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Alternative Names
Dreams - bad; Bad dreamsDefinition Return to top
A nightmare is a dream occuring during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep that brings out feelings of strong fear, terror, distress, or extreme anxiety. Nightmares are usually in the latter part of the night and wake up the sleeper, who is able to remember the content of the dream.
See also:
Considerations Return to top
Nightmares tend to be more common among children and beome less frequent toward adulthood. About 50% of adults have occasional nightmares, women more often than men.
Eating just before going to bed, which raises the body's metabolism and brain activity, may cause nightmares to occur more often. Adults who have repeated nightmares that become a significant problem should seek help.
Causes Return to top
Anxiety and stress are the most common causes of nightmares. A major life event occurs before the nightmare in most cases.
Other causes of nightmares include:
Home Care Return to top
If you are under severe stress, you should ask for support from friends and relatives. Talking about what is on your mind can really help. Also, follow a regular fitness routine, with aerobic exercise if possible. You will find that you will be able to fall asleep faster, sleep more deeply, and wake up feeling more refreshed. Learn techniques to reduce muscle tension (relaxation therapy), which also will help reduce your anxiety.
Practice good sleep hygiene. Go to bed at the same time each night, and wake up at the same time each morning. Avoid long-term use of tranquilizers, as well as caffeine and other stimulants.
If you noticed that your nightmares started shortly after you began taking a new medication, contact your health care provider. He or she will let you know how to stop taking that medication if necessary, and recommend an alternative.
For nightmares caused by the effects of "street drugs" or regular alcohol use, ask for advice on the best ways to quit. An Alcoholics Anonymous group, for example, might suggest a safe way for you to stop drinking without putting your health at risk. You can also attend their regularly scheduled meetings. See also: Alcoholism - support group.
Also, look at your lifestyle -- friends, work, family -- to find and change factors that encourage substance abuse.
When to Contact a Medical Professional Return to top
Contact your health care provider if:
What to Expect at Your Office Visit Return to top
The doctor will examine you. The physical exam may include physical, neurological, and psychological tests. You may be asked any of the following questions:
Tests that may be done include:
If therapies for stress and anxiety, medication side effects, and substance use do not treat the problem, your health care provider may want to send you to a sleep medicine specialist for a sleep study (polysomnography). In very rare cases, patients need to take special medications that suppress or reduce REM sleep to prevent nightmares.
Update Date: 7/27/2007 Updated by: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 25 September 2008 |