Sometimes, eating just before you go to bed can raise your risk for having a bad dream. ‚
What are the main signs?
After a dream, you: ‚
- Wake up many times
- Feel scared, on edge, angry, or sad
- Can think and call to mind all the details of your dream
- See odd things and objects and things around you seem scary
- Are afraid of sleeping or going back to sleep
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
Your doctor will take your history and do an exam. Your doctor may ask about your dreams and what might be causing your nightmares. The doctor may ask you about personal things that can trigger nightmares. If your nightmares happen often, you doctor may order some tests. ‚
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
- There is no exact treatment for nightmares. If the nightmare is caused by some other health problem, that problem may need to be treated.
- If they happen often and are very bad, your doctor may send you to talk therapy or counseling.
What lifestyle changes are needed?
- Practice good sleep habits. Go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time each day.
- Try to relax. Listen to music. Take a warm bath. Try doing yoga or meditation to help you cope with stress.
- Read bedtime books that can make you feel cozy and sleepy.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
- Avoid scary movies, TV shows, and stories before bed.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help you fall asleep
- Relax your mind and body
- Lessen REM while you sleep
Helpful tips
- Practice deep breathing. If you wake up after the nightmare, take slow, deep breaths. Remind yourself that nightmares are not real.
- Try cuddling up with another person or even a stuffed animal to help you feel more secure.
- Using a nightlight may help comfort you after a nightmare.
- Share your dream with someone during the daylight. Think about a happy ending for the dream.
Where can I learn more?
American Sleep Association ‚
http://www.sleepassociation.org/index.php?p=nightmares ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/sleep/nightmare.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚