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SearchA sleep psychologist explains why some people have nightmares and offers advice on how you may be able to prevent them.
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CLEVELAND - If you’ve ever woken up in a panic from a nightmare, you’re not alone.
They can be pretty common.
But, why exactly do these frightening dreams happen?
“Stress, anxiety, whether that's due to things you have going on in your life that represent more of a stressor or a challenge, things like a move, a change in a job, or loss of a loved one, things like that, all of these kind of unresolved problems that we experience during the day can definitely cross over into our nightmare activity,” explained Alaina Tiani, PhD, sleep psychologist for Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Tiani said nightmares could also be influenced by watching a scary movie, seeing something upsetting on the news or having a difficult conversation before bed.
Individuals who experience post-traumatic stress disorder may experience nightmares as well.
Alcohol, caffeine, and side effects of certain medications can play a role too.
Dr. Tiani said while you can’t always control if you have a nightmare, there are some things you can do to potentially help.
For example, focusing on stress management and being mindful of the content you’re consuming.
“That’s true for probably both adults and kiddos that media exposure, the things that we might read or the videos we might watch, just being mindful of the content because anything stressful or overwhelming could heighten the risk for a nightmare. Those themes or feelings could be present in our dreams,” said Dr. Tiani.
If your nightmares are frequent, recurrent and impact your quality of life, it’s best to consult with a medical provider or mental health professional.
There are different treatment options available.
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 81,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,743 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,160 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,690-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 276 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2023, there were 13.7 million outpatient encounters, 323,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 301,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 132 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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