Talk about the witching hour.
Losing teeth, falling from heights, chasing – oh! These are just some of the more common nightmares that plague sleepers who may be confused as to why nightmares occur.
An Amerisleep survey of 2,000 people conducted last year found that falling is the most common nightmare reported by just over 64% of respondents, while being chased, dying and feeling lost. Other frequent nightmares include missing an important event, waking up late, paralysis, the death of a loved one, your house burning down, and teeth falling out.
While dreams are usually a reaction to stress, medication, mental health conditions or poor sleep, some nightmares are believed to have more specific causes.
Experts suggest that the feeling of falling or dreaming of falling is a response to the body relaxing and falling asleep, which is often followed by a person waking up suddenly. Healthline also lists insecurity, anxiety, or feeling overwhelmed and out of control as reasons for this phenomenon.
Just over 63% of people surveyed by Amerisleep reported dreams to follow, which author and educator Dr. Leslie Ellis said it is “one of the most common nightmare themes”.
“It’s interesting that over time and across cultures, human beings tend to have very similar dream themes, and often these are related to survival impulses,” she told New York Magazine’s The Cut.
She claimed that dreaming of being chased can be linked to the innate flight or fight response, “a signal that the person’s stress levels are elevated because they are experiencing some kind of threat.”
“More often than not, a haunting dream is about the one we’re running away from,” local mystic and newsletter author Autumn Fourkiller told The Cut.
“This can take many forms: a difficult conversation, a deadline, washing the dishes, etc. Any stressful period in life can bring about chasing dreams, and they are especially common for those of us who avoid confrontation, conflict, and large displays of emotion.”
Tooth loss is also a common dream, affecting around 34% of people surveyed, and the nightmare scenario can have multiple causes.
Experts previously told Psych Central that losing teeth in a dream can be a symptom of stress, negative self-image or a manifestation of a fear, such as to say something wrong to someone.
“Your teeth are a symbol of pride and strength,” says marriage-family therapist Megan Harrison. “The dream may represent feelings of inadequacy or vulnerability in your life.â€
According to research by Get Laid Beds, it is the most commonly reported nightmare. The company cited Google data that showed monthly searches for dental nightmares averaged 66,600 globally.
Because nightmares are most often caused by real-life stress, sleep expert Doctor Fox Dr. Deborah Lee recommends five methods for alleviating anxiety and reducing the frequency of nightmares.
Lee, who partnered with Get Laid Beds, said to avoid looking at screens — such as your smartphone — that emit blue light, which experts believe can affect sleep quality.
“You’ll be tempted to move, filling your mind with other distractions from sleep, and it’ll be much harder to get back to sleep, especially after a nightmare,” she said of phone use before bed.
But some distractions are welcome, such as reading a book or listening to soothing noise or music as you drift off to sleep, she added.
She also recommends the “4-7-8 Method,” a breathing tactic meant for relaxation.
“This is a really common tactic for managing stress and anxiety, and it works by counteracting the stress response that was triggered by your bad dream,” she explained.
“First you have to breathe for four seconds. Then, hold your breath for seven seconds. After completing the first two steps, exhale for eight seconds. Do this once or twice and it will help activate the parasympathetic nervous system and calm you down.”
If nightmares persist, try keeping a journal to get to the bottom of what’s causing the dreams.
“Writing a daily journal of your thoughts, feelings, food and alcohol consumption will help you spot patterns that are leading to bad dreams,” she said.
The 12 most common anxieties
- Down – 64.7%
- Being followed – 63.3%
- Death – 54.9%
- Lost feeling – 53.8%
- Being stuck – 52.4%
- Being attacked – 49.5%
- Missing an important event – 43.7%
- Waking up late – 42.6%
- Death of a loved one – 35.8%
- Injured – 35.1%
- Tooth Loss – 34.3%
- Natural disaster 31.9%
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Image Source : nypost.com