Why Do I Have Bad Dreams Every Night ?

Small traumas experienced during the day, old traumas, inner conflict, or even digestive problems can be the source of nightmares. Fortunately, most people rarely get it. But some people face the problem of having nightmares every night. Often these are recurring nightmares. What do these bad dreams hide? What are the causes behind them? Is it possible to avoid nightmares every night? Let’s try to find our answers!

What Is A Recurring Nightmare?

Have you ever asked yourself: what is a recurring nightmare?  It is a terrifying dream in which the dreamer experiences feelings of helplessness, extreme anxiety, sorrow, etc. According to researchers, more than half of individuals experience occasional nightmares. Some people, however, suffer more from frequent nightmares. These are referred to as recurring nightmares. As reported in the same research, children are more likely than adults to have recurring nightmares. 

Many nightmares contain similar themes and motifs, yet their content varies. Regardless, these dreams frequently result in similar emotions when you wake up, such as anger, despair, guilt, and anxiety. These thoughts and emotions might make it hard to fall asleep again. Even bad dreams every night can affect a person’s daily life. To be able to control these nightmares and better comprehend “why do I have recurring nightmares?”, you should first understand the reasons behind them.

4 Reasons Of Having Bad Dreams Every Night

The brain processes what you have experienced during the day, at night. As a result, nightmares are one way of dealing with your experiences. Nightmares occur when you are worried or have gone through a traumatic experience. This is also why children have more nightmares than adults, since they catch a large number of fresh impressions in a short period of time. Let’s look at some of the most common causes of recurring nightmares, as well as some of the treatment methods for some of the underlying conditions.

1. Nightmares caused by stress and fear

Nightmares often arise when you are under a lot of stress. Perhaps you have too much work, or you feel tense or uneasy because you are expected to do too much. Fear of failure and uncertainty may, without a doubt, result in recurring bad dreams. 

2. Nightmares caused by trauma

 An untreated trauma or a dramatic event may be a reason for your recurring nightmare meaning. In this case, it is called post-traumatic stress disorder, and it may result in contributing to or worsening PTSD symptoms. Reliving this traumatic experience each time could make the nightmare even more intense for those who could not get over their traumas.  

3. Nightmares caused by drugs or alcohol

Some medications like antidepressants, as well as illness or high fever, might cause nightmares as a side effect. Excessive drug and alcohol consumption often leads to sleep disturbances as well.

4. Nightmares during pregnancy

Research shows that pregnant women have more nightmares than women who are not. Are you a future mom? These vivid dreams are probably due to a change in the hormonal balance or to the anxieties you have. You should see these dreams as a perfectly normal thing, and should not be afraid of these bad dreams. Even after birth, you may still have some nightmares.

The most important feature of recurring nightmares is that while having these dreams, the anxiety and fear they create do not subside in time, even though you know that it is a nightmare, and you will wake up soon. In order to overcome this fear, you first need to know what the content of the dream was. In many cases, treating recurring nightmares involves treating the underlying reasons. To be able to find the underlying reasons, you should remember your nightmares. bad dreams every night meanings can vary from person to person. You should start by writing down your nightmares in a dream journal. In order not to forget the details, keep a pen and paper by your bed and write down all the details as soon as you wake up. Alternatively, you can download “Dreambook Journal”, an application where you may track and analyze your dreams to view important points. Recurring nightmares are often the result of fear or anxiety. To understand the situation, person or event caused by your fear, you should analyze the content of your dream with an objective view. Compare the notes you take on different days and determine if there has been a change in your dreams. Even reading your dream through your phone and analyzing it will help you to ease your fears.