The Different Types of Nightmares and What They Mean

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You know the feeling. You wake up in a pool of sweat, shaking, terrified of what just happened. Your mind is racing. You just had a nightmare.

You might have been chased, had your teeth fall out, or found yourself without pants in the middle of class. Whatever it was, a nightmare is a chilling experience that can leave you breathless. They are more than just a bad dream. Instead, nightmares invoke fear in the dreamer that can cause problems in waking life.

However, you are not alone. Children have nightmares (sometimes nightly) and many adults experience them as well. There are several different types of nightmares, some of which cross over into sleep disorders. The dreams often reflect who we are and what’s on our minds. Although nightmares can sometimes be random creations of the subconscious brain with no particular deeper interpretation, in many cases nightmares actually do have specific causes or meanings behind them.

Here are the different types of nightmares, and what they mean for you.

General Nightmares

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Nightmares are elaborate dreams that cause fear, anxiety, and sadness in the dreamer. Usually, the person having a nightmare will wake up abruptly from REM sleep and is able to describe the dream in vivid detail. Returning to sleep can be difficult and they even can cause daytime distress. Nightmares are caused by many factors including anxiety, illness, loss of a loved one, negative reactions to medication, or traumatic events. Isolated nightmares are normal, but when dreams that bring extreme terror or anxiety recur often they can become a debilitating sleep disorder. Check with your doctor if you are having nightmares that are affecting your day-to-day life.

Recurring Nightmares

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Recurring nightmares are just that. They are the same nightmare that happens over and over again on a regular basis. They can cause fear and anxiety in the person, especially when they can’t seem to “escape” the dream. Recurring dreams usually mean there is something in your life you've not acknowledged that is causing stress of some sort. The dream keeps repeating because the problem has not been solved. Alternatively, these dreams may happen if someone has trauma in their past they are trying to deal with. Treatment for recurring nightmares usually starts with interpreting what is going on in the dream and comparing that with what is happening in the person's life.

Sleep Paralysis

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Sleep paralysis is when one is aware but unable to move, usually happening during awakening for falling asleep. During an episode, the dreamer may hear, feel or see things that are not there that often results in deep fear. Some people also experience pressure on their chest or a sense of choking. Sleep paralysis usually lasts less than a couple of minutes, and can be recurring or a one-time event. Over the centuries, sleep paralysis has been well documented and is usually attributed to an evil presence: unseen night demons in ancient times, the old hag in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and alien abductors. Almost every culture has had stories of shadowy evil creatures. While sleep paralysis can be terrifying, there is no real need to fear anything you see.

How to Interpret Your Nightmare

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Understandably, when you have nightmares you want to understand what they mean in the bigger picture. First, think about each main element in the dream. Think of how you could have associations to each. Second, concentrate on how the dream made you feel. Lastly, put all of the associations together. For example, if you had nightmare that a witch was chasing you around your home you might consider who the witch represents, why it was at your home, and how the witch made you feel. Could it represent a fight you had with your mother recently? Dream interpretation lies heavily on the dreamer’s past experiences and current life issues.