Difference between dreams and nightmares
Why is a nightmare frightening? Its a shocking bad dream to call focus to an issue that needs your attention. Your brain has invented the nightmare to be scary to shock you, and make you remember it after you’ve woken up. Usually, dreams are not memorable because they’re not shocking. That is the fundamental difference between dreams and nightmares.
Imagery in dreams and nightmares can be symbolic to represent something else.
In some dreams and nightmares, you are aware of responding to the dream. You know what your dream is about and you responded to it.
A nightmare can be triggered by a real life event. This type of nightmare is called a trauma nightmare. Can you do something to prevent trauma nightmares in your sleep? Yes, you can help yourself by treating trauma to prevent it from triggering trauma nightmares. After a shock or prolonged shock, reflect on your thoughts and emotions. What do you understand from it? After processing the shocking event, you’re less likely to dream about it.
Some types of food and medications trigger nightmares. Ingestion of certain drugs can cause nightmares. With-holding some medications can also cause nightmares.
