Why Do We Have Nightmares

JRA

Why Do We Have Nightmares?

A nightmare is a dream occurring during rapid eye movement (REM), which is the period of time in sleep that one would experience dreams (Psychology Today, 2015). A nightmare makes a person experience feelings of helplessness, terror, sorrow, and anxiety (Psychology Today, 2015). It is estimated that nearly three quarters of one’s dream emotions are negative (Angier, 2007). The cause of nightmares varies, but some people have theorized that a nightmare is the brains way of focusing on issues that need to be addressed (Melina, 2010). Deirdre Barrett, a psychologist at Harvard University, said that “nightmares probably evolved to help make us anxious about potential dangers. Even post-traumatic nightmares, which just re-traumatize us, may have been useful in ancestral times when a wild animal that had attacked you or a rival tribe that had invaded might well be likely to come back," (Melina, 2010). Although this scenario is not applicable in today’s society, Barrett explained that some nightmares call to ones attention the consequences of certain actions, and once one is more aware of the concerns, they can convince their unconscious to stop worrying or realize the severity of a situation (Melina, 2010). Nightmares also occur when someone has eaten right before going to bed. When people do this, it makes their metabolism and brain activity increase, which may result in a nightmare because one would experience more REM (Psychology Today, 2015). Another cause of a nightmare is a fever, this is because one’s temperature increases putting more stress on the body. The additional stress makes a person more prone to having a nightmare (Erwin, 2012). Stress causes a nightmare because the brain needs to rationalize things, and a nightmare is its way of doing so when it cannot function properly during waking hours. “The higher the temperature reading, the more stress is put on the physical and mental side of the body. This...