What you should do

Nightmares: when the night becomes a horror experience

You are being followed. Howling wolves, footsteps coming ever closer, threatening shadows looming. You run and run, but the pack won't give up. At last you reach the front door that will save you - unfortunately you can't find the key. While you rummage around in wild panic, you wake up. Drenched in sweat with a racing pulse. A typical nightmare.

Fortunately, the nightmare is soon over. You know where you are again and can remember the experience in great detail. Until you fall asleep again. Do you now need medical treatment?

A good question. In purely technical terms, nightmares belong to the parasomnias, i.e. sleep disorders that are linked to certain experiences. A fairly common affliction: Around six percent of the population regularly suffers from anxiety in dreams. Some several times a week, others less frequently. What is certain, however, is that we all have dreams inside us!

Although the terrifying experiences can occur at any time during sleep, they are most frequent towards the morning, when REM sleep increases. Fortunately, the muscles are then practically switched off. It would be unthinkable to live out nightmares. Injuries and damage to property would certainly be possible consequences.

Stress or medication promote nightmares
While children (nightmares begin around the age of five) do not actually have any mental disorders as a cause, adults often show psychological changes: Distrust, alienation, hypersensitivity, etc. Any form of stress can lead to this. However, chemical substances such as certain medications can also.

Sometimes there is even the paradoxical effect that drugs used to treat depression or to calm the mind stimulate anxiety. Some drugs suppress REM sleep. After discontinuation, this sleep phase is then significantly intensified with the horror scenes described.

Nightmares can have consequences
Frequent nightmares naturally have consequences. For example, a significant reduction in performance the next day. In such cases, treatment is necessary. In childhood, however, the focus should be on calming down during the night. A calm discussion after a few days with an exploration of possible triggers helps well. Are there problems at school? Conflicts with the environment?

Recently, unfortunately, there has been another modern trouble spot: aggressive computer games! Monster movies on television are also an interesting source of nightmares. This also applies to adults, by the way. However, as mentioned above, you should also look out for medication as a cause. In severe cases - when the terror strikes almost every night - a psychiatric examination and psychotherapy should definitely be recommended!

"Pavor nocturnus" is a special form of nightmare
Pavor nocturnus is a special form of sleep disorder: in contrast to nightmares, those affected wake up with a piercing scream. As a sign of strong arousal, they also have a racing heart, rapid breathing and sweating. This is accompanied by sleepwalking and excited talking. The memory of the event is only fragmentary. In principle, this phenomenon is harmless. However, if it occurs frequently, a specialist assessment is recommended.