Why do I have bad dreams?

Every person has unpleasant dreams from time to time. Rarely does anyone manage to ignore them; more often than not, they upset you and unsettle you for a long time. Let's try to figure out why we have bad dreams and whether it can be avoided.

Causes of bad dreams

Nightmares represent hidden or overt experiences. Sometimes a person cannot allow himself to throw out some emotions. But the need for this still remains, and it is realized in dreams.

Here are some reasons that can cause bad dreams:

• Physical or emotional fatigue, overwork. In scary or simply unpleasant dreams, the body splashes it out.
• Alcohol abuse. Alcoholic drinks weaken the nervous system, as a result a person begins to dream of all kinds of nonsense.

• Stressful situations are one of the most common causes of unpleasant dreams. It doesn't have to be some kind of disaster, sometimes people only need a fight at work to have a nightmare. Any negative experiences during the day can trigger restless sleep.
• Nervous disorders. If bad dreams constantly torment you, this may be evidence of mental disorders.
• Other health problems. Often, with the help of nightmares, the subconscious lets us know that there is some kind of malfunction in the body. For example, a fire in a house may be dreamed of at high temperatures. If you dream that you are being strangled, this may indicate problems with the heart and blood vessels.
• Love for horror films. Such movies, just like thrillers and action films, do not promote restful sleep. If you watch them at night, you shouldn’t be surprised that the main characters decided to get to know you better.

Children often have bad dreams. There is nothing wrong with them; they are usually caused by the abundance of new impressions that the child receives. But sometimes this can be the cause of increased anxiety or serious communication problems. If such dreams are often repeated, it is better to take your child to see a specialist.

How to get rid of bad dreams

To get rid of unpleasant dreams, you need to think about what reason could have caused them. If this is overwork, it is useful to take a short vacation, drink vitamins, and get a massage. A change of activity also helps: if you work in an office, you should start jogging in the morning and generally pay more attention to sports.

It is worth paying attention to nutrition. An abundance of heavy and fatty foods overloads the stomach, and this causes problems with sleep and can cause nightmares at night. You shouldn't drink alcohol in the evening at all.

If a dream hints at health problems, you should not put off visiting a doctor: you need to listen to your subconscious. You need to pay attention to your emotional state. You need to worry less about trifles and not blame yourself for every mistake, then bad dreams will stop visiting you.

A child who has had a bad dream needs to be reassured, read a fairy tale, and treated to something tasty. If your baby asks to sit with him, you should not leave him alone in the room.

However, oddly enough, you should not rush to drive bad dreams out of your life. Psychologists believe that there are benefits from unpleasant dreams. They help to throw out emotions, which is not always possible while awake. Besides, sometimes dreams happen prophetic.

How to make yourself have good dreams

However, getting good sleep is very important. Having woken up cheerful and rested, a person is already setting himself up for a successful day. Here are some tips to help you ensure good rest and pleasant dreams:

• Try not to sleep during the day, as this will prevent you from getting a good night's rest.
• Don't eat before bed. The maximum you can afford is a banana, an apple, a glass of warm milk or tea with honey.
• Go to bed at the same time every night.

• The duration of sleep a person needs is different for everyone: five hours is enough for one person, and half a day is not enough for another. On average, 7-8 hours are required for proper rest.
• Ventilate the room often. Stuffiness is the best friend of nightmares, but sleeping in a room with clean, fresh air is pleasant and beneficial. And don't overuse scented candles.
• Come up with a special ritual that will help you relax. This could be a massage, a yoga session, an evening walk or a warm bath with sea salt. If you go to bed happy, unpleasant dreams will have no chance.

Unpleasant dreams are nothing more than signals from our subconscious. You shouldn’t be afraid of them, it’s better to think about what your body wants to tell you and try to solve the problem.