Why are my dreams so scary?

Waking from a nightmare can upset you mentally and physically, leaving you with a niggling sense of unease throughout the day.

We all have bad dreams from time to time, but sleep scientists define a nightmare as a dream that evokes unpleasant emotions and physical sensations that are powerful enough to wake you.

The themes of nightmares are surprisingly similar among different groups; the most common include teeth falling out, being chased or attacked, the death of a loved one, or being paralyzed. Underlying stress, anxiety, or depression are often the trigger for adult nightmares; fragments of real-life experiences or worries combine with random content to create terrifying dreams. People living with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are especially vulnerable to recurrent, repetitive nightmares.

SURVIVAL MECHANISM

The “threat simulation” theory of dreaming suggests that scary dreams are an evolved defense mechanism. As we dream, by rehearsing our responses to dangerous situations and strengthening the neural pathways required for us to be alert, we increase our chances of survival in the waking world. This could explain why those who live in unsafe environments, such as a war zone, tend to report more nightmares.

If nightmares become regular and impact both your sleeping and waking life, don’t suffer alone: seek your doctor’s advice. A variety of factors could be driving this, and an appropriate course of “talking” treatment and/or medication can be very effective in breaking the pattern.

“A US study found that 52% of war veterans suffered regular nightmares compared to just 3% of civilians.”