While we may consider any dream that we experience in REM sleep vivid, with vivid dreaming, its used to describe a particularly intense dream that felt very real. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Thats part of the reason why theyre still kind of mysterious theyre difficult to study.. For some, such as those with chronic insomnia, it can lead to a mood disorder, such as anxiety or depression, and vice versa. These are vibrant, realistic, and sometimes intense dreams that can stay with someone long after they wake up. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Though they can sometimes be unsettling, intense dreams or nightmares aren't usually a sign of a health issue. They occur more often during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the stage of sleep associated with intense dreaming. Just because we dont always remember our dreams doesnt mean were not dreaming. Normally, vivid dreams are nothing to worry about. . The International Classification of Sleep Disorders Third Edition (ICSD-3). If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the Schedule an appointment with your doctor or a sleep specialist to try to determine what treatments or lifestyle modifications are right for you. reduced frightening dreams and other symptoms, Best Anti-Snoring Mouthpieces & Mouthguards, https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-understanding-sleep, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10779247/, https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/sleep/28.9.1083, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30143673/, http://doi.wiley.com/10.1046/j.1365-2869.2001.00249.x, http://link.springer.com/10.2165/00002018-199716020-00005, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30587203/, https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1389945714001142, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31569467/, http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1023/A:1013890421674, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25307588/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25454845/, The Relationship Between Depression and Sleep. Sometimes we wake up and have no idea that weve dreamed, while other times, we can closely recall our dreams because they were so intense. DOI: Weinstein N, et al. Dreams about your teeth falling out could be happening because youre grinding your teeth in your sleep, a condition called bruxism. This therapy, done with a mental healthcare professional, involves changing the ending to a nightmare you remember when youre awake until it no longer becomes threatening. "Some medications have this effect too," Ellis notes. Additionally, REM cycles are typically longer and deeper in the morning (towards the end of sleep). Some antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, beta blockers and drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease and smoking cessation seem to send dreams into nightmare territory, per the Mayo Clinic. Panic attacks may occur as a result of these recurring dreams. For starters, Dr. Drerup says you also tend to dream more in REM sleep. Lucid dreaming means youre aware that youre dreaming while youre in the dream. Vivid Dreams and Nightmares Nightmares are disturbing, well-remembered dreams that usually incite anxiety and fear. The content of a vivid dream can cause feelings of joy or comfort. Vivid dreams can be categorized into different types, depending on their content and what happens to a person during the dream state. Policy. Narcolepsy and emotional experience: a review of the literature. These are common themes that many people dream about. "Lucid dreaming is also another category of vivid dreaming. Substance use Using certain substances such as marijuana, cocaine, and ketamine can contribute to vivid or. Many pregnant women say they experience vivid dreams, especially during the early days of their pregnancy. As previously explained, if you think it could have to do with your health care plan and any new substance, Ellis would suggest talking to your doctor. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. We usually dont remember our dreams unless were awoken from them.. Trusted Source Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body which supports the sleep-wake cycle. Alcohol actually disrupts your sleep, so you spend less of your snooze time in the dream-heavy REM stage, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Themes of low self-esteem are common. You cant get back to sleep afterwards. One study showed that combat veterans whod had nightmares before their deployment were more likely to develop PTSD symptoms after six months of active duty. Around 50% of people have had at least one lucid dream, and about 20% have at least one lucid dream per month. While we may consider any dream that we experience in. Mayo Clinic Staff. Most people dont have frequent lucid dreams, though some research reports that 55 percent of people experience it at least once in their lives. You could have an underlying condition that may need to be addressed. But one thing is for sure: We all dream if we sleep long enough, even if you don't remember. However, nightmare disorder is a sleep disorder in which nightmares interfere with one's ability to get sufficient sleep. Whether youre having vivid dreams, nightmares, or lucid dreams, if your dreaming starts to interfere with getting enough sleep, or you believe theres an underlying cause for your dream type, speak to a healthcare professional. Dr. Holliday-Bell recommends the following: Is this an emergency? Vivid dreams are nightmares or good dreams, which are seen in all ages and often people remember them. Thats one of the theories of why we dream, she says. Daydreams usually involve other people, whether real or imagined. Darien, IL. Theres no way, you might be thinking, but thats only because we forget more than 95 percent of all dreams. Vivid dreams are ones that stick to your memory. Dreams can happen at any time during sleep. Resistance to going to bed or to sleep for fear you'll have another bad dream. While scientists have been studying dreams for years, the images that appear while we snooze are still incredibly misunderstood. Many people notice their dreams become wilder or more realistic when they're pregnant. Withdrawing from certain medications can also cause more nightmares. Nightmares are vivid dreams with frightening or unsettling content. This dream recall is greatest when people awaken from a dream during the rapid eye-movement (REM) stage of sleep. "Since REM is the sleep stage in which most dreaming occurs, it's likely that an individual has more vivid dreams after a period of sleep deprivation due to the increase in the amount of REM sleep they are getting," she explains. This is likely because brain activity is highest during the REM stage of sleep and because youre more likely to remember your dreams when awakened from REM sleep. In some cases, you may be able to control the dreams storyline. Brain basics: Understanding Sleep., Retrieved August 31, 2020, from. "There are simply those whose dream lives are rich and vivid as a matter of course," she adds. Have you had a dream about your teeth falling out, flying through the sky, or being chased? Sometimes vivid dreams can be the result of stressful situations that happen when you're awake, says Arlington-Virginia-based sleep specialist Angela Holliday-Bell, MD. A. If you're ready for more, sign up to receive our email newsletter! We look at 6 mattresses that'll make the best beds for tall people, including a brand that cuts custom sizes. When someone is diagnosed with REM sleep behavior disorder really early in life, thats linked to a really high conversion rate of someone eventually developing Parkinsons disease or Lewy body dementia.. Some proven practices for helping to reduce stress and anxiety include: Getting better, deeper sleep might not necessarily make dreams less vivid or less frequent. Sometimes you can control a lucid dream if you have practice. For the same reason, you might experience more vivid dreams before your period. Dreams can be more vivid for those who suffer from schizophrenia or a dissociative disorder. Vivid dreams can be positive or negative, realistic or fantasy. But no matter the theme or the feeling they provoke, they all have one thing in common: They're intense, and they tend to stick with you. Our team of writers, editors, and medical experts rigorously evaluates each article to ensure the information is accurate and exclusively cites reputable sources. About 25 percent of an adults night of sleep is spent in REM cycles. Thus, dream recall is lower for these types of vivid dreams. Resisting sleep. These are, Everyone dreams each night, but we may not remember most of it. NINDS aims to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. Dreaming might help the brain eliminate any unnecessary information or memories while processing and storing whats important. Most people do dream, though you just dont recall them. The same goes for when your sleep gets interrupted or if you're dealing with changes to your sleep schedule, per the Mayo Clinic. But if your vivid dreams are causing you emotional distress or physical problems, you might benefit from medical treatment or lifestyle modifications. Some researchers also believe that, during the REM stage of sleep, long-term memories are stored in designated areas of the brain. But sometimes those weirdly realistic (or just plain scary) scenarios your brain cooks up while you're sleeping can be traced back to something that's going on during the day. Other factors like temperature or eating before bed can also influence dreams. Brain activity that occurs when were dreaming is similar to the memory processing brain activity we experience when were awake., When youre experiencing more stress or anxiety, you tend to dream more, too. These are some of the known causes: 1. Sikka, P., Pesonen, H., & Revonsuo, A. These include peer-reviewed journals, government reports, academic and medical associations, and interviews with credentialed medical experts and practitioners. If you just went on a date, your dream might be full of romance, or on the flip side, heartbreak, if youre having anxiety about dating someone new. Simply put, by flexing your awareness in real life, you'll be more likely to notice when dreams get wonky, and you'll know you're dreaming. However, sometimes even the strangest dreams have logical explanations. Melatonin therapy for REM sleep behavior disorder: A critical review of evidence. They have a sleep disorder called nightmare disorder. Longer, more complex and more negative dreams are a common side effect of narcolepsy, the chronic sleep disorder marked by daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep, according to a May 2015 review in Sleep. Activities and events taking place in dreams, such as talking or body movements, are acted out physically in real time. That dreaming may represent important cognitive functioning. How pregnancy can affect your dreams. Its much more of what this dream means to you. When asleep, our minds are active, creating stories and images that can be either vivid or fleeting; nonsensical or seemingly prophetic; terrifying or absolutely mundane. You. They may also be upsetting or disturb your sleep. The image youre practicing can replace or decrease the frequency of that disruptive nightmare, or completely eliminate it altogether., A sleep disorder called REM sleep behavior disorder can also cause abnormal dreaming. (2018). People often say its like the same movies playing., Talking about a nightmare like you would a movie youve seen can bring about unexpected consequences. Linking psychological need experiences to daily and recurring dreams. Everyone is doing it. When someone has a night terror, they wake up terrified but may only have a vague idea of what they dreamed about. "If your dreams are intense and upsetting, I always suggest paying attention to them, as they are clearly trying to get your attention," Ellis says, with Laz adding, "Dreams help alert us to what is occurring beneath the surface of our conscious minds, and through these stories, we can later reflect and bring unconscious material and make it consciouswhich can help us to feel better.". "It may not be possible to change the situation, but it will help to process the emotions associated with it and to come to terms with what is happening in your life," Ellis adds, noting dreams themselves may even help you to do so. Dreams can be very strange and thats totally normal. "There's not a lot of research regarding the meaning of dreams, but we think it's our brain's way of processing emotions from the day and should generally not be of any concern," Dr. Holliday-Bell says. But you might wonder why your dreams are so realistic. (2014). This can lead to additional problems. Sure, you know those flesh-eating zombies aren't real. They wake you from sleep. Nightmare disorder. AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research. Pace-Schott, E. F., Gersh, T., Silvestri, R., Stickgold, R., Salzman, C., & Hobson, J. Its often not as disruptive to you unless youre punching someone in your dream, and then punch your spouse or the nightstand and injure yourself, she says. These striking dream feelings may be related to your life, or they can feel like a completely different experience. View Source Why do we dream? But vivid dreams may also be markedly different from waking life, full of fantastic sights and encounters, or episodes that are disorienting or even frightening. "Those emotions from the dream are very real and exist somewhere in your real life, and when you are able to connect them to a current situation or even to a current person in your life, you now have your starting point," she tells mbg. For better or worse, your most vivid dreams likely have an important message for you. Freud thought dreams are repressed content, ideas or themes, says behavioral sleep medicine expertMichelle Drerup, PsyD, DBSM. Want to read more about all our experts in the field? The question then is, Was the dream "vivid" because we remember it so well? Nightmares are often vividly recalled dreams while night terrors are easily forgotten. . If you are concerned that medications you take may be causing vivid dreams, its important to discuss these side effects with your doctor. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. "Those dreams could be very vivid too,were they remembered," she says, adding that it's almost like the chicken or the egg argument. Nightmares are vivid dreams that may be threatening, upsetting, bizarre, or otherwise bothersome. Typically, we forget these dreams and spend our daily life with no memory of what went on during our nighttime REM cycles. Dreams often reflect your waking life. 2023 The Sleep Doctor. This dream recall is greatest when people awaken from a dream during the rapid eye-movement (REM) stage of sleep. DOI: Schredl M, et al. Nightmares and vivid dreams may also be provoked by negative and traumatic events in a persons life. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Dreams can also bring to light what were avoiding thinking about or our anxieties. Vivid dreams can also be upsetting or disturbing, and in some cases may interfere with experiencing quality sleep. Problems with mood, such as depression or anxiety from dreams that continue to bother you. ", Bobbi Brown, Dreams about teeth falling out have been interpreted as everything from stress and big life changes, to indicating dental health issues. Running short on shut-eye can up the intensity of your dreams. View Source For some people, nightmares are more than just a temporary scare. Your mental healthcare provider will ask you to continue playing over the new, nonthreatening ending to the dream in your mind. Night terrors most commonly happen during non-REM sleep, while nightmares typically happen during REM sleep. If you have a nightmare, youll tell everybody about it because it was so weird, right? ventures Dr. Drerup. People will say, I dont dream at all, because I dont sleep well. And thats not necessarily the case, explains Dr. Drerup. Having anxiety or depression can make it hard for you to sleep . Scientists dont have all the answers on why we dream or why we have the types of dreams we have, but there are some clues. What do falling dreams mean? Thats not necessarily out of the ordinary. Several themes are most common to all people who dream vividly. American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) And you might not sleep well if you . Stress can also cause you to wake up more throughout the night, Dr. Holliday-Bell says. Daydreams occur consciously, but you may still feel like youre not fully awake or aware of your surroundings. Though according to Ellis, Laz, and Loewenberg, you're better off thinking about your dreams as messengers than inherently good or bad. REM is the heaviest period of dreaming and learning during the sleep cycle. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. The dream could mean a whole lot of different things., Although experiences you have in a dream might be based on real-life events, that doesnt mean your dreams are always realistic. But they can also be unsettling in their strangeness or in the emotions they involve. If you're experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, or emotional trauma, you may be more prone to vivid bad dreams. And what's more, even though we average five dreams per night, we may not remember them all. You may also remember your vivid dream a lot easier than a typical dream. Some potential causes of nightmares include: People experiencing a lot of stress or who have mental health conditions like anxiety disorders may experience dreams that are more frightening. Dreams that are vivid generally occur during REM sleep and could also be due to fragmented sleep, sleep deprivation, a sleep disorder, stress, pregnancy, or a medication you are taking. For example, if someone recently lost their job, a certain dream about not being able to find their shoes might mean something very different to them versus someone who recently went through a divorce., Dreaming that youre pregnant in other words, involved with a new life is also subjective. While it will vary from woman to woman there are some consistent changes that most women report if their dreams change during pregnancy. So they're more prone to having vivid dreams and remembering them upon waking. Vivid dreams, therefore, might simply be a side effect of this storage process. reduced frightening dreams and other symptoms Fever dreams are also more likely to include themes about temperature or health. That's due to the fact that narcolepsy tends to cause a person to enter and exit sleep during the REM stage, Dr. Holliday-Bell says. Of course, as aforementioned, our most vivid dreams often have a message for us, and when we can figure out what that message is, we can work through it. Feedback like yours helps us make The Sleep Doctor the most helpful site it can be. Advertisement How to stop recurring dreams. There are some medications that have been reported to contribute to vivid dreams. Like other nightmares, they may be due to stress or anxiety. And that can cause health problems. Video of the Day Alcohol and the sleeping brain. In some cases, vivid dreams may give clues about health conditions. When this happens, the entire dream experience is intensified," she notes. These are common scenarios in dreams triggered, Recurring nightmares mean that you have frequent nightmares that are either exactly the same content, or unfold with similar themes. Sleep Medicine, 16(1), 1926. The Sleep Doctor is Dr. Michael Breus and our team of sleep experts, testers, and certified sleep coaches. Writers and editors caught stealing content or improperly citing sources are immediately terminated, and we will work to rectify the situation with the original publisher(s), Although Sleep Foundation maintains affiliate partnerships with brands and e-commerce portals, these relationships never have any bearing on our product reviews or recommendations. At the end of the day, however, dream interpretation is still a big mystery yet to be solved. DOI: Murzyn E. (2008). These vivid dreams are often vivid and unpredictable, which is why it . Youre enjoying a deep, restful snooze when suddenly you startle awake. Testing the Strength of the Titan Mattress: Is It Right for You? As Loewenberg explains, what we think of as "vividness" comes from "the strength, length, and intensity in which we are able to remember the dream." (2016). 27 Learn More: What Causes Vivid Dreams? As aforementioned, nightmares are often very vivid because they're so emotionally charged. The content on this website is for informational purposes only. When people sleep, their brains remain somewhat active, even though their minds are largely unconscious. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. From there, she says, anything that was said or thought during the dream is also particularly important. Even if youre having a sleep study, its not like we can look in your brain and see whats happening during a dream, says Dr. Drerup. 2 Most dreams happen during rapid eye movemen t (REM) sleep, though some can occur in non-REM sleep. People living with REM sleep behavior disorder, however, actually arent paralyzed meaning they can move in their sleep while dreaming. Artificial Sweetener Erythritols Major Health Risks, Best Ingredients and Products for Your Anti-Aging Skin Care Routine. Image by mbg creative X Aleksandra Jankovic / Stocksy. They occur frequently. Nightmare themes: An online study of most recent nightmares and childhood nightmares. Vivid dreams may be fantastical, leaving you wondering how your brain could have conjured such a strange scenario. The main difference between a daydream and all other types of dreams is that youre awake during a daydream. For starters, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day (yes, even on the weekends) will get your sleep schedule back on track and help you sleep more soundly. Rassin E, et al. If someone catches you daydreaming, they may say that you look zoned out or lost in thoughts. . (2019). Theres no real consistent, scientifically proven theory linking specific content back to what a dream means, Dr. Drerup notes. Your guess is as good as mine.. This will level out eventually, she explains. Up to 71 percent of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may experience nightmares, which can be recurring if not treated. People who suffer from anxiety may also have more vivid nightmares. While were all dreaming while we sleep, there may be times when youre more likely to experience certain types of dreams or remember them more often. However, in the case of nightmares induced by trauma, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, a doctor may consider prescribing sleeping medication or anti-anxiety medication to help induce sleep. Most dreams are predominantly visual, meaning that images are at the forefront of dreams, rather than other senses like smell or touch. They also activate the nervous system, increasing blood pressure and heart rate and sometimes causing anxiety and panic when a person wakes up. The purpose of REM sleep is still uncertain, but some sleep researchers believe it is important for forming memories. SSRI treatment suppresses dream recall frequency but increases subjective dream intensity in normal subjects. Imagine this. Find out when you're most likely to dream, based on your, Lucid dreaming happens when youre aware that youre dreaming. I'm a very vivid dreamer and almost every night I have strange or epic movie-like dreams and I've always been like this ever since I was really young. Just because you dont have dream content doesnt mean that youre not dreaming. If youve got job stress, your dreams might take place at work or involve your co-workers. Common themes in recurring dreams involve: False awakenings are a type of dream occurrence where a person believes theyve woken up but actually havent. Symptoms include: Sleepiness Cataplexy Hallucinations and vivid dreams Sleep paralysis Fragmented sleep and insomnia Sleepiness Everyone with narcolepsy has some daytime sleepiness, but the severity of sleepiness varies among individuals. But Dr. Drerup stresses that dream interpretation is subjective. Nightmares arise more frequently in the second half of the night when more time is spent in REM sleep . So an upsetting, vivid dream is similar to you sending a strongly worded letter of concern to yourself," she explains. If you keep dreaming of a car accident, for example, while you're awake, you would imagine yourself in the dream, and rather than getting into an accident, imagine you reach your destination safely. You might try writing your dreams down as soon as you wake up. Dreams can be vivid for those who suffer from depression. Nightmares and disorders of dreaming. For example, according to Ellis, alcohol is known to suppress the REM cycle (where a majority of dreaming takes place), "and when we abstain after a period of substance use, our dreaming rebounds with intensity, making up for lost dream time," she's found. The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. Dr. Drerup says nightmares are commonly associated with a variety of other conditions and events as well, such as: For someone living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nightmares are often a component of re-experiencing or re-living their trauma. "Twenty to twenty-five percent of your sleep is a dream state, and women who are pregnant are . If you feel that your stress and anxiety levels are out of control, you might want to consider: Another major thing you can do is to make sure you always reserve some time for relaxation during the day so you dont feel overwhelmed. However, This keeps people from possibly injuring themselves by acting out their dreams. While dreams can sometimes be realistic representations of waking life, dreams with bizarre or creative content can be more difficult to make sense of logically. Mental health conditions linked to nightmares include: Nightmares have the strongest connection with PTSD. High stress levels can lead to more dreams and nightmares. In other scenarios, melatonin may increase REM sleep, and subsequently the chance to experience vivid dreams. What do dreams have to do with sleep apnea? This therapy is designed to reduce a persons frequency of vivid dreams especially nightmares. But rehearsing that nightmare over and over again means your neural pathways are getting reinforced. "Whatever is saidno matter who says itand whatever is thought while in the dream are your subconscious thoughts. Handbook of Clinical Neurology, 125, 415431. 2023 Healthline Media LLC. A tendency to have nightmares may be associated with a higher risk of developing PTSD. But vivid dreams can be problematic if they're interfering with your ability to function during the day or fall asleep at night, according to the Mayo Clinic. People are most likely to remember the last dream they had in their sleep cycle. It has been shown to reduce vivid dreams in certain sleep disturbances. Historically, dreams were considered to impart wisdom or even predict the future. DOI: Wright ST, et al. You have a panicked feeling upon awakening and take a while to reorient.. "But we commonly know that vivid dreams are intense, feel very real, and often carry a significant emotional charge to them," she explains. When nightmares are so frequent or intense that they disrupt a persons day-to-day life, they may be classified as a nightmare disorder, and treatment may be recommended. Youll have that REM rebound as well.. National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information She has a decade of experience in the study of disease. Buzzi G. (2011). This may seem like an extremely minor detail, but it usually has a powerful impact on the way we feel about ourselves in the future. All rights reserved. Dreams themselves are a little less mysterious. What You Should Know About the Relationship Between Oversleeping and Depression, 10 Embarrassing Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor. 1 There are two recognized stages of sleep: Non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep: In NREM sleep, your dreams are basic with simple imagery, concepts, and ideas. But if youre trying to puzzle out what your subconscious is trying to tell you, look to your day-to-day life for clues. Vivid dreaming these very real, emotionally-charged dreams can linger in your mind as you move through your day. Long term effects of melatonin use are unknown, so be sure to ask a doctor about whether it is safe and appropriate for you. (2012). Vivid dreams are dreams that people remember in detail when they wake up. From an evolutionary standpoint, it happened because it was more protective for us to not be able to move when dreaming.. When you go off of an antidepressant, you tend to have REM rebound.. Then, its more likely the dream will reoccur.. So an upsetting, vivid dream is similar to you sending a strongly worded letter of concern to yourself," she explains. See additional information. Why do we dream? Vivid dreams don't always have a clear culprit. If you have recurring nightmares, it may be due to an underlying mental health condition, substance use, or certain medication. People who get help for untreated sleep apnea often have a high level of dream recall and potentially nightmares as well, says Dr. Drerup. 2009 - 2023 MindBodyGreen LLC. "This dream is more a sign of psychological stress," says Dr. Drerup.
