Talk about a witching hour.
Broken teeth, falling from height, being chased – oh my god! These are some of the most common nightmares that haunt sleepers, who may be confused as to why these terrifying dreams occur.
One Amerisleep survey A survey of 2,000 people last year found that the most common nightmares reported by more than 64% of respondents were falling, being chased, dying and feeling lost. Other recurring nightmares include missing an important event, waking up late, paralysis, the death of a loved one, your house burning down, and your teeth falling out.
While dreams are generally one feedback Some of the more specific causes of nightmares are thought to be stress, medication, mental health conditions or poor sleep.
experts suggest The feeling of falling or dreaming of falling is the body’s response to relaxing and falling asleep, after which the person is often suddenly jolted awake. healthline Insecurity, anxiety or feeling overwhelmed and out of control have also been listed as causes of the incident.
More than 63% of people surveyed by Amerisleep reported dreams of being chased, which author and teacher Dr. Leslie Ellis called, “one of the most common nightmare themes.”
“It’s interesting that across time and cultures, the themes of humans’ dreams are very similar, and often relate to survival impulses,” he told New York Magazine. cut,
He claimed that dreaming of being chased may be linked to the innate flight or fight response, “a sign that the person’s stress levels have increased because they are experiencing some type of threat.”
“Often, stalking dreams have to do with something we’re running away from,” Indigenous mystic and newsletter writer Autumn Forekiller tells The Cut.
“It can take many forms: a heavy conversation, a deadline, cleaning the dishes, etc. Any stressful period in life can trigger dreams, and they are especially common for those of us who Avoid confrontation, conflict and large displays of emotion.”
Teeth falling out is also a common nightmare, affecting around 34% of people surveyed, and there can be many reasons for this nightmare scenario.
Experts had earlier told Psych Central Losing teeth in a dream may be a symptom of stress, negative self-image, or an expression of some fear, such as saying the wrong thing to someone.
“Your teeth are a symbol of pride and strength,” says marriage family therapist Megan Harrison. “The dream may represent feelings of inadequacy or insecurity in your life.”
According to the research of make a bedThis is the most commonly reported nightmare. The company cited Google data showing that monthly searches for teeth-related nightmares averaged 66,600 globally.
Because nightmares are usually triggered by real life stress, Dr. Fox Sleep Expert Dr. Deborah Lee Five methods have been recommended to reduce anxiety and reduce the frequency of nightmares.
Avoid looking at screens — such as your smartphone — said Lee, who partners with Get Laid Beds. leave blue lightExperts believe this can affect sleep quality.
Regarding phone use before bed, he said, “You will be tempted to waste time filling your mind with other distractions before bed and will find it much harder to get back to sleep, especially after a nightmare.”
But some distractions are welcome, like reading a book or listening to quiet noises or music before falling asleep, he added.
She also recommends the “4-7-8 Method”, which is a breathing strategy for relaxation.
“This is actually a common strategy for managing stress and anxiety and it works by counteracting the stress response triggered by your nightmares,” he explains.
“First, you need to breathe for four seconds. Then, hold your breath for seven seconds. Once the first two steps are completed, exhale for eight seconds. Do this once or twice and it will help activate the parasympathetic nervous system and calm you down.
If nightmares are persistent, try keeping a journal to get to the bottom of what causes the dreams.
“Writing a daily journal of your thoughts, feelings, food and alcohol intake will help you recognize patterns that lead to nightmares,” he says.
12 most common nightmares
- Decline – 64.7%
- Being chased – 63.3%
- Death – 54.9%
- Feeling lost – 53.8%
- Getting Stuck – 52.4%
- Being attacked – 49.5%
- Missed an important event – 43.7%
- Waking up late – 42.6%
- Death of a loved one – 35.8%
- Injured – 35.1%
- Tooth loss – 34.3%
- Natural disaster 31.9%
