When you wake up in anxious fear, you may think they are the only adults. After all, shouldn't adults outlive nightmares? Although nightmares are common in children, 1 in 2 adults will experience nightmares at some point. And 2-8% of adults have nightmares. Do nightmares bother you? Does it constantly disturb your sleep? If so, it's important to find out what causes nightmares in adults. You can then modify it to minimize the appearance.

What is a nightmare?

Nightmares are vivid, vivid, disturbing dreams that wake you up from a deep sleep. I often make your heart beat with fear. Nightmares often occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, where most dreams occur. Because the duration of REM sleep gets longer as the night goes on, you may have more frequent nightmares at the beginning of the night.

The subject of nightmares varies from person to person. However, there is a common nightmare that many people experience. For example, many adults cannot run fast enough to avoid danger or have nightmares about falling from heights. If you've experienced a traumatic event, such as a seizure or an accident, you may have recurring nightmares about the experience.

Nightmares and nightmares wake people up with great fear, but they are different. Night terrors usually occur in the first few hours after falling asleep. I do not remember why I was afraid when I woke up, because it is perceived by my senses and not by my dreams.

What causes nightmares in adults?

Adult nightmares are often self-limiting. However, this may vary depending on various underlying factors and conditions.

Some people have nightmares after eating at night, which increases their metabolism and signals their brains to be more active. Many medications are known to contribute to frequent nightmares. Medications that affect brain chemicals, such as antidepressants and narcotics, are often associated with nightmares. Nonpsychotic medications, including some blood pressure medications, can also cause nightmares in adults.

Withdrawal from drugs and substances, including alcohol and sedatives, can cause nightmares. If there is a difference in the frequency of nightmares after changing medications, talk to your doctor.

Sleep deprivation can contribute to nightmares in adults, often leading to additional sleep loss. It is possible but not confirmed if this cycle can cause nightmares.

There can be several psychological factors that trigger nightmares in adults. For example, anxiety and depression can cause nightmares in adults. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often causes people to have chronic and recurring nightmares. Nightmares in adults can be caused by certain sleep disorders. These include sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome. If no other cause is found, chronic nightmares may be a specific sleep disorder. People with a family history of insomnia may also have insomnia.

How do adult nightmares affect health?

Fear is much more than a bad dream when it has a profound impact on your health and well-being. Among people who experience nightmares, anxious or depressed people are more likely to experience nightmares and have more psychological consequences. Although the relationship is unclear, the nightmares are linked to suicide. Anxiety can have a significant impact on your quality of life, so it's important to see a doctor if you experience it regularly.

The lack of sleep that can be caused by nightmares can lead to several conditions, including heart disease, depression and, obesity. If nightmares in adults are a symptom of untreated sleep apnea or post-traumatic stress disorder, the underlying condition can seriously affect physical and mental health.

Nightmare treatment for adults

Fortunately, there are steps you and your doctor can take to reduce the frequency and impact of nightmares on your life. First, if your nightmares are the result of certain medications, your dosage or regimen may be changed to eliminate these unpleasant side effects.

For people who have nightmares, such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome, treating the underlying condition can help relieve symptoms. Do not despair if your fears are not related to illness or drugs. Behavior modification is effective in 70 percent of adults who have nightmares, including nightmares caused by anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Repetition imagery therapy is a promising cognitive-behavioral therapy for recurrent nightmares and PTSD-causing nightmares. This technique helps chronic patients change the way they experience nightmares through practice. In some cases, the drug's effect has not been as clearly established as fictitious repetition therapy, but it can be used in conjunction with therapy to treat PTSD-related nightmares.

There are several other steps you can take to reduce the frequency of panic attacks. It is important to maintain a regular sleep schedule. Regular exercise can help relieve anxiety and stress that cause nightmares. You will also find yoga and meditation helpful.

Remember to practice good sleep hygiene to help prevent sleep deprivation that can cause nightmares in adults. Make your bedroom a quiet and peaceful place for sleep and sex so that it does not involve stressful activities. Also, avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine, which stay in your body for more than 12 hours and often disrupt your sleep patterns.