Thread: Why are Nightmares the most Vivid?

Hello! When we go to sleep areas in the brain responsible for emotions become more active, while the daily reasoning/decision making areas quiet down. When we are having nightmares, they are usually very intense in emotions and emotions also boost dream vividness. This has to do with certain levels of neurotransmitters at the time being higher than they are normally.

In addition, if one experiences an increased level of emotions during daytime or stress, etc. these will generally manifest in dreams too, although contents may vary. Again, if you are excited during the day this will affect all sorts of chemicals circulating, so it should be expected that emotion centers receive an additional boost during dreams. I'm sorry to hear about the accident you had and your disability. I understand this must be an additional cause for stress to you.

The good news is you can slowly learn how to change your nightmares. The best way would be to work both on the level of daily anxiety that you encounter and try to influence dreams subconsciously via mantras and ld practice. The latter consists of formulating mantras that relate to one's specific nightmares. "when chased (for example), I will not be afraid, I am confident/in control". If you repeat a mantra like this during the day and do this for couple of months, then your subcon will internalize it, and nightmares will become fewer. Also, you can learn to become lucid and face certain things that make you feel uneasy, thus overcome your fears.

Changing the level of daily stress may require some work, but on the whole it is possible. Find activities that give you peace and enjoyment (and are healthy) and do more of the things you like. You may also consider meditation or simply visualization and day dreaming. Visualization with closed eyes of something pleasant is really good because it easily calms the mind. It can be a good practice to incubate dreams too. Hope that helps!

Nightmares

Recently I heard a supposed dream expert say on TV that you shouldn't be upset about nightmares because they are pointing you to some problem that you need to address in your life. Instead, she said, you should welcome nightmares. I wouldn't agree with that.

Yes, sometimes a scary dream reveals an issue that you need to face but what if the dream is coming from the demonic realm? It is something to consider. Are you having reoccurring nightmares? How severe are they? Do you feel hopeless, terrified, driven or depressed after the dream? Does it feel like someone else is in control in the dream?

If you have nightmares, pray before you go to sleep each night that God will put a hedge of protection around your dreams. Make a prayer out of one of these two scriptures. "I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8) or "For so He give His beloved sleep." (Psalm 127:5)

Another suggestion if you have nightmares often is to consult a doctor. There are some physically based things which cause nightmares; why not rule those out before going any further? Please see a physician for sure if you sleep walk because that can have potentially very dangerous consequences.