How do you define 'nightmare' status?

[TheForgotten]

According to Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com a nightmare is defined as: night·mare    [nahyt-mair] Show IPA noun 1. a terrifying dream in which the dreamer experiences feelings of helplessness, extreme anxiety, sorrow, etc. 2. a condition, thought, or experience suggestive of a nightmare: the nightmare of his years in prison. 3. (formerly) a monster or evil spirit believed to oppress persons during sleep. ~~~~~~~~~ With this definition I have a nightmare every other night. On the other hand, I don't view monsters or evil spirits as an automatic nightmare. I view it as an opportunity to practice my hand-eye coordination and emotional regulation. In fact, I rarely have dreams which I consider nightmares now because I've learned to turn the dream around and try several options. So now I'm curious, how do you define what is worthy of being called a 'nightmare'?

[Vesterguard]

Have had dreams before where I had one of the feelings mentioned in definition 1, but overcome them throughout the dream. I suppose you can constrast these with dreams where the dreamer is unable to do so and as such "trapped" in negative emotions unable to escape. I view it as an opportunity to practice my hand-eye coordination ^^ I think the monster definition refers to the "mare" creature and as such shouldn't be perceived as a generalisation for spirits or monsters Mare (folklore) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I personally like this last definition because the goblin in the painting looks ridiculous =P, though in a "sensible" sense I stick with my modified definition 1.

[Puffin]

A nightmare, to me, is one that invokes strong feelings of dread, fear, or pain. Mine are often accompanied by excruciating physical pain but there's also the mental/emotional aspects of it. I'd go with #1, since it's closest to how my own dreams operate.