3 Ways Your Nightmares Are Messing With Your Sleep

We all have those nights when nothing can keep us from the horrors of our waking lives. Nightmares are a universal part of growing up and almost everyone experiences them at some point in their lives. The frequency and intensity of nightmares can change over time, however, leading some people to wonder if there isn’t something more going on. Nightmare frequency and intensity is directly related to how well you sleep. If you’re having frequent nightmares, it likely means that something about your sleep is out of whack. Understanding exactly what is causing this phenomenon allows you to take steps toward fixing it. Consider these three ways your nightmares are messing with your sleep.

Your Sleep Schedule is

We still don’t exactly understand everything that happens in the body when we sleep, but one theory is that sleep causes our brains to flush out toxins. Insomnia has been linked to higher blood pressure, increased risk for stroke, and even dementia. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re missing out on the opportunity to cleanse your system, which can lead to a whole host of health issues. Nightmares are one of the first signs that your sleep schedule is off. When you sleep, your brain moves through various stages of sleep, including light sleep, deep sleep, and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is when most dreams occur. Nightmares occur during REM sleep, which is why they tend to follow a similar theme and are often very vivid and intense. If you aren’t getting enough sleep, you may not be entering REM sleep and therefore not have nightmares.

Stress And Anxiety

Stress and anxiety are two of the most common causes of nightmares. Nightmares are almost always the result of the stress and anxiety that you experience while awake. This can happen when you’re experiencing a lot of stress and anxiety, but aren’t able to let it go. Nightmares are a common response to feeling emotionally overwhelmed. When you are experiencing a lot of stress and anxiety, your body releases a chemical called Cortisol. This chemical has a lot of negative impacts on the body, including interfering with the production and release of melatonin. Without melatonin, your body doesn’t move enough into the REM sleep phase, leading to nightmares.

Nightmares are actually a sign of depression

There is a correlation between nightmares and depression. Some studies have noted that people who suffer from recurrent nightmares are actually twice as likely to suffer from depression. Researchers aren’t sure why this is, but it seems that the underlying causes are similar. One theory is that nightmares are an attempt by the brain to process the emotions experienced during the day. In someone with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nightmares might be an attempt to process a traumatic event from the past. In someone with depression, the nightmares may be an attempt to process feelings of hopelessness and sadness. Someone who continues to have nightmares even after resolving the underlying issue may have depression.

BOTTOM LINE

It’s important to understand that nightmares are actually a sign that you’re sleeping well. They are a natural part of the sleep process, and a sign that your brain is releasing negative emotions that you’re holding on to during the day. If you’re experiencing frequent nightmares, it’s a good indication that something about your sleep is out of whack. It’s important to take steps to get back on track so that you can start experiencing healthy sleep again. Keep in mind that nightmares are part of being human. You aren’t broken, and you don’t have to be ashamed or embarrassed by them. Instead, you can use them as an opportunity to reflect on the things that you might need to work through.