The Science Behind Nightmares
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Nightmares are dreams that cause fear or anxiety. They occur in people of all ages. Nightmares occur during REM Sleep and so most people experience nightmares later at night or earlier in the morning because a person spends more time in REM sleep the longer they have been sleeping. The causes of nightmares are especially of interest because they can have so much effect on us even days after we experience them. Because of how vivid nightmares can be, we can remember those dream years after we first had them.
The top ten nightmares as shown from a study on nightmares:
It is expected that one cause of these scary dreams is stress. Excessive worrying about daily events can lead to nightmares that reflect our anxiety and feelings that we lack control in our lives. A person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is also more likely to suffer from nightmares due to the trauma they have experienced and the stress that trauma causes them to feel. PTSD sufferers may relive elements of the trauma in their dreams or their dreams might replay the exact trauma they had undergone.
Nightmares have been discovered to be caused by nutrition. It has been found that eating before bed can result in a higher risk of nightmares because eating increases metabolism and results in higher brain activity. For people who are trying to give up alcohol, alcohol withdrawal can be influential in causing nightmares. In fact, drinking alcohol can also induce nightmares. Chocolate and other sweets have also been linked to a sleep disorder called Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder (REB). REB occurs when a person is unable to undergo paralyses during REM sleep. Thus, these people violently act out the nightmares they may have. Paralyses is caused by the atonia that occurs in REM. It is atonia that is prevented from working when it comes in contact with the caffeine from the chocolate.
It is important to know the causes of nightmares in order to prevent them. By changing your nutritional habits, you can lower the risk of suffering from nightmares. Instead of eating a lot of sugar filled foods or eating right before bed, you can protect yourself from terrifying dreams by eating a couple hours before bed and making sure what you eat is low in sugar. If you find that you are suffering from nightmares because of stress that you are feeling in your everyday life, it may be beneficial to find ways to alleviate that stress. Maybe it would be helpful to find or make time in the day to take a walk or go for a run as it has been found that exercise can reduce stress. Furthermore, yoga could also work in reducing stress. For those who suffer PTSD, it could be helpful to continue getting treatment from a professional in order to alleviate the stress that might be causing the nightmares.
The top ten nightmares as shown from a study on nightmares:
- Falling (39.5%)
- Being chased (25.7%)
- Being paralyzed (25.3%)
- Being late for an event (24.0%)
- Close person disappears/ dies (20.9%)
- Horror films (18.9%)
- Unable to complete a task (17.3%)
It is expected that one cause of these scary dreams is stress. Excessive worrying about daily events can lead to nightmares that reflect our anxiety and feelings that we lack control in our lives. A person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is also more likely to suffer from nightmares due to the trauma they have experienced and the stress that trauma causes them to feel. PTSD sufferers may relive elements of the trauma in their dreams or their dreams might replay the exact trauma they had undergone.
Nightmares have been discovered to be caused by nutrition. It has been found that eating before bed can result in a higher risk of nightmares because eating increases metabolism and results in higher brain activity. For people who are trying to give up alcohol, alcohol withdrawal can be influential in causing nightmares. In fact, drinking alcohol can also induce nightmares. Chocolate and other sweets have also been linked to a sleep disorder called Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder (REB). REB occurs when a person is unable to undergo paralyses during REM sleep. Thus, these people violently act out the nightmares they may have. Paralyses is caused by the atonia that occurs in REM. It is atonia that is prevented from working when it comes in contact with the caffeine from the chocolate.
It is important to know the causes of nightmares in order to prevent them. By changing your nutritional habits, you can lower the risk of suffering from nightmares. Instead of eating a lot of sugar filled foods or eating right before bed, you can protect yourself from terrifying dreams by eating a couple hours before bed and making sure what you eat is low in sugar. If you find that you are suffering from nightmares because of stress that you are feeling in your everyday life, it may be beneficial to find ways to alleviate that stress. Maybe it would be helpful to find or make time in the day to take a walk or go for a run as it has been found that exercise can reduce stress. Furthermore, yoga could also work in reducing stress. For those who suffer PTSD, it could be helpful to continue getting treatment from a professional in order to alleviate the stress that might be causing the nightmares.
Work Cited:http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes/nightmares2.htm
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/nightmares-in-adults
http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/thought/nightmares.html#
http://longevity.about.com/od/sleep/a/sleep_stages.htm
http://blogs.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/2010/07/dreams-nightmares-and-stress.html
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/nightmares.asp
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nightmares/DS01010/DSECTION=causes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1910314.stm
http://capitalistpreservation.blogspot.com/2012/09/an-obama-2nd-term-stuff-nightmares-are.html
http://fabiusmaximus.com/2012/08/31/42830/
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/nightmares-in-adults
http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/thought/nightmares.html#
http://longevity.about.com/od/sleep/a/sleep_stages.htm
http://blogs.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/2010/07/dreams-nightmares-and-stress.html
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages/nightmares.asp
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nightmares/DS01010/DSECTION=causes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1910314.stm
http://capitalistpreservation.blogspot.com/2012/09/an-obama-2nd-term-stuff-nightmares-are.html
http://fabiusmaximus.com/2012/08/31/42830/