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Why we have nightmares and what they mean

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Psychologists usually define a nightmare as 'a terrifying dream'. Most children experience nightmares - some even nightly, but they usually outgrow them. Adults with frequent nightmares have traits related to either the 'terrifying' aspect and/or to the 'dream.'

These are:

1) Anxiety: Often the same people experiencing terrifying dreams are more afraid of their daytime world.

2) High dream recall, and vividness of dreams and waking imagery: Many of the people with frequent nightmares also report more vivid, beautiful, 'peak experience' dreams.

Most of the drugs which increase nightmares also increase either general anxiety (some malaria meds) or vivid dreaming in general (antidepressants). Likewise rarebit (cheese) or spicy foods may wake you up more to remember all sorts of dreams but are not specific to nightmares. So nightmares are a result of anxiety or a vivid dream-life - or often both.

Nightmares themselves fall into two categories. One is 'garden-variety' nightmares. Much like other dreams, these have a fantastic narrative, and the terrifying threat is often one seen only in film or fiction - a witch is chasing you, teeth or other body parts falling away, a completely law-abiding dreamer who has inexplicably murdered someone.

There is a flood of relief upon awakening and finding oneself in the sane, safe world. Some people want to stop these nightmares - but some find them interesting or don't much mind them. Others downright enjoy them: I've heard many people compare their nightmares to the thrill of horror films.

Dreamers distressed by garden-variety nightmares shouldn't just try to suppress them, however. It's more useful to reflect on your nightmare or interpret them with. You may gain insight into stresses and fears - (see below for more on how to do this). And nightmares can inspire creative types. When I was researching my book, The Committee of Sleep, I found writers and artists used their dreams in their work, but nightmares had an especially high rate of incorporation - probably because they are such unusually dramatic, powerful dreams.

The second category of nightmares is the one no one wants to have: post-traumatic nightmares. After a person has suffered a horrific event, they tend to have recurring dreams which re-enact that event - either completely literally or often with a bit of dream-like distortion or by making the trauma even one step worse than waking life. These nightmares re-traumatize the dreamer, making them feel like the horror has just happened, even if it's years in the past.

They're not like other dreams, including garden-variety nightmares - both of which happen mostly during Rapid Eye Movement Sleep. Post-traumatic nightmares happen across all stages of sleep. They may have at least as much in common with daytime 'flashbacks' as with other dreams and nightmares. All victims of post-traumatic nightmares want them to stop. Fortunately there is a good treatment that helps many victims.

Unlike the garden-variety nightmare, there is little point in trying to understand why the post-traumatic is happening or what it's about. The most effective treatment is what is called 'imagery rehearsal therapy' or 'incubating' a 'mastery dream'. This grew out of the observation that many who'd been having post-traumatic nightmares, would eventually have a 'mastery dream' in which the event changed in some positive way. Sometimes this was realistic - they escaped from the attacker or someone put out the fire; in other cases, it changed in a fanciful, dreamlike way - the burning house or attacker shrunk down to minute size that couldn't hurt them.

Therapists who noticed this found that they could talk to clients about it and just hearing about the phenomena made it somewhat likelier to happen. Then we began specifically coaching them on "how would you like your dream to turn out differently?".

For interpreting garden-variety nightmares or re-scripting post-traumatic nightmares, many dreamers find they can do this effectively on their own, but others may want to seek out a therapist trained to work with dreams.

Parents can help children understand nightmares with some of these same interpretative questions phrased in child-friendly language.

Children are also subject to another scary sleep phenomena, night terrors. Rare in adults, the night terror consists of awakening in terror with no content at all or a simple image or idea. Kids who experience this often scare their parents with screams but go right back to sleep and don't remember it in the morning. Just keep in mind night terrors diminish dramatically after a few years. Nightmares decrease too, but many adults still have this frightening but potentially insightful experience.

How to interpret your nightmare:

1. Think about each main element in the dream. "What is a witch? What are my associations to a witch? When did I first hear of witches?" etc. for every main character or action.

2. Think about how you felt in the dream: "What in my waking life gives me that feeling in the pit of my stomach I had when the witch was chasing me down the hall?"

3. For recurring nightmares, ask yourself, "Which nights do I have nightmares and is there anything I can identify that's been different in my day?"

4. Put those associations together. If witches make you think of the Hansel & Gretel witch who locked up the children in her house and you got a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach when your boss announced yesterday that you were being assigned to a particular work group, you're well along in figuring out what the dream is telling you.

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Why we have nightmares, and what they mean

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Psychologists usually define a nightmare as 'a terrifying dream'. Most children experience nightmares - some even nightly, but they usually outgrow them. Adults with frequent nightmares have traits related to either the 'terrifying' aspect and/or to the 'dream.' These are: 1) Anxiety: Often the same people experiencing terrifying dreams are more afraid of their daytime world.

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6 creepy things you never knew about your nightmares

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You wake in the night, rattled, heart pounding, with a vivid memory of a scary dream. Everyone has nightmares once in a while (if you have them frequently, it could be a sleep disorder), but adults tend to have them less than children.

What causes them? Was it that late snack of Nona's special meatballs? Maybe. Eating something spicy or rich before bed can induce nightmares in some people. So can watching a scary movie before turning out the lights. We don't really know; there's a great deal researchers just don't understand about nightmares. Theories abound about what function they serve, but there's no consensus. And it's hard to study them because they're so subjective, so personal and so fleeting. But for all we don't understand, there are some things we do know that might surprise you. (Looking to take back control of your health? Prevention has smart answers- get 2 FREE gifts when you subscribe today.)

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6 Creepy Things You Never Knew About Your Nightmares

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You wake in the night, rattled, heart pounding, with a vivid memory of a scary dream. Everyone has nightmares once in a while (if you have them frequently, it could be a sleep disorder), but adults tend to have them less than children.

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I've been trying to do this for years...

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Imagine a world where you can easily conquer your biggest fears, travel at will to any location on the planet...or elsewhere, live out exciting, unbelievable adventures and even seduce a hopelessly sexy lover - when you learn how to lucid dream.

It sounds like fantasy, but the impossible is in fact very possible through lucid dreaming.

In this guide we are going to walk you through all the ins and outs of the fantastical, yet accessible, world of lucid dreaming and teach you everything about how to have a lucid dream.

You'll learn all about the benefits and how to lucid dream.

We'll answer the most common questions about lucid dreaming and discuss techniques that you can start trying today and tips and tricks for beginners.

In this guide, you're going to discover everything you need to know to start lucid dreaming tonight.

You'll understand how to control your dreams.

Get ready, because you're about to begin an exciting adventure where walking on the sun is a piece of cake and monsters turn into friends.

In the world of lucid dreaming, the laws of physics are turned upside down and there are no limits to the possibilities.

You'll discover the unimaginable and conquer the impossible; but first, let's talk about what lucid dreaming actually is.

What is Lucid Dreaming?

The definition of lucid dreaming is actually quite simple. Lucid dreaming is being lucid, or aware, during a dream.

Think of it like this - are you awake right now?

Do you know that you are awake?

If so, then you are lucid. If you can ask yourself those questions about dreaming, while in a dream, and answer them, then you'll be lucid dreaming.

A lucid dream is any dream during which the dreamer is aware of dreaming.

You can experience lucid dreams actively or passively. The most popular form of lucid dreaming involves active participation where you create and control your dreams.

This can be a fun and adventurous way to lucid dream and it's what most people think about when they hear the term "lucid dreaming."

However, passive dreaming can also be just as exciting. Obtaining lucidity in your dreams, but letting your subconscious do the rest of the work is a really fun self-exploration tool.
Jump to "how to have a lucid dream"

7 Benefits of Lucid Dreaming

1) Access your subconscious

Imagine a computer that has billions and billions of files that contain every piece of data about yourself, but 95% of those files are in a password protected folder.

This is essentially how your mind works and that password protected folder, with 95% of the data, is your subconscious

This is the land of your dreams and if you're not lucid dreaming, you're not experiencing most of what is happening in your mind! If you can imagine the benefits of having the password to unlock that folder, you can begin to understand the benefits of lucid dreaming.

So much of what we truly fear and truly believe is locked away behind the gates of our subconscious mind. Luckily, when we learn how to lucid dream, we get to process all of this information and try to make sense of it all.

2) Interpret your dreams

It's easy to get lost in the confusing symbology of your mind.

When you have a nightmare about falling or a dream about flying, it's easy to interpret those experiences as literal.

It must mean you are afraid of falling or you wish to fly, right?
Think again!
A falling dream might just be about your fear that you're losing control in your relationship and a flying dream may be about your desire to be free from that relationship.

So, how do you figure out what these confusing symbols mean?

Lucid dreaming lets you take a front row seat to those dreams and experience them in real time. Learning how to have a lucid dream gives you the password to your subconscious mind and lets you actively seek to understand before your conscious mind has an opportunity to interrupt and confuse you.

3) Conquer your fears

One of the greatest benefits of lucid dreaming is the ability to truly conquer the fears that plague your waking life.

Your subconscious mind wants to help you and it tries to play out these "fear dramas" during your sleep, but if you're not present to witness them, it's hard to really get any benefit.

When you have a lucid dream, you get the opportunity to experience and process those fears right in the moment your mind attempts to sort them out.

Many people find relief from their anxiety and depression after a lucid dreaming experience.

You can even train yourself to have a higher pain tolerance. When you begin feeling pain in dreams, you can control your dream and manipulate your reaction.

Lucidity is powerful in the dream world.

4) Stop nightmares

Along the same lines as conquering your fears, learning how to control your dreams can stop you from having bad dreams.

Nightmares are so terrifying because we aren't aware we are dreaming when we experience them. Imagine a dream where you are being chased by a serial killer and then getting trapped in a house with the murderer.

That would be a terrifying dream and you'd probably wake up in a cold sweat. However, if you were able to lucid dream during that experience, you'd know that all of it was in your mind and none of it was real.

The very act of knowing you are dreaming can stop the nightmare in its tracks.

5) Have fun

Lucid dreaming isn't just about deep, dark and scary stuff; it can be a lot of fun!

Your wildest "dreams" can come true and you can experience them using all of your senses.

You can do whatever you want in a lucid dream, and many people study lucid dreaming to live out their wildest fantasies, from flying to having sex with their "dream partner."

More immersive than a good book, a TV show or even a virtual reality game, a lucid dream defies all laws of physics and logic and puts your right in the middle of to experience it in 5D (using all 5 senses)!

6) Practice for real life

Once you learn how to lucid dream, you can begin to steer the dreaming ship.

We are going to talk more about how to do this later and what the experience is like, but for now, let's just talk about the possibilities.

Once you learn to control your dream atmosphere, you can practice and rehearse for anything.

Have a big presentation at work?

Ready to confess your feelings to someone?

Want to practice being more confident?

You can play out any of these scenarios and let your subconscious work out the best approach. It's no secret that many great problems are often solved during sleep and this problem solving is even more enhanced when you have a lucid dream.

7) Solve a problem

Speaking of problem-solving, imagine overcoming your writer's block or solving a complicated equation during your sleep.

It happens.
Mary Shelley, the author of the famous novel Frankenstein, dreamt about the plot of the book before writing it.
Famous golfer Jack Nicklaus improved his score when he realized he was holding his clubs incorrectly in his dreams. Countless scientific discoveries have happened during sleep, including the arrangement of the Periodic Table of Elements.

Your brain can work out some incredible stuff while it's sleeping, but if you're not there to witness it, you may forget it ever happened. So go ahead and understand how to have a lucid dream 🙂

How To Lucid Dream Easily - Beginner Techniques

Understanding how to lucid dream is clearly an exciting possibility and you're probably on the edge of your seat now, ready to learn how to do it.
So let's get started!
We are going to cover the basic steps to get you prepared and teach you how to have a lucid dream. Then, we'll talk about what you can expect and address some common questions and issues that arise when people first have a lucid dream.

If lucid dreaming were just as simple as going to sleep and remembering that you're not awake, there wouldn't be an entire industry of courses, workshops, and books about how to do it.

Lucid dreaming is absolutely possible for everyone, but you'll need to train your brain first.

It isn't hard to do, but it will take some dedication, practice, and patience.

There's no luck, skill or intelligence level involved; it's simply a matter of setting your mind to it and practicing the techniques until you get results.

Step 1: Remember your dreams

Remembering your dreams is critical for learning how to control your dreams. If you don't remember your dreams now, you're not going to be able to tap into them when you are asleep.

The more you remember your dreams, the closer you are to knowing how to lucid dream. People who lucid dream frequently, report being able to remember up to 3-4 dreams each night.

Here are 6 tips to help you remember your dreams:

1) Keep a dream journal

Keep a notebook by your bed and write down your dreams as soon as you wake up in the morning.

Writing in a notebook is advised over using a computer because the act of turning on the computer, opening up a document and typing can cause you to wake up too much.

If you remember a lot of your dream, write down the key details first and then flesh out those details. It's important to write down as much information as you can before your mind wakes up too much.

2) Keep a dream audio journal

Some people find that the act of writing wakes them up too much.

Also, having to turn on the lights to see what you're writing can make it difficult to stay in the right state of mind.

By keeping a voice recorder or smartphone by your bed, you can record yourself describing your dream while keeping the lights off and not moving around too much.

For most people, this is a great alternative to writing in a journal.

3) Set an alarm to wake up early

If you don't have a dream in mind when you wake up in the morning, it's possible that you slipped out of the dream stage of sleep before you woke up.

We actually do most of our dreaming in the early morning and the best way to remember a dream is to wake up in the middle of it.

To do this, set an alarm for an hour before you normally wake up. Don't worry; you don't need to fully wake up and start your day! You can just use this technique to help you wake up during a dream. Once you do, be sure to record it in your journal or audio diary.

4) Keep a regular sleep schedule

Your brain loves to sleep in regular cycles, so if your bedtime changes every night, you might want to reconsider.

By going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day, you are giving your brain the cues it needs to know that it's time to run through the cycles of sleep.

When you do this, you'll be more likely to enter dream stages throughout the night.

5) Set random alarms throughout the night

Everyone is different, so if the above tips don't work, you might need to do some investigating. If you've tried to record your dreams upon waking and you've set yourself up for success, but haven't had any luck recalling a dream, you may need to find your specific sleep pattern and work with it.

Most people dream every 90 minutes, but this varies wildly from individual to individual. Try setting an alarm for a few different times during the middle of the night.

Set an alarm for 90 minutes after you go to bed and see if you recall a dream when you wake up.

If that doesn't work, set an alarm for various random times during the night. You might discover that you only remember dreams if you wake up at 3:20 am.

If that's the case, you'll need to get into the habit of waking up during that time to record your dreams.

6) Be healthy

Healthy people have healthy sleep cycles. A healthy sleep cycle is key to remembering your dreams. If you're having a difficult time remembering any kind of dream at all, you might want to look into your lifestyle and make some adjustments.

Certain substances like alcohol and marijuana can affect your ability to dream, just as anxiety and depression can cause sleep disturbances.

If you experience the rare result of none of the above tips working for you, you might need to address some underlying issues before moving on...

Step 2: Perform reality checks throughout the day

It sounds silly, but to know you're asleep, you must first realize that you are awake.

Successful lucid dreamers perform reality checks throughout the day to confirm that they are indeed awake. Those same reality checks performed during sleep let them know that they are dreaming.

However, you can't just perform a reality check at will while dreaming; it takes practice and training. To do this, you'll need to form the habit of reality checking every day.

Here are proven ways of performing reality checks that have been successful for other lucid dreaming beginners:

1) Read something

Text and numbers seem to change in the dream world. In fact, it is reported that text read twice during a lucid dream changes 75% of the time, the second time it is read.

That number goes up to 95% when it is re-read a third time.

This makes reading text or numbers one of the most popular reality checks around. A few times each day, remind yourself to look at your watch or read a piece of text in front of you and then re-read it two more times. If it stays the same, you can tell yourself, "I know now that I am awake."

2) Defy physics

The laws of physics don't apply to the world of lucid dreaming, so testing them is a great way to find out where you are. You can do these reality checks by trying to push your hand through a solid object or jumping off the ground and seeing if you can fly.

You obviously won't succeed when you're awake, so when you fail, you can tell yourself, "I know now that I am awake."

3) Make something happen with your mind

Whether you want to move objects or make something appear or disappear, you might be able to do it when you're dreaming. When you're awake on the other hand, unless you have some incredible gifts, you're going to fail.

Just like the other reality checks, when you attempt to do this when you're awake, remind yourself that it didn't work because you are not dreaming.

4) Make it consistent

The key to successful reality checks is keeping it consistent.'

You're going to be performing these in your lucid dreams, so don't confuse yourself by making too many of them. Try to practice 1 or 2 of the same reality checks a few times each day. It only takes a few seconds and it will greatly improve your ability to lucid dream.

5) Do them in bed

Many first-time lucid dreamers have an experience known as a " false awakening."

When this happens, you think that you have woken up, but really, you are lucid dreaming. These can be frustrating experiences because it's difficult to distinguish between reality and the dream world when they look exactly the same.

To prevent this, do a reality check before you go to sleep and right when you wake up. Make this a habit and every time you wake up, you'll know for certain if it is a lucid dream or not.

Step 3: Have A Lucid Dream

Once you're in the habit of remembering your dreams and practicing your reality checks, you're ready to start practicing lucid dreaming techniques.

It's possible that by just performing the steps above for a couple weeks, you could start lucid dreaming without trying.

Does Lucid Dreaming Feel Real?

Think of a dream or a nightmare - any dream you've ever had - and try describing it using as much detail as possible.

You may experience a common phenomenon of being unable to really articulate the profound feelings you experienced during your dream.

You might be able to describe the details and events with some accuracy, but when you attempt to convey the emotion and strength of the dream, words just come up short.

Dreams are so powerful, and they can enhance or defy everything we know about reality.

When you dream, you get the experience all of these exciting and mysterious worlds, but you only experience them as a memory when you wake up. Lucid dreaming lets you experience those worlds in real time; lucid dreams are dreams that feel real.

In the real world, your sensory experiences (sight, touch, taste, smell, and feel) are just processes in your brain that are triggered by something in your body.

For example, when you touch something, signals fire off in your brain and let you experience the touch. The same thing happens in your lucid dreams, which means you can fully experience everything in your dream world.

Lucid dreaming is like a hyperreality where you sense and feel everything around you, except everything around you is a construct of your infinite imagination!

Tools To Help Lucid Dreaming

There are a few things you can do to help make lucid dreaming more likely. Keep in mind that all of these things are only meant to be used in addition to the steps and techniques listed above.

They won't teach you how to have lucid dreams on their own, but they can make it more likely to happen!

Tea and Herbs*

*If you have a medical condition or are pregnant, do not try these herbs without first consulting your doctor. Side effects from herbs can interfere with medications and some medical conditions. Don't worry - You can find out how to have a lucid dream without herbs as well!

There are many herbs and teas on the market that can help induce a dream state, intensify dreams and have a lucid dream more likely.

These herbs have been used for centuries by cultures all over the world to communicate with spirits, experience prophesies, and visit the underworld. These herbs are legal and you can purchase them at your local health food store or online.

Herbs you can use include: Mugwort, Huperzine-A, Choline, Wild Asparagus Root, Calea, Sinicuichi, and Silene.

Meditation

The best meditation you can do to help induce lucid dreams is mindfulness meditation. Since lucid dreaming is a state of mindfulness, practicing that state during your waking life is a very helpful aid.

Try implementing a 20 minutes mindfulness meditation into your daily routine and see if it increases your chances of having a lucid dream tonight.

If you need help from a guided meditation, try the one below:

Lucid Dreaming Music

There has been a lot of advancement in the science of using technology and sounds to induce a lucid dreaming state.

Playing off our natural brainwave patterns, sound can influence certain states of awareness and make lucid dreaming more likely. If you're interested in trying this technique, listen to the 8 hour video below using headphones while you sleep.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lucid Dreaming (FAQ)

You now know everything you need to know to start practicing how to lucid dream. Since lucid dreaming takes practice and patience, we're going to conclude this guide by addressing the common challenges that people experience when trying to lucid dream.

Read through the questions and be sure to re-visit this page if you experience any difficulties lucid dreaming.

Is lucid dreaming dangerous?

Lucid dreaming is a wonderful self-exploration tool and it is completely safe. In fact, it's a great way to experience far out worlds and ideas without using psychedelics, which can be dangerous.

No one has ever gotten stuck in a dream or done anything dangerous while lucid dreaming. You can do anything you want inside your lucid dream and you'll wake up back in the safety of your bed.

I can't remember my dreams; what should I do?

We spent a lot of time in this guide going over all the steps you need to take to remember your dreams. If you consistently try all of those steps and you still can't remember your dreams, you may have a sleep disorder or a medication that interferes with your sleep cycle.

This is extremely rare, so make sure you try all of those steps for at least a month. If they truly don't work, you may want to talk to your doctor about ordering a sleep study.

I had a lucid dream and it frightened me; is this normal?

Lucid dreams can be frightening if you aren't prepared for them.

Most people find them to be very exciting and fulfilling, but sometimes it just doesn't happen that way. The best thing to do if you have a frightening experience is to remind yourself that it is all in your head.

Everything in your dream world is a construct of your own mind. Things that appear frightening are just symbols in a dream. You woke up and you're safe now, so let that be a reminder that exploring the darker parts of your mind is safe and can help you eliminate those fears.

I've been lucid dreaming, but I can't control it, why?

You'll never be able to fully control your dreams, only steer the dreaming ship.

Keep this in mind and just keep trying. It can take time and patience to be able to direct where you want your lucid dreams to go and even those who have lucid dreams all the time aren't always able to control them. Lucid dreaming is really about awareness, not control.

What is the difference between daydreaming and lucid dreaming?

You are fully conscious, but relaxed and distracted when you daydream, but it's a good start to learning how to lucid dream.

The difference between the two is that you are awake when you daydream and asleep when you lucid dream. Accessing your imagination is a great tool to enhancing your lucid dream experiencing, but it shouldn't be confused with lucid dreaming.

Most daydreams are far less bizarre and surreal than lucid dreams. If you do a reality check in your daydream, you'll realize that you are indeed awake.

Will I be more tired in the morning?

It's logical to think an all night adventure of lucid dreams would make you wake up feeling exhausted. Yet, the opposite is usually true.

Most people wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after a lucid dreaming experience. This happens because lucid dreaming takes place during a very restful phase of sleep that lets our body recover.

Having awareness during this part of sleep doesn't seem to affect your level of rest.

Can you taste food in a lucid dream?

The short answer is - yes.

Since all sensory experiences are merely neurons firing off in your brain, it is possible to experience them in your dream. You can experiment with this idea right now. Sit back and imagine your favorite smell.

Think about it clearly and visualize the source in your mind. If you try hard enough, you can actually trigger your brain to experience the smell.

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How to Lucid Dream and 7 Ways it Will Change Your Life

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Imagine a world where you can easily conquer your biggest fears, travel at will to any location on the planet...or elsewhere, live out exciting, unbelievable adventures and even seduce a hopelessly sexy lover - when you learn how to lucid dream. It sounds like fantasy, but the impossible is in fact very possible through lucid dreaming.

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Although experts don't fully understand sleepwalking, they have isolated a few factors that contribute to it. "Some things that may exacerbate sleepwalking are sleep deprivation, stress, alcohol, and sleeping in an unusual environment, even if it's safe," says Abreu. Sleepwalking treatment generally involves taking preventative measures like putting alarms on front doors and electing not to live in high-rise buildings, although if it's potentially harmful, a doctor might prescribe medicine to keep it at bay.
RELATED: 7 Sneaky Things That Ruin Your Sleep-and How to Avoid Them!
Seriously Crazy Sleepwalking Stories
We got five women and men who've dealt with sleepwalking-some as kids and others as adults-to tell us about their experiences. Abreu has also had patients who sleepwalk, and he shared some of their more memorable stories:

"Once while sleepwalking, I got a piece of glass in my foot, pulled it out, stuck a paper towel to the bleeding wound, and went back to sleep, only to find a bloody paper towel in my bed in the morning. Another time, I woke up as I was opening my front door to a very large man yelling outside my apartment. He was yelling at someone on his phone, and when I opened the door, he was like four feet from me. He just looked at me weirdly and walked away. Thank god. That was when I realized I should start dead-bolting my door at night. " -Rebecca S.

"I was on Ambien for about two years. After a couple months, I started realizing I was doing weird stuff after I took it that I didn't remember. Nothing serious that I knew of, but I would wake up with food all over my bed, or there would be posts I made online that I had no recollection of. I didn't think it was that big of a deal, so I stayed on it. One night, toward the end of my time on Ambien, I woke up in my car. I was in my pajamas, driving and crying. I knew where I was, but I had no idea how I got there, and I didn't know why I was crying, either. I pulled into a parking lot and waited until I was done crying for no apparent reason, and then I just drove back home. It had to have been like 3 o'clock in the morning. I did continue to take Ambien for a little bit after that incident because my insomnia was really bad and I didn't know what else would work. When I saw a new doctor, I told him about it, and he took me off it immediately, saying no good can come from that drug." - Stacie C.

"I had a patient who had a sleepwalking episode in his apartment building: He went off with his friends and had a few drinks. Later that night, he was found naked in the hallway of his building. They took him to the hospital, and his blood tests showed he wasn't intoxicated. The building said he had to see a doctor because otherwise, they couldn't let him live there. It became a safety measure at that point." -Abreu
RELATED: The Strange Thing That's Disturbing Your Sleep
"Around when I was 7 or 8, I walked to the neighbor's house in the snow and rang the doorbell. I think it was September or October in Colorado, and I was probably only wearing a flannel nightgown. I have no recollection of whether they answered the door or how I got back home. My grandmother told me it ran in the family: My uncle sleepwalked all the way to his grandparents' home a few miles away." - Daphne A.

"I have sexsomnia. A few times I've woken up in the middle of the night going down on my partner. I first found out I do this my senior year of college, when my boyfriend at the time slept over. He texted me later in the day and apologized for not wanting to have sex in the middle of the night, and I had no idea what he was talking about. Sometimes I don't remember at all; other times I become lucid only after I am going all out. It freaked my current boyfriend out at first, but he's since embraced it. I think he just got worried about what could potentially happen, like what I could do to him while I was asleep without any conscious knowledge. I've never attempted penetrative sex of any kind, so I think he's become more comfortable as a result of that and just knowing and trusting me, too. I have also woken up to myself vigorously masturbating. I've noticed that has only happened when I sleep in either my briefs or boxer briefs. I don't wear boxers, and it doesn't really happen from any recollection when I sleep naked." - Bobby S. M.

"On an extremely stormy night when I was 4 years old, I sleepwalked into the pantry and ate some cat food. Just a little bit. It was the crunchy kind. As soon as I tasted it, I woke up. Another time when I was around 7 was actually scary because I sleepwalked out of a tent where my family and I were camping in northern Canada. We'd spent the entire day watching bears feasting on salmon, and we heard wolves, too. I left the tent in the middle of the night and wandered toward a lit area. I climbed over a low wooden fence, then woke up." - Logan S.
RELATED: The Amount of Sleep You Need to Keep Your Appetite Under Control
"I have a nice lady I see regularly. She's a very healthy lady, great person, and she comes to the office because for her, sleepwalking is normal. Her husband just had an accident and became quadriplegic, so now she had this stress factor of a family member having a major accident. One day she came in and said, 'Hey, I think I need to up my medication. I was in the middle of the street by myself in the middle of the night.' She could have been run over by a car." - Abreu

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7 of the Craziest Sleepwalking Stories You'll Ever Hear

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Imagine waking up in the morning, surrounded by evidence of a midnight snacking session you couldn't quite recall. Or what if you came to behind the wheel of a car with no memory of how you got there?

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Dreams can be entertaining, disturbing, or downright bizarre. We all dream -- even if we don't remember it the next day. But why do we dream? And what do dreams mean, anyway?

WebMD takes a look at what makes us dream and helps unravel the mysteries behind dreams.

What Are Dreams?

Dreams are basically stories and images our mind creates while we sleep. Dreams can be vivid. They can make you feel happy, sad, or scared. And they may seem confusing or perfectly rational.

Dreams can occur anytime during sleep. But most vivid dreams occur during deep, REM ( rapid eye movement) sleep, when the brain is most active. Some experts say we dream at least four to six times per night.

Why Do We Dream?

There are many theories about why we dream, but no one knows for sure. Some researchers say dreams have no purpose or meaning and are nonsensical activities of the sleeping brain. Others say dreams are necessary for mental, emotional, and physical health.

Studies have shown the importance of dreams to our health and well-being. In one study, researchers woke subjects just as they were drifting off into REM sleep. They found that those who were not allowed to dream experienced:

Many experts say that dreams exist to:

Help solve problems in our lives

Incorporate memories

Process emotions

If you go to bed with a troubling thought, you may wake with a solution, or at least feel better about the situation.

Sigmund Freud believed dreams are a window into our subconscious. He believed they reveal a person's:

Unconscious desires

Thoughts

Motivations

Freud thought dreams were a way for people to satisfy urges and desires that were unacceptable to society.

Perhaps there is merit with all these theories. Some dreams may help our brains process our thoughts and the events of the day. Others may just be the result of normal brain activity and mean very little, if anything. Researchers are still trying to figure out exactly why we dream.

Continued

What Do Dreams Mean?

Just as there are varying opinions as to why we dream, there are also different views as to what dreams mean. Some experts say dreams have no connection to our real emotions or thoughts. They are just strange stories that don't relate to normal life.

Others say our dreams may reflect our own underlying thoughts and feelings -- our deepest desires, fears, and concerns, especially recurring dreams. By interpreting our dreams, we may be able to gain insight into our lives and ourselves. Many people say they have come up with their best ideas while dreaming, so dreams may be a conduit of creativity.

Often people report having similar dreams -- they are being chased, fall off a cliff, or appear in public naked. These types of dreams are likely caused by a hidden stress or anxiety. While the dreams may be similar, experts say the meaning behind the dream is unique to each person.

Therefore, many experts say not to rely on books or "dream dictionaries," which give a specific meaning for a specific dream image or symbol. The particular reason behind your dream is unique to you.

Although scientists can't say for sure what dreams mean and why we dream, many people find meaning in their dreams.

Why Do Nightmares Occur?

Nightmares, or bad dreams, are common in children and adults. Often nightmares are caused by:

Stress, conflict, and fear

Trauma

Emotional problems

Medication or drug use

Illness

If you have a recurring nightmare, your subconscious may be trying to tell you something. Listen to it. If you can't figure out why you are having bad dreams, and you continue to have them, talk to a qualified mental health care provider. They may be able to help you figure out what is causing your nightmares and provide tips to put you at ease.

Keep in mind that no matter how scary a nightmare is, it is not real and most likely will not happen to you in real life.

What Are Lucid Dreams?

Have you ever had a dream where you knew you were dreaming during your dream? This is called a lucid dream. Research has shown that lucid dreaming is accompanied by an increased activation of parts of the brain that are normally suppressed during sleep. Lucid dreaming represents a brain state between REM sleep and being awake.

Some people who are lucid dreamers are able to influence the direction of their dream, changing the story so to speak. While this may be a good tactic to take, especially during a nightmare, many dream experts say it is better to let your dreams occur naturally.

Continued

Can Dreams Predict the Future?

There are many examples of situations where a dream came true or was telling of a future event. When you have a dream that then plays out in real life, experts say it is most likely due to:

Coincidence

Faulty memory

An unconscious tying together of known information

However, sometimes dreams can motivate you to act a certain way, thus changing the future.

Why Are Dreams Hard to Remember?

Researchers don't know for sure why dreams are easily forgotten. Maybe we are designed to forget our dreams because if we remembered all our dreams, we might not be able to distinguish dreams from real memories.

Also, it may be harder to remember dreams because during REM sleep our body may shut down systems in our brain responsible for creating memories. We may only remember dreams that occur just before we wake, when certain brain activities have been turned back on.

Some say our minds don't actually forget dreams, we just don't know how to access them. Dreams may be stored in our memory, waiting to be recalled. This notion may explain why you may suddenly remember a dream later in the day -- something may have happened to trigger the memory.

Tips for Dream Recall

If you are a sound sleeper and don't wake up until the morning, you are less likely to remember your dreams compared to people who wake up several times in the night. But here are some tips that may influence your ability to remember your dreams:

Wake up without an alarm. You are more likely to remember your dreams if you wake up naturally than with an alarm. Once the alarm goes off, your brain focuses on the annoying sound and turning it off and not your dream.

Remind yourself to remember. If you want to remember your dreams and make a conscious decision to do so, you are more likely to remember your dreams in the morning. Before you go to sleep, remind yourself that you want to remember your dream.

Dream playback. If you think about the dream right after waking, it may be easier to remember it later.

Continued

How to Make Sense of Your Dreams

If you are intrigued by your dreams or want to sort out the meaning behind them, consider keeping a dream diary or journal. Here are some tips:

Write it down. Keep a notebook or journal and pen next to your bed and record your dream first thing every morning, while the memory is still fresh. Write down anything you recall from the dream and how it made you feel, even if you can only remember random pieces of information.

Journal without judgment. Dreams are sometimes odd and may go against societal norms. Try not to judge yourself based on your dreams.

Give each dream a title. This may help if you want to refer back to a dream. Sometimes the title you create can provide insight on why you had the dream or the meaning behind it.

Dreams have fascinated humanity since the beginning of time and will likely continue to mystify us. And although science has allowed us to learn much about the human brain, we may never know for sure the meaning behind our dreams.

Sources

SOURCES:

International Association for the Study of Dreams: "Common Questions About Dreams."

National Sleep Foundation: "In Your Dreams," "Dreams and Sleep."

DreamScience.org: "The Science of Dreaming."

University of California Santa Cruz: "The Quantitative Study of Dreams: Frequently Asked Questions."

PBS.org: "Dreams: Expert Q&A."

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Dreams: Why We Dream, Lucid Dreaming, Nightmares, Common Dreams, and More

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Dreams can be entertaining, disturbing, or downright bizarre. We all dream -- even if we don't remember it the next day. But why do we dream? And what do dreams mean, anyway? WebMD takes a look at what makes us dream and helps unravel the mysteries behind dreams. Dreams are basically stories and images our mind creates while we sleep.

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Exposure to light at night, even at very low levels, has been linked to an increased risk of depression, according to a study published this month in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

In general, nighttime light has been shown to disrupt internal sleep/wake cycles, which is an ever-growing concern as more people are using their phones and tablets in bed, or leaving the TV on as they sleep.

STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images

But the new report goes further, measuring bedroom exposure to low levels of nighttime light using a portable light meter attached to the bed. Researchers followed nearly 900 elderly people in Japan for two years and assessed symptoms of depression and tested sleep/wake patterns throughout the night.

They took into account weight, smoking or drinking habits, income level and medication use. Histories of high blood pressure, diabetes and physical activity level were also noted.

Checking in two years after their baseline measurements, those exposed to more than five "lux" of light each night had higher rates of depression. That standard measure, one "lux," is the amount of light that shines from a candle if you are sitting 1 meter away.

By comparison, a nighttime family room with the lights on measures about 50 lux, while standing outdoors in daylight is 10,000 to 25,000 lux. The equivalent of 5 lux is equivalent to the brightness of a street light shining through the window into a darkened bedroom.

Only about 150 people in the study had nighttime bedrooms with more than 5 lux of light, but that group showed a 65 percent increased chance of developing depression after two years.

Even factoring in high blood pressure, diabetes or sleep/wake patterns, there was still a 63 percent increased chance of becoming depressed. Those with light at night also tended to go to sleep earlier, wake up later and spend more time in bed overall than counterparts who slept in darker rooms.

STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images

"Previous studies have suggested the possibility that LAN [light-at-night] induces sleep disturbances, impaired melatonin secretion and misalignments between sleep/wake behavior ... and depression is frequently accompanied by these conditions," the study said.

As a way to improve sleep hygiene and mental health, making sure a bedroom is truly dark is one of the easier interventions.

Najibah Rehman, MD, MPH, is a third-year Preventive Medicine Resident at the University of Michigan working in the ABC News Medical Unit.

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Sleeping in rooms with even a little light can increase risk of depression: Study

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Exposure to light at night, even at very low levels, has been linked to an increased risk of depression, according to a study published this month in the American Journal of Epidemiology. In general, nighttime light has been shown to disrupt internal sleep/wake cycles, which is an ever-growing concern as more people are using their phones and tablets in bed, or leaving the TV on as they sleep.

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https://www.onhealth.com/content/1/best_sleeping_positions_sleep

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Effects of the sleeping deprivation :D
https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-body

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Dreams

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Dreams are defined as images, emotions, ideas and sensations that involuntarily occur during REM sleep. Throughout the centuries, they have been extensively studied in the field of oneirology. But up to now, no MENSA genius has been able to determine the purpose of dreams. While research about dreams remain nascent, we still have discovered quite a few interesting facts about dreams thus far. Read on to familiarize yourself with the 21 most interesting dream factoids that have been unearthed so far:

1) Do you often wake up knowing that you had a wild dream, yet you cannot remember it no matter how you try? You are not alone. In fact, 90% of people don't remember their dreams. For most individuals, 90% of the dream is lost within the first minute. In some people, 50% of the dream is forgotten within 5 minutes of waking up. Although this is the case, you can resume your dream by getting back to sleep and sailing back to dreamland once again.

2) While most people forget their dreams, you can remember what transpired last night if you are woken up during the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of your slumber. (Unfortunately, you cannot sync that to your alarm!) If you wake up outside REM, you will not be able to recall the dream - or nightmare - that took most of your sleep time.

3) An average person experiences three to five dreams per night. Some individuals, however, have more active brains - dreaming as much as 7 episodes every night. This equates to as much as 100,000 dreams per lifetime.

4) Dreams take about 2-3 hours of the usual sleeping time. The first dream lasts about 5 minutes long, while there are episodes that last up to 45 minutes! When compounded, the overall duration of dreaming accounts for an average of six years. In active dreamers, however, the dreaming period covers 1/3 of the individual's lifespan.

5) Dreams occur in black and white. Just like television, not all dreams are in Technicolor. Research shows that 12% of dreamers have nightly visions in black and white. Most of the time, these monochromatic dreamers grew up watching TV shows in black and white. In other words, it is the older persons who commonly come up with monochromatic trances.

6)You are paralyzed whenever you are in dreamland. Dreams often occur during the REM stage of sleep, and while the brain is very active during this phase, the body is temporarily paralyzed in order to stop the person from acting out his sleep. This event - called sleep paralysis - happens in 40% of people. During sleep paralysis, you will not be able to speak or move for a few minutes. Some feel choked, while some feel undue pressure. Although this is the case...

7) There are persons who get to act out their dreams despite the phase known as sleep paralysis. Some go sleepwalking (the usual activity), but there are some who 'transform' into different individuals come nighttime. Case in point: Nurse Lee Hadwin evolves into a world-class artist when he is dreaming; he is able conjure up beautiful portraits in his dreams. Here are some other 'uncanny events' that have taken place during a person's dream:

8) Some women have intercourse with 'random men' during their sleep. When they wake up, they feel tired and sore - they do not have any idea that they have been getting busy the night before!

9) Dreams help dictate the creativity of the person. Dreams occur in the REM phase, and those who suffer from a rare case called "REM disorder" don't dream at all. As such, these people exhibit diminished creativity and problems with regard to creative problem solving.

10) While not all dreams do come true, there are some that do-and it all might just be pure coincidence for those that come true. 18 to 38% of people report experiencing at least one precognitive dream. Some of the people who attest to this fact are President Abraham Lincoln, who dreamt that he will be assassinated (and he was, by John Wilkes Booth), and Mark Twain, who visualized his brother's untimely demise. Nineteen survivors dreamed about Titanic going down after getting hit by an iceberg, while several 9/11 victims had a premonition of the terroristic catastrophe.

11) Dreams can bring out your inventive side. In fact, many inventors have created breakthrough inventions and ideas as results of their dreams. Excellent examples include Dimitri Mendeleyev's Periodic Table and Nikola Tesla's Alternating Current Generator. Elias Howe, after a dream of something running after him, came up with the brilliant invention that most of us know as the sewing machine. James Watson conjured up the double helix spiral form of the DNA, while Larry Page came up with the idea of Google during his sleep.

12) You only get to dream of faces you are familiar with. Say you had a dream wherein a killer is coming after you. You might not know him personally, but you only get to dream of faces you have seen throughout the day. You might not remember the person because of the hundreds of people you've seen through the day. Your dream killer might just be the new barista at your favorite coffee shop or a random classmate you have.

13) Colder rooms almost always equate to more terrifying nightmares. After all, the temperature of the room plays a big role in your dream phase. So if you are suffering from bad dreams, try increasing the thermostat and you might just get the good dream that has eluded you for so long.

14) Are you unsure if you are really in dreamland? Try reading a book or telling time in this scenario. If you are in a dream, you will find it hard to peruse text, since they are usually morphed in trances. Telling time is another way to check if you are currently in fantasyland. If it seems like the clock's hands are not moving, then it means that you are the star of your nightly dream show.

15) You can control your dreams. The premise of the movie 'Inception' holds true, as studies show that 64.9% of 3,000 study participants report that they know that they are in a dream. Some can even control their visions - a term called as "lucid dreaming." Such activity is helpful for those who have recurrent nightmares, as lucid dreaming can help them transform their bad visions to pleasant trances.

16) Unborn babies dream, too! In fact, a fetus in his mother's womb has dreams that focus on sound and touch. Toddlers, on the other hand, do not have dreams of themselves until age 3. Children aged 7-8 have more nightmares than adults, hence the rampancy of nightmare disorder or dream anxiety disorder in these kids.

17) Men and women dream differently. Ironic as it might seem, men often dream about other men. Other usual themes for men's dreams include violence, sexual activity, outdoor events and personal achievements. Women, on the other hand, dream of both genders at an equal rate. Other images in a female's dream are family, children and household chores. Although they differ in visions, one thing is certain: both genders can have orgasms during sleep.

18) Blind people have dreams, too! Individuals who have gone blind after an accident or medical condition still experience vivid dreams. Those who were born blind, however, experience dreams that are more focused on the sensations of smell, touch and sound - instead of the visual kind.

19) Pets have dreams as well! Your pooch or cat has nightly visions as well, and they even have more complex dreams than yours. Whenever you see them making noises or moving their paws, it means that they are having dreams - or maybe even nightmares.

20) Dreams keep you from being psychotic. Research involving sleep shows that participants who were woken up at the beginning of their trances - but were left to continue with 8 hours of sleep - exhibited irritability, hallucinations, concentration difficulties and psychosis just after 3 consecutive days. However, when they were left to continue with their REM sleep, results show that their minds try to make up for the lost time by spending more hours in the REM phase.
[wp_ad_camp_3] 21) Those who have just kicked off the habit report more vibrant dreams. Apart from exhibiting the usual cold turkey syndrome, people who have just quit smoking and drinking experience more vivid visions at night. According to a study published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, research shows that 33% of the participants had at least 1 dream about smoking. This can be attributed to nicotine withdrawal, as 97% of these study subjects did not experience such dreams prior to quitting.

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Dreams are defined as images, emotions, ideas and sensations that involuntarily occur during REM sleep. Throughout the centuries, they have been extensively studied in the field of oneirology. But up to now, no MENSA genius has been able to determine the purpose of dreams. While research about dreams remain nascent, we still have discovered quite a few interesting facts about dreams thus far.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eLfn7Ewx_s

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A short animation film about waking up in the morning.

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22 Interesting Facts about sleeping

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Most of what we know about sleep has only been discovered in the last 25 years, but it's fair to say we've made up for it. Scientists and researchers all over the globe are learning more and more about sleep every day, teaching us things we never even dreamed about (excuse the pun). We've put together a list of 22 of the most interesting and surprising facts about sleep that you may not know.

The facts about sleep

1. 12% of people dream entirely in black and white

2. Two thirds of a cat's life is spent asleep

This will come as no surprise to most cat owners. Every sofa is a sofa bed to them. Otherwise found on your favourite seat or computer keyboard.

3. A giraffe only needs 1.9 hours of sleep a day, whereas a brown bat needs 19.9 hours a day

4. Humans spend 1/3 of their life sleeping

This obviously differs depending on the age of the human, but on average it's around a third, which is quite a lot when you think about it.

5. The record for the longest period without sleep is 11 days

This was set by a Californian student named Randy Gardner in 1964. This is definitely not recommended, however, as Randy experienced extreme sleep deprivation and others have died staying awake for too long.

6. It's not uncommon for deaf people to use sign language in their sleep

There are many instances where people have reported their deaf partners or children using sign language in their sleep.

7. Dysania is the state of finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning

We've all no doubt found it tricky getting out of bed before, but those suffering from Dysania find it particularly difficult. It's most likely to be a form of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

8. Parasomnia is a term that refers to unnatural movements during your sleep

Some people have even committed crime due to parasomnia, including sleep driving and even murder.

9. The sensation of falling when half asleep and jerking yourself awake is called 'hypnic jerks'

No one is totally sure why hypnic jerks occur but they are deemed to be perfectly healthy. However, they may be increased by anxiety, caffeine or physical activity close to bedtime. They're more frequent in young people and decrease as we get older.

10. It's thought that up to 15% of the population are sleepwalkers

11. 1 in 4 married couples sleep in separate beds

12. Sleep deprivation will kill you more quickly than food deprivation

13. Those born blind experience dreams involving things such as emotion, sound and smell rather than sight

14. Within 5 minutes of waking up, 50% of your dream is forgotten

After an additional 5 minutes, 90% of recollection is gone. Sigmund Freud believed this was because dreams represent our repressed thoughts and so our brain wants to get rid of them quickly. However, it's much more likely due to our brains simply being used much more as soon as we're awake and so we forget much of what we've dreamed about.

15. Pain tolerance is reduced by sleep deprivation

16. 41% of the British population sleep in the foetal position

This is from research done by Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, though five other sleeping positions have been identified: the log, yearner, starfish, soldier, and freefaller.

17. Sleep experts have discovered a direct link between people's favourite sleeping positions and their personalities

18. Ideally, falling asleep at night should take you 10-15 minutes

If it takes you less than five minutes, chances are, you're sleep deprived.

19. Humans are the only mammals that willingly delay sleep

How nice it must be to just go to sleep whenever and wherever you are!

20. Sleeping on your front can aid digestion

Hands should apparently be positioned above the pillow so you're in a 'freefall' position, whilst laying on your left side can apparently help reduce heartburn.

21. High earners (£65 - £75,000) get the best sleep

22. Fear is said not to be the main emotion in nightmares

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22 Interesting Facts You Didn't Know About Sleep - The Sleep Matters Club

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How much do you know about sleep? Here are some interesting facts about sleep you might not have been aware of, including sleep requirements and myths.|How much do you know about sleep? Here are some interesting facts about sleep you might not have been aware of, including sleep requirements and myths.|How much do you know about sleep?

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Kata

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What would happen if you didn’t sleep? - Claudia Aguirre