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Journalism of Courage
Every night, as we hit the bed, we look forward to getting lost in beautiful and fascinating dreams. But what happens when those dreams turn into nightmares, and you find yourself trapped? Your heart races, your body sweats, and you feel like you’re drowning in fear. But when you finally wake up, gasping for air, you realise that none of it was real. Yet, the memory of those nightmares lingers, leaving you feeling uneasy and haunted. Truly, nightmares can be a terrifying experience, leaving you shaken and unsettled. As such, it becomes crucial to decode what actually causes them and how to get rid of them.
During the late 1700s, nightmares were identified as a condition where a person during their sleep thinks that there is an immense weight pressing down on them, as per harvard.edu. This explanation was provided in An Universal Etymological English Dictionary, a widely used reference book, published by Nathan Bailey in 1721, and reprinted until 1802. Even though this particular meaning is not commonly used today, nightmares are still viewed as alarming dreams that can cause intense feelings of horror, dread, unease, or nervousness.
Dr Satish Kumar CR, Consultant, Clinical Psychology, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, Bangalore described nightmares as dreams, which are so real that the person wakes up with breathlessness, sweating, and an increased heartbeat. “The content of the dream is very traumatic or scary, mostly threatening life,” he said.
But, what causes them? The expert explained that people get nightmares due to long-term emotional disturbances and chronic stress, including being in a situation which is threatening. “People going through long-term stressors like family members going through terminal illness, past traumatic incidences or grief are more likely to experience them,” Dr Kumar said.
Agreeing, Aishwarya Raj, a clinical psychologist practising in Delhi-NCR, said that nightmares can be caused by a number of psychological factors, such as anxiety, stress, trauma, and depression. “Nightmares are thought to be a natural response to psychological stressors and may help the mind process and cope with difficult experiences. Additionally, sleep disorders and medications can also cause nightmares.”
She added that some people are more likely to experience nightmares than others. “People who suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health disorders may be more susceptible to nightmares. Additionally, children and adolescents are more likely to experience nightmares than adults,” Raj said.
Adding, Drisha Dey, Consultant Psychologist, Kolkata, said that our subconscious and unconscious minds speak to us via dreams and symbols. Everybody goes through this. “The difference lies in whether or not we remember that we’ve had a dream or a nightmare once we wake up. Sometimes we know that there’s a recurring dream/nightmare we have, but we cannot recall pretty much anything about it. This inability to recall rises the more time passes after we wake up from said dream or nightmare,” she said.
Nightmares are like uninvited guests to our sleep party, leaving us feeling drained and frightened in the morning. But their impact can extend beyond just a bad night’s rest. They can also contribute to the development of anxiety and depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in some cases. “People who have continuous nightmares can develop anxiety, depression or maybe engage in alcohol consumption to cope with the nightmares. They might have difficulty in personal and professional life,” Dr Kumar.
While nightmares may seem harmless to many people, they become a cause of concern if they are persistent and interfere with one’s ability to function during the day. “Additionally, if the nightmares are accompanied by other symptoms such as flashbacks, panic attacks, or suicidal thoughts, it is important to seek professional help,” Raj said.
Emphasising something similar, Dr Kumar said when the socio-occupational functioning is affected like the person has difficulty in managing relationships and being functional throughout the day, they should talk to a professional. “Most of the time solution-focused approaches are better in day-to-day routine. Problems should be dealt with by social support by seeking help and alcohol should not be the solution for a hectic week or busy day. Relationship issues should be addressed. In general, identifying the stressors and working on them directly can reduce nightmares. If it persists, professional help should be sought from a psychologist,” he said.
Concluding, Raj asked to practise certain strategies that can help manage nightmares, “such as practising relaxation techniques before bed, creating a calming bedtime routine, avoiding stimulating activities before sleep, and talking to a therapist or mental health professional”. If nightmares are severe and persistent, medications and other treatments may also be prescribed by experts.
(Next in the series: How does sleep affect your memory?)
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