Do nightmares “‘mean anything?” We’re not talking about the art or science of interpreting specific dreams, but rather the general phenomenon. Nightmares, which occur during REM sleep like other dreams, offer a more intense dramatization of the conflicts and anxieties of our waking hours than normal dreams do.
These bad dreams are most common in the inquiring, trusting years of early childhood from ages three to seven. After that their frequency tends to diminish though virtually everybody is familiar with the vivid chase and attack scenarios of occasional nightmares, which usually occur during the second half of the night.
Some adults are particularly prone to nightmares. Researchers have isolated the characteristics of these chronic nightmare sufferers Sensitive, open, and vulnerable. Creative people who are in touch with imagery and fantasy seem to have more nightmares than others.
‘Other studies show that people under the stress of difficult or challenging new situations or in the throes of depression tend temporarily to have more frequent, sometimes scarier nightmares. In rare instances, frequent nightmares indicate the onset of psychosis (characterized in part, by an inability of distinguish thought from feeling, self from others, waking revelry from the sleeping dream state). Happily, for the great majority of us, bad dreams are no cause for concern.
A Good Night’s Sleep
If you frequently have trouble sleeping, here are some commonsense steps, besides those mentioned above, that can improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep:
“Relax an hour or so before getting in bed. Read, listen to music, take a warm bath (not a hot bath or forceful shower, which can be invigorating). Don’t take work to bed with you. Avoid strenuous exercise within a couple of hours of bedtime.
*Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark and not too hot or too cold most people sleep best at 60 to 65 degrees. Excessive cold won’t help ‘you sleep.
*Don’t drink coffee or any other beverage containing caffeine within four hours of bedtime.
*A void cigarettes, especially in the evening, since nicotine is a stimulant. Heavy smokers sleep better after they quit.
*Try to establish a regular sleep schedule, but with these exceptions: don’t go to bed until you’re sleepy and if you can’t fall asleep within, say 20 minutes, get out of bed, and return only when you’re sleepy. Get up at the same time every morning no matter how poorly you’ve slept, and try to get through the day without a nap. *Repetitive, boring routines such as counting sheep may help you calm down. Or try to relax each muscle group, progressing slowly from your toes to your head.
“If you suffer from chronic or severe insomnia, consult your doctor or a sleep disorders clinic.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 14, 1989
