By Mashum Mollah
Getting a dream in the night is common for everyone including babies. These dreams are sometimes forgotten in the morning and sometimes so vivid that it looks real. But for some people these dreams are not always sweet, they wake up terrified and unable to get back to sleep. If these nightmares are a rare occurrence then it is not much of a concern, but if they are frequent they cause sleep disturbances and can affect the mental as well as the physical health of a person.
What is a nightmare and what causes it?
A bad dream is termed as a nightmare. It usually involves a dangerous situation or a threat that a sleeper experiences in sleep and are unable to control it. Occasional nightmares are a normal occurrence and many people experience it at some point. The more intense the bad dream is the more the feeling of fear, terror, and anxiety to the sleeper. Some bad dreams are so intense that the person is likely to wake up and remember its details.
Causes of a nightmare:
There are many causes of nightmares and some of them are:
- Stress: It is a leading cause for bad dreams as too much stress due to living in a challenging environment can lead to nightmares. If not resolved it can lead to mental illness.
- Illness: Physical illness causes the person to become fragile physically and psychologically and thus more prone to bad dreams. Some medications can also cause this issue.
- Bad lifestyle: Irregular work timings, late-night snacking, bad sleep habits, etc all can result in nightmares.
- Out-of-sync circadian rhythm: Many people have to work at night and that can result in the internal clock going haywire and causing nightmares.
- Sleep environment: Change in sleep environment like moving to a new house causes unfamiliarity and can lead to anxiety and insecurity resulting in bad dreams
Tips to avoid nightmares:
Sleep on a comfortable mattress:
Improve your bedroom environment and make it appropriate for good sleep. Invest in a bed mattress online with memory foam as that offers the right comfort and support needed for a good night’s sleep. Having the right mattress helps you to get into a deep sleep.
If you are sleeping with an infant, buy a mattress protector online and use it as accidental leaks which can impact your sleep can be prevented.
Don’t watch scary movies before sleep:
People tend to watch scary movies just before going to bed or read a thriller and that can affect the way you sleep. This habit can result in nightmares. Try to sleep in a calm and peaceful environment so that the mind is also peaceful before going to bed.
Follow good sleep hygiene:
Keep a regular sleep and wake time so that your internal clock is in sync with the external clock. Exercise regularly so that you get enough sleep, do not drink alcohol or caffeine before bedtime on a Wakefit mattress and eat healthy food.
Have the right sleep environment:
The bedroom you sleep in should be sleep haven with the right room temperature which ranges between 60 to 70 degrees. Having curtains to block out light that can disturb sleep, use earplugs to drown out the noise that bothers your shut-eye.
Most people who have nightmares indicate that it is not a frequent event but if it occurs frequently it is best to consult a doctor who will evaluate and suggest treatment. It is essential to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night is crucial for the overall well-being of a person.
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