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4 things you didn't know about nightmares

4 things you didn t know about nightmares

Nightmares are annoying, but there's more to them than you think. Did you already know the following facts?

1. Don't take your nightmares too literally Nightmares often arise from a fear, but you are not always literally dreaming about what that fear is. In America there was a study into nightmares after 09/11. In the period after the attack, more Americans had nightmares, but hardly anyone literally dreamed about the Twin Towers.

2. Nightmares are not only caused by fear
Feelings of confusion, anger or guilt can also cause nightmares.

3. Women probably have more nightmares than men
An English study shows that women have more nightmares than men. The researchers doubt whether this is because women often worry more and are more anxious by nature, or whether women simply talk more easily about their nightmares. In addition, your own perception has a major influence:what is a nightmare for one person is no more than an annoying or even fascinating dream for another.

4. No one will hear you scream
Nightmares happen in your REM sleep, in that phase of your sleep, you can't scream. The moment you start screaming, you are almost awake. Screaming in sleep can occur during night terrors or night terrors. Night terrors mainly occur in children.

Read also: If you don't sleep, do you rest anyway?