• Question: Why do people have nightmares?

    Asked by 286bera46 to Colin, John, Kevin, Shikha, Triona on 17 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Kevin Motherway

      Kevin Motherway answered on 17 Nov 2014:

      We don’t really understand dreams that well, but I know that if I get too hot or eat something weird I may have a nightmare….maybe the bodies way of sweating things out or getting you to kick off the duvet? Geologists are not know for their sleep scinece I’m afraid!

    • Photo: Shikha Sharma

      Shikha Sharma answered on 20 Nov 2014:

      Hi 286bera46,

      Depending on how long you sleep, your body goes through four to six cycles a night, and the REM stage gets longer with each sleep cycle. Most nightmares happen during the last third of your night’s sleep. Most nightmares may be a normal reaction to stress, and some clinicians believe they aid people in working through traumatic events. Frequent occurrence of nightmares becomes a disorder known as repeated nightmares. Some nightmares can be caused by certain drugs or medications, or by rapid withdrawal from them, or by physical conditions such as illness and fever. Some people experience frequent nightmares that seem unrelated to their waking lives. These people tend to be more creative, sensitive, trusting and emotional than average. So there is no scientific explanation for nightmares but its all related to emotions, fears, etc.

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