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What are nightmares & what do they mean?
Is dreaming a nightmare?
What is the difference between a night terror and a nightmare?
Can nightmares affect your sleep?
Why do people have nightmares?
Why do I have nightmares during REM sleep?
- Teeth Falling Out. Dreams about your teeth falling out can reflect your anxieties about your appearance and how others perceive you. Such dreams may stem from a fear of rejection, embarrassment or feeling unattractive.
- Being Chased Nightmares. Being chased in a dream suggests you are running away from something, causing you fear or anxiety in waking life. It indicates that you have a tendency to run away or avoid a particular issue.
- Unable to Find a Toilet. Having trouble finding a toilet means you may find it difficult to express your needs in a particular situation. It can represent feelings of your personal needs not being met by always putting others first.
- Naked in Public. Being naked in a dream symbolises being unable to find yourself, uncertain, or wrongly accused. Being naked in a public place indicates feelings of vulnerability and a fear of not fitting in with the crowd.
- Overview
- What are the most common nightmares?
- Can nightmares be warnings?
- How does your brain decide what to dream?
- FAQs
- Takeaway
While no one is exactly sure why we have nightmares, research shows they’re more common in those with some mental health diagnoses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Falling from a high place, being chased by a vicious animal, wandering around lost or helpless… what do all these things have in common? If you hadn’t already guessed it, the scenarios are just a few of the most common themes that people report experiencing in their nightmares. But what do these nightmares actually mean — and can they be a warning sign that something is wrong?
Nightmares, like dreams, can come in all shapes and sizes – but as it turns out, there are a few common themes that people seem to grapple with when they experience nightmares.
One study from 2018 published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine explored the most common nightmare themes in more than 1,200 participants. The results of the study found several common themes among those experiencing frequent nightmares:
•19% — death or injury to loved ones
•18% — failure or helplessness
•18% — physical aggression
•15% — accidents
Researchers still have a lot to learn about the science of dreaming, and there are multiple theories as to why we dream. For example, the psychodynamic theory of dreams says that dreams simply exist to fulfill our subconscious desires. And the neurocognitive theory says that dreams are merely a byproduct of the brain’s natural evolution.
None of the theories about dreaming point to our dreams (or nightmares) as being warnings of potential or impending doom. However, there’s one thing that nightmares may actually “warn” us about: our physical and mental health.
According to research, nightmares are more common in people who have mental health diagnoses. In fact, one study states that up to 70% of people with PTSD, major depression, and other mental health diagnoses experience chronic nightmares. A condition called nightmare disorder, specifically, appears to affect a large percentage of people living with mental health conditions.
It’s not just mental health disorders that can cause an increase in nightmares, either. One study found that nightmares are also commonly associated with other factors such as negative feelings, worry, and sleep duration. Research also suggests that certain health conditions, such as migraine and asthma, and certain medications can cause an increase in nightmares.
In a way, chronic nightmares can be a warning about your physical or mental health.
If chronic nightmares are disturbing your sleep, it’s worth bringing it up to a doctor or therapist. They’ll be able to help you create a plan for more peaceful sleep.
It’s hard to say exactly how our brains decide what to dream about each night — or if we’ll even dream at all. But for the most part, researchers believe that our dreams are strongly influenced by factors such as our personality and imagination, as well as the things we’re interested in and concerned about.
In children, for example, dreams tend to follow cognitive development and become more involved as they get older. And in adults, things such as mood and mental health can greatly influence the content of our nightly dreams.
When should I be worried about nightmares?
Researchers suggest that around 35 to 45% of people experience at least one nightmare per month — but only around 2 to 8% of people experience chronic nightmares. If your nightmares have increased to the point that they’re starting to affect your sleep quality or mood, consider reaching out to your doctor or healthcare professional.
What do PTSD nightmares look like?
Statistics show that roughly 70% of people living with PTSD experience frequent, chronic nightmares. Many of these nightmares tend to involve the trauma that caused the PTSD — such as either dreaming about the traumatic event or experiencing the thoughts, feelings, or emotions associated with the event. Learn more about getting support for PTSD.
What do nightmares mean spiritually?
While there’s very little research on the spiritual aspect of nightmares, some people believe that nightmares and spirituality are linked. For example, some religions view dreaming as a form of communication with a higher being, while others regard dreams as a meditative experience.
Most people experience nightmares from time to time, and for the majority of people, they’re usually nothing to worry about.
However, some people — especially those with certain underlying physical or mental health conditions — may experience nightmares more frequently than usual. If you’ve been experiencing frequent or chronic nightmares, consider reaching out to a doctor to discuss your concerns.
- Being chased. Being chased is one of the most common nightmares. If you dream that you’re being chased by something, whether it’s an 8-foot-tall rabbit or a shrouded figure, then it’s an indicator that you’re running away from something or someone in real life.
- Teeth falling out. Ever found yourself stuck in a dream where you’re brushing your teeth in the mirror, and one by one, your teeth start falling out? Dreaming about your teeth falling out can mean multiple things.
- Catching fire. Another one of the most common nightmares is dreaming about catching fire. Dreaming of something catching fire means that you should be aware of a change that could potentially cause problems.
- Getting shot. Nightmares about getting shot are quite common and can arise for multiple reasons. For instance, if you watched a disturbing movie where someone got shot, you’re likely to have this dream.
- Being chased. Being chased is a common nightmare and this dream can be particularly anxiety-inducing if experienced during a lucid dream, where you're aware of being within a dream but still very much asleep.
- Falling. Another common nightmare, this dream can often relate to a feeling that you're not in control of something going on in your life. This may be work, relationships, money, or a fear of letting something go.
- A partner leaving or cheating. A nightmare where your partner leaves or cheats often reflects feelings of insecurity in your relationship. Perhaps you have different attachment styles or love languages and are struggling to communicate effectively, or your partner is working away or distracted with a big project.
- Teeth falling out. Losing a tooth or experiencing crumbling or decaying teeth in a dream can be frightening, but it's incredibly common and often points to wider anxiety.
May 2, 2024 · Nightmares are vivid dreams that may be threatening, upsetting, bizarre, or otherwise bothersome. They occur more often during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage of sleep associated with intense dreaming.
- 3 min
Nightmares are bad dreams you wake up from and can remember. Night terrors are most common in children between the ages of 3 and 8, while nightmares can affect both children and adults. Differences between night terrors and nightmares.
Jul 31, 2023 · What are nightmares and what do they mean? Nightmares are vividly realistic, disturbing dreams that can disturb sleep that can create fear, palpitations , and rapid breathing . Just like most dreams, nightmares also tend to occur most often during rapid eye movement sleep or REM sleep .
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