Nightmare Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Nightmare or nightmares are dreams that are disturbing and feel real. You can wake up from a deep sleep feeling terrified and your heart pounding. Nightmares can cause sleep disturbances and even stress. Even nightmares can be associated with suicide.
Nightmares are often experienced by children. However, adults can have nightmares too. The content of nightmares varies from person to person. However, there are common nightmares, such as falling from a great height. There are also recurring nightmares, usually about traumatic experiences such as accidents.
Nightmares usually occur during REM ( rapid eye movement ) sleep when dreams occur. REM sleep lasts longer as the night progresses. So nightmares often occur in the morning.
The night terrors which are similar to nightmares cause sufferers to wake up from sleep with a feeling of fear. However, night terrors usually occur in the early hours of sleep. Night terrors also only produce feelings of fear, not dreams, and sufferers don’t remember why they were scared.
Symptom
Symptoms of nightmares include:
- waking up from a deep sleep with fear and a pounding heart
- sleep deprivation due to nightmares
- depression and anxiety due to nightmares
- thoughts of suicide due to nightmares
- the body becomes unhealthy or gets sick easily
Reason
Many things can cause nightmares, starting from certain factors and even certain disorders such as:
- Eating too late at night so that the metabolism increases and gives a signal to the brain to be more active
- Consuming drugs such as anti-hypertension, antidepressants, and narcotic groups
- Cessation phase from the use of alcohol and sedatives
- Lack of sleep
- Depression and anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD)
- Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome (RLS)
Diagnosis
The doctor will determine the diagnosis of nightmares if they cause symptoms related to a decrease in the sufferer’s quality of life, both physically and mentally. The cause of the nightmares must be found out to help reduce symptoms. An approach to patients through medical interviews is also needed.
Treatment
Handling nightmares depends on the cause. Treatment may aim to reduce the frequency or eliminate nightmares and overcome the effects of the nightmares.
If it is caused by drugs, maybe the thing that needs to be done is to change the drug or change the dosage of the drug. Treatment of sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome (RLS) can also reduce nightmares.
If the nightmares are caused by depression, anxiety or PTSD, a change in behavior can help with the nightmares. Cognitive behavioral therapy can also help.
Prevention
As for some tips that can help reduce and prevent someone from having nightmares, such as:
- establish a regular sleep schedule
- exercise regularly
- do meditation or yoga
- create a relaxed bedroom atmosphere
- Avoid using alcohol, caffeine or nicotine 12 hours before bedtime