Why do we have bad dreams?

6. Illness

Illnesses that include fever, such as the flu, can often trigger nightmares. Other sleeping disorders, including apnea and narcolepsy, may also increase the incidence of bad dreams and nightmares. Individuals that are sick with viral infections can often experience the same. This is a result of the body under increased stress trying to fight off a sickness. The increased physical and mental stress as a result of being sick is thought to potentially trigger nightmares.

Everyone experiences nightmares every now and then, it’s completely normal. The IASD, however, recommends consultation with a therapist if they seem to last in intensity and severity, much like night terrors. Night terrors are far worse than nightmares. A night terror is a sleep disruption that seems similar to a nightmare, but with a far more dramatic presentation. Unlike nightmares, however, they happen during deep non-REM sleep.

Try to eliminate these 6 factors in the meantime for better dreams and so you could get your much needed rest.

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