Nightmare / Dream Anxiety Disorder

Nightmare / Dream Anxiety Disorder: Awareness, Research and Resources

“Nightmares exist outside of logic, and there's little fun to be had in explanations; they're antithetical to the poetry of fear.” ― Stephen King

Nightmare / Dream Anxiety Disorder Research

Nightmare Disorder
"Nightmare Disorder, also known as dream anxiety disorder, is a sleep disorder characterized by recurrent, disturbing nightmares that significantly disrupt a person's sleep and cause distress or impairment in their daily life. Nightmares are vivid and intense dreams that often evoke strong negative emotions, such as fear, anxiety, or terror.

Here are some key features and points related to Nightmare Disorder:

Frequency: To be diagnosed with Nightmare Disorder, a person must experience frequent nightmares. The specific frequency required for a diagnosis can vary but often includes at least one nightmare per week.

Interruption of Sleep: Nightmares typically occur during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep, which is associated with vivid dreaming. These intense dreams can awaken the individual and make it difficult to return to sleep, leading to sleep disturbances.

Emotional Distress: The nightmares experienced in Nightmare Disorder are often highly distressing and can lead to feelings of fear, anxiety, and even terror. This emotional distress can have a significant impact on a person's overall well-being and quality of life.

Recollection: People with Nightmare Disorder usually remember the content of their nightmares and may experience ongoing distress due to the lingering emotions and memories associated with these dreams.

Causes: Nightmares can be caused by a variety of factors, including stress, trauma, anxiety disorders, medications, substance abuse, and certain medical conditions. In the case of Nightmare Disorder, the nightmares are a primary symptom and are not solely explained by another underlying condition.

Treatment: Treatment for Nightmare Disorder typically involves addressing the underlying causes and managing the nightmares themselves. This may include therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy for nightmares (CBT-N), which focuses on altering thought patterns and behaviors related to sleep and nightmares. Medications may also be prescribed in some cases.

Nightmare Recurrence: Even after treatment, nightmares may still occur periodically, but the goal of treatment is to reduce their frequency and the distress they cause.

It's important for individuals experiencing recurrent, distressing nightmares to seek help from a healthcare professional, such as a sleep specialist or a therapist specializing in sleep disorders, to diagnose and manage the condition appropriately. Effective treatment can significantly improve sleep quality and overall well-being for those affected by Nightmare Disorder." ChatGPT 2023)

Adult Nightmares: Causes and Treatments WebMD

Aetiology and treatment of Nightmare Disorder: State of the art and future perspectives NIH

All About Nightmare Disorder Psych Central

Are Your Nightmares Actually Trying to Warn You About Something? Healthline

Best Practice Guide for the Treatment of Nightmare Disorder in Adults NIH

Characteristics of Dreams and Nightmares in Patients with Anxiety Disorders SSRN

Cognitions in Sleep: Lucid Dreaming as an Intervention for Nightmares in Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Frontiers in Psychology

Dream Anxiety Disorder - Meaning, Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments Overcomers Counseling

Dreams and Mental Health Mental Health and Motivation

Management of Nightmare Disorder in Adults U.S. Pharmacist

Nightmares: from anxiety symptom to sleep disorder PDF Download Elsevier

Nightmare Disorder: Background, Pathophysiology Medscape

Nightmare Disorder - Diagnosis and Treatment Mayo Clinic

Nightmare Disorder, Dream Anxiety, and Subjective Sleep quality in patients with Borderline Personality Disorder NIH 

Nightmare Disorder in Adults Mindyra

Nightmares and Disorders of Dreaming American Family Physician

Nightmares and Nightmare Disorder in Adults UpToDate

Nightmares and the Brain Harvard Medical School

Nightmares and Stress: A Longitudinal Study Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine

Nightmares, Life Stress, and Anxiety: An Examination of Tension Reduction ResearchGate

Prevalence and Detailed Experience of Nightmare and Nightmare Disorder in Chinese University Students Sage Journals

Understanding Nightmare Disorder: PTSD commonly causes repeated, disturbing dreams Verywell Health

What is Nightmare Disorder? Sleep Foundation

When Should You See a Doctor About Nightmares? Self

Nightmare Disorder | Nightmare or Bad Dream | How to deal with nightmares - Video

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