March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
January 2011
February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29
30
31
News Every Day |

Why Am I Having Nightmares? Here Are A Few Sneaky Causes

Sad woman suffering while layin in bed at nightSad woman suffering while layin in bed at night

Have you ever had a long string of nightmares and didn’t know what was causing them? It’s frustrating. Nighttime is supposed to be the time to relax and recharge for the next day, and it’s hard when your fears and anxieties come with you. 

We talked to a couple of experts about unexpected culprits, and we have some bad news: Some pretty common, relatable factors (listed below) can trigger nightmares. But don’t worry too much – we’ll also cover tips that can help you enjoy your life while decreasing the chance of a nightmare.

Alcohol, recreational drugs, medication and supplements

A night out at the bar can be a lot of fun, but it may not be so great when you’re trying to sleep later. While alcohol can help you sleep deeply at first, “as the blood alcohol level reduces, the reverse happens: There is more shallow sleep and more frequent waking. This can lead to more REM [or rapid eye movement] sleep, which triggers nightmares and vivid dreams,” says Phil Lawlor, a sleep expert at the mattress company Dormeo.

Antidepressants and opioids can also increase the frequency of bad dreams. “While it is not entirely clear why this happens – there’s still so much we don’t understand about the brain – the increased level of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, that these substances provide, create changes in the way we dream, often leading to more vivid dreaming and thus more intense nightmares,” says Verena Senn, a sleep expert with Emma Sleep who has researched sleep and the brain for almost 15 years.

Melatonin, a supplement that can help you fall asleep, can also cause bad dreams. (You just can’t win, it seems!) “There is no conclusive evidence as to how melatonin affects our dreams; however, there are connections to high levels of melatonin causing nightmares because you are less likely to leave enough of the transition time between being awake and being asleep,” Lawlor explains.

The fix: You can still have that glass of wine at night (if that’s healthy for you otherwise). Just drink it at least four hours before bed, according to Lawlor. 

Addressing the medication and supplement side is a little harder since you may need those things to function. Ultimately, talk to your doctor. “I would recommend discussing these concerns with your doctor, as they are best-placed to help you understand your options,” Senn says.

Eating before bed

Yep, your bedtime snack may hurt you, too. “This is because your body will be working hard to break down food and will send signals to your brain to be more active, which may trigger nightmares,” Lawlor says. “Additionally, food can interrupt sleep patterns due to night sweats and acid reflux. Sugary treats and spicy foods can trigger more brain waves; they are directly linked to being sleep disruptions.”

Senn agrees. “No matter what we eat, the closer we indulge to our sleep time, the harder our body will be working to digest while we rest. Eating in the hours before sleep is a habit that will certainly cause sleep disturbances and can trigger nightmares,” she says.

The fix: Listen, if you’re a nighttime snacker, we hear you. Eating something before bed can be comforting and help ensure you fall and stay asleep. So how can you have the best of both worlds?The timing of when you eat matters. Eat your last meal two to three hours before going to bed. 

As far as choosing the right foods, it’s a bit of a guessing game – but only a little bit. “There is not conclusive evidence to prove that there are specific foods that directly help sleep. That said, there are foods that have been proven to promote sleep and make people feel drowsy,” Lawlor says.

He recommends proteins such as chicken, turkey, nuts and seeds. He also recommends teas, such as camomile tea and green tea, to reduce stress. Lastly, he encourages consulting with your dietitian or doctor before making any major changes to your diet.

Sad woman suffering while layin in bed at nightSad woman suffering while layin in bed at night

Anxiety and stress

Ah yes, the trigger you probably don’t want in your life to begin with.

Anxiety and stress caused from traumatic or worrying situations can trigger nightmares because your subconscious mind will turn fearful thoughts into a fearful story, and unpleasant story,” Lawlor says.

“During sleep, there is elevated limbic activity. The elevated limbic activity, particularly in the amygdala [which is the part of the brain that deals with emotions] during REM sleep, may therefore exacerbate the emotional intensity experienced during dreams, which can cause nightmares,” Senn explains.

The fix: Lawlor suggests getting enough sleep since sleep deprivation can lead to both stress and nightmares. Senn suggested not engaging with scary books, movies or games before bed since they can trigger your body’s fight-or-flight response. (That’s a no on Texas Chainsaw Massacre.)

Exercise, meditation, keeping a journal and seeking counselling can also help you feel more emotionally relaxed in general and at night.

Sleeping on your back

Back sleepers, pay attention: “Studies have shown that back sleepers are more likely to have nightmares,” Lawlor says. “Sleeping on your back can cause breathing difficulties. When you are in REM, the lack of air may trigger a nightmare, such as being chased, suffocating or drowning.”

The fix:Sleeping on your right side is your best bet. You may change sleep positions without realizing it during the night, and that’s OK.

With all of these tips, just do what you can. It’s about progress, not perfection.

Симферополь

Книжная выставка "Необъятен и велик мир чудесных детских книг", открытие Недели детской книги

Top 10 Love Affair Movies of the 2000s and 2010s

The 10 Intense New Action Movies on Netflix That Left Me on the Edge of My Seat!

Top 5 Websites to Watch FREE Movies - TV Shows (No Sign up!)

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies

Ria.city






Read also

Cavs falter 118-111 to Hornets

Digital Shift Helps Banks Tailor Credit Offers to Consumers

How a weak Japanese yen affects the U.S. economy

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

Top 10 Emmanuelle Seigner Movies

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye



Sports today


Новости тенниса
Даниил Медведев

Теннисист Медведев вышел в полуфинал турнира в Майами, обыграв Харри



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Отставка Кудашова и уход Гусева и Уила: кого «Динамо» рискует потерять после вылета из Кубка Гагарина



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Актера Свиридова госпитализировали из-за инфицирования после операции в Москве


Новости России

Game News

Cyberpunk 2077 станет временно бесплатной для PlayStation и Xbox


Russian.city


Москва

Всем по местам: в России назвали топ благополучных регионов


Губернаторы России
Владимир Путин

Путин назвал культуру духовным каркасом народа в трагические для страны моменты


Сила шока: новый препарат от ПТСР и панических атак не вызовет привыкания

Шапки женские на Wildberries — скидки от 398 руб. (на новые оттенки)

Московские компании стали победителями конкурса отечественных брендов «Знай наших»

Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)


Амигуруми: как связать Фредди Меркьюри крючком (узор и схема)

Рэпер Серега на фоне событий в «Крокусе» призвал «держаться вместе»

Розенбаум исполнил «Вечернюю застольную» в память о жертвах теракта в «Крокусе»

Эксперты КА «Главный Советник» приняли участие в форуме «Тренды и антитренды корпоративного видео сегодня»


«Бомж» Дарья передает всем привет»: Касаткина ответила на слова Винер

Россиянка Александрова обыграла первую ракетку мира Свентек

Елена Рыбакина сообщила тревожные новости

Рыбакина о том, что не играла в Индиан-Уэллс из-за болезни: «К сожалению, восстановление заняло много времени»



Шапки женские вязаные на Wildberries, 2024 — новый цвет от 392 руб. (модель 466)

В России назвали топ самых благополучных регионов по итогам 2023 года

Всем по местам: в России назвали топ благополучных регионов

Заказать недорогой ремонт кухонной мебели в районе в Москве и Московской области


Среднее число детей на одну женщину в России. Статистика

На ЧЭРЗ приступили к реорганизации производственной площадки

“Интерстрой” предлагает апартаменты в тихом районе Алушты

Собянин: Москва не потеряла в больницах ни одного жителя столицы после теракта


Завершено строительство производства медтехники на площадке «Алабушево»

Молодая семья из Шатуры переехала в новую квартиру за счет госпрограммы

Гимназию № 23 капитально отремонтируют в Химках

Сервис GetPayAll обеспечил россиянам возможность продления подписки на сервис по генерации изображений Midjourney



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Тимати

А надо было ласково? Тимати после слов о "ребятах"-террористах ответили по-мужски



News Every Day

I was diagnosed with cancer aged 39… you are never too rich, too famous or too young, says Dr Philippa Kaye




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости