Nightmare
Nightmare: Bad dreams that evoke intense fear, anxiety, or terror, usually waking the person. They occur during REM sleep and are typically remembered in detail. Can be linked to stress, trauma, and medications.
What is Nightmare?
A nightmare is a disturbing dream that brings intense fear, anxiety or dread and often wakes the dreamer. Nightmares usually happen during REM sleep, especially in the second half of the night, and are remembered in detail on waking. That sets them apart from night terrors, which occur in deep NREM sleep: the person may scream or thrash but usually remembers nothing in the morning. Sleep paralysis is different again; the person is awake but briefly unable to move. Occasional nightmares are normal, and stress, lack of sleep, some medications and difficult past events can make them more frequent. In dream interpretation a nightmare is read as a suppressed worry or an unresolved situation finding a voice; being chased, falling and being trapped are among the themes people often describe. A common misconception is that a nightmare foretells a bad event. Frequent nightmares that disrupt sleep are worth raising with a doctor. You can look up the symbols from your nightmare in the dream dictionary on Faltastik.
Related Terms
Night Terror / Sleep Terror
A sleep disorder occurring during deep sleep, accompanied by intense fear, screaming, and sometimes sleepwalking. Usually not remembered. Folk traditions describe it as an entity pressing on the chest.
REM Sleep
Rapid Eye Movement — the sleep stage characterized by rapid eye movements. The majority of dreams occur during this phase. The brain is highly active while the body experiences temporary paralysis.
Recurring Dream
The repeated appearance of the same or very similar themes in dreams. Usually points to unresolved emotional issues or unconscious messages. The dream tends to stop when the issue is resolved.
Reality Check
A lucid dreaming technique: regularly asking 'Am I dreaming?' throughout the day to carry this habit into dreams. Tests like counting fingers or reading text are used.
Sleep Cycle
A cycle of approximately 90 minutes consisting of NREM and REM stages, repeating 4-6 times per night. REM duration increases with each cycle, and dreams become more vivid.
Dream Recall
The ability to consciously remember dream content after waking. Varies person to person; can be improved through dream journaling, intention setting, and sleep hygiene.