Why do I constantly have nightmares

Nightmares are dreams that cause us fear and anguish at night and that can go accompanied by anxiety symptoms, such as shortness of breath, sweating, or heart rate accelerated. These types of dreams are more frequent in children than in adults, however, 50% of adults have nightmares at some time and it has been observed that it is more common in women than in men. When nightmares become a condition that is experienced often and for a long time, it is important to pay attention to attention, since although the causes can be diverse, sometimes they can be a symptom of a psychological disorder or neurological. In this Psychology-Online article, we address this question in detail and answer the question: "why do I constantly have nightmares." In addition, we show what measures we can take to avoid these distressing dreams and enjoy quality sleep.

Index

1. What are nightmares and when do they happen?
2. Causes of nightmares in adults
3. Symptoms associated with nightmares
4. What to do to avoid having nightmares
5. Seek professional help if ...

We can define nightmares as a type of complex and prolonged dreams that cause a intense fear in the person who experiences them. In general, in these dreams the affected person feels that his life or safety is in danger or that he runs into a threat to her life. However, it is also likely to have nightmares in which physical integrity is not in danger. This threat or danger usually increases as the dream progresses, as well as the feeling of fear of the person, and the awakening usually takes place when that threat or danger reaches its highest point in the dream.

Nightmares generally occur on the call REM phase, that is, towards the second half of the night, being much more frequent in the last hours of sleep. During this phase, there is a "reorganization of memory" and a reworking of memories, and nightmares would occur when a this reorganization is accompanied by an empathic hyperresponsiveness in which there is an increase in heart rate and activity respiratory.

Although the exact causes that can answer the question we asked of "why do I constantly have nightmares", specialists point out that the suffering of these dreams during rest may be related to factors like the ones we show below:

• Stress and anxietyDuring the periods when we are most stressed, anxious or anxious, the chances of having nightmares too often increase. They can be a way to release the tensions that we accumulate on a daily basis.
• Psychological traumas: Those who have experienced or observed a traumatic event may have constant nightmares and poor quality of sleep. This is usually due to traumatic stress disorder and can happen from experiences negative, such as an accident, a kidnapping, having been a victim of abuse, the loss of a being dear, etc.
• Sleep disorders: Those with sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or night terrors are more likely to have nightmares.
• Illnesses or physical conditions: Conditions that make it difficult to rest, such as high fever or respiratory problems can cause us great discomfort at night and favor the appearance of nightmares.
• Drug consumption: the intake or withdrawal of some medications can cause nightmares. Among these drugs, we can find antidepressants, antiepileptics, antihistamines, cognitive enhancers, drugs for Parkinson's or high blood pressure, etc.
• Excessive alcohol consumption or from other stimulant substances that alter the nervous system can result in nightmares.

When nightmares are recurring and occur very often, they could be a symptom of certain psychiatric problems, such as: depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, as well as neurological diseases. Therefore, when nightmares are very frequent and are accompanied by other emotional and physical symptoms, it is convenient go to a professional to try to find out what the origin is and initiate the appropriate therapy and treatment in each case.

Now that we know what are the causes of the most common nightmares, let's see what kind of symptoms or signs A person who experiences this type of sleep may present during their rest hours:

• As the nightmare unfolds, the person may speak, move, or complain.
• Waking up with a deep feeling of fear.
• Fast heartbeat
• Accelerated respiratory rate.
• Sweating
• Difficulty falling asleep and calming down after the nightmare.
• As a result, the next day, the person may have excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, trouble concentrating, a bad mood, or symptoms of mild depression.

In order to avoid nightmares and to get to enjoy a restful and quality sleep, you can adopt a series of simple measures such as the following:

• Maintain good sleep hygiene: establish a fixed time to go to sleep, rest for about 7 or 8 hours a day and sleep in a comfortable, calm and relaxed environment.
• Avoid eating large meals or large meals before going to sleep.
• Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages or stimulating substances, such as caffeine or theine, before going to bed.
• Reduce stress and / or daily anxiety: it can be by doing physical exercise or putting into practice relaxation techniques and breathing. In the event that stress or anxiety cannot be self-managed, it is advisable to seek psychological help.
• Avoid watching scary or horror movies at night, as they could promote nightmares.
• In the event that the nightmares have appeared after the consumption of a new drug, the doctor should be consulted about the possibility of substituting this treatment for another.

Having nightmares from time to time is normal, but when these dreams are experienced very frequently or since a long time ago, and also pose a significant discomfort for the affected, it is advisable to seek help professional and go to a psychologist.

In psychotherapy, it has been found that cognitive behavioral therapy it can be the best solution for constant and recurring nightmares. With this, it is possible to face the content of nightmares and accept all the emotions that accompany us. In addition to this, techniques for cognitive restructuring, relaxation and exposure to dreams are offered to control this situation as much as possible.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Why do I constantly have nightmares, we recommend that you enter our category of Dreams meaning.