Why Do I Have Recurring Nightmares?

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Nightmare Disorder

Recurring Nightmare Themes

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When we think ofnightmares, we often associate these bad dreams with kids who fear monsters under the bed or things that lurk in the dark. But adults often have nightmares too. And sometimes they are recurring.

A recurring nightmare is defined as an unpleasant dream that is repeated over and over again over a long period of time.

Perhaps you dream about being assaulted once a week. Or maybe your nightmare involves a loved one getting into an accident, and you experience it every time you fall asleep.

At a GlanceWhatever type of recurring nightmare you might have, waking up terrified is an awful feeling. And it can feel even scarier to fall asleep when you know you’re likely to have another nightmare.Fortunately, understanding your recurring nightmares could be the first step in addressing them. Let’s take a closer look at factors that can contribute to nightmares, common types of nightmares you might have, and treatments that can help reduce their frequency and severity.

At a Glance

Whatever type of recurring nightmare you might have, waking up terrified is an awful feeling. And it can feel even scarier to fall asleep when you know you’re likely to have another nightmare.Fortunately, understanding your recurring nightmares could be the first step in addressing them. Let’s take a closer look at factors that can contribute to nightmares, common types of nightmares you might have, and treatments that can help reduce their frequency and severity.

Whatever type of recurring nightmare you might have, waking up terrified is an awful feeling. And it can feel even scarier to fall asleep when you know you’re likely to have another nightmare.

Fortunately, understanding your recurring nightmares could be the first step in addressing them. Let’s take a closer look at factors that can contribute to nightmares, common types of nightmares you might have, and treatments that can help reduce their frequency and severity.

How to Stop Nightmares From Terrorizing Your Sleep

Why Do People Have Recurring Nightmares?

While dreams have long fascinated people, little is still known about why wedream. And there’s little consensus about whether dreams havedeeper meanings.

Even less is known about nightmares. While some researchers think nightmares may stem from chemical imbalances in the brain, others believe they stem from deep-rooted issues ortraumatic experiences. And still, some believe nightmares are simply a sign of vivid imagination.

So why would someone have a recurring nightmare? There are a few potential reasons.

Unmet Psychological Needs

Some researchers believe that recurrent nightmares stem from unmet psychological needs, such as autonomy, competence, and relatedness. These unmet needs can lead torecurring dreams, and in some cases recurring nightmares as an effort at processing and integrating these experiences.

Substances and Medications

Medication, drugs, and alcohol may interfere with brain chemicals and increase the likelihood of nightmares. Studies have found that sedatives, beta-blockers, and amphetamines are especially likely to cause nightmares. In some cases, withdrawing from substances can also lead to recurring nightmares.

PTSD

Nightmares are one of the most common symptoms of PTSD.They often involve re-experiencing the same trauma that was endured in real life (although they may also seem unrelated to a specific real-life trauma as well).

The Best Online Trauma Therapy, Tried and Tested

Borderline Personality Disorder

Common Recurring Nightmare Themes

While nightmares can be about anything, researchers have found that there are some common themes to nightmares.

A 2018 study examined common nightmares in children. The researchers discovered that children’s nightmares often involved being chased,physical aggression,or the death or injury of a loved one.

A 2014 study published inSLEEPfound that adult nightmares are often similar. After analyzing more than 10,000 dreams, researchers found most nightmares involved physical aggression of some kind. Health issues, death, and threats were also common.

The researchers noted that fear is not always part of nightmares. Sadness, confusion, guilt, and disgust were often present.

The Toll Recurring Nightmares Can Have on You

Someone who has never had recurring nightmares might think, “It’s just a bad dream. So what?“But anyone who has experienced recurring nightmares knows that they can take a serious toll on your emotional, physical, occupational, and social well-being.

For example, nightmares may interfere with your romantic relationships. It can be difficult to share a bed with someone if you know you might wake up in a cold sweat screaming.

These are just a few difficulties you might experience as a result of recurrent nightmares. Here’s what the research says about recurring nightmares and the toll they can take:

Sleep Deprivation

What distinguishes nightmares from bad dreams is the fact that nightmares tend to wake people up.They also tend to make it hard to fall back asleep, leading to sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation has been linked to a variety of physical health problems and emotional consequences, ranging from an increased risk of depression to obesity.

You might also be tired at work because you woke up several times the night before from nightmares. Consequently, your productivity could be affected.

Low Mood

Nightmares have also been associated with depression, anxiety, and other mood disturbances.You may have more difficulty managing your emotions or even your appetite when you’re sleep-deprived as well.

Link to Suicide

A 2017 study found a link between recurring nightmares and suicide in war veterans.Another 2017 study found that recurring nightmares are associated with non-suicidal self-injury among college students.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Treatments for Recurring Nightmares

If you’re experiencing recurring nightmares, talk to your physician. Your doctor may want to conduct a complete physical to rule out any potential medical reasons for the nightmares. Your physician may also recommend referral to a therapist who can assist in improving your sleep, address any underlying mental health issues, and reduce your nightmares.

Lifestyle Changes

The treatment for recurring nightmares depends on the cause. Sometimes, a few lifestyle changes can reduce them. Some strategies that may help reduce nightmares include:

Medication

At other times, medication changes may be necessary. A physician might be able to prescribe a medication that can decrease nightmares or change one that is contributing to them.

Medications that may be prescribed to treat nightmares in adults include:

Therapy

Therapy can also be helpful. Therapists often useexposure therapyto treat PTSD, and this could decrease recurring nightmares.

Different types of psychotherapy may be effective in reducing recurring nightmares as well, even when the cause of the nightmares isn’t known. Therapists might ask individuals to write down their dreams, associate to different aspects of them, or they may ask them to look for alternative endings to their nightmares.

Types of therapythat may be helpful include:

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Keep in Mind

If you’re struggling with a recurring nightmare, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Talking to your physician or a therapist could be key to helping you get better rest. A few simple changes in your life or working through a specific issue might help you overcome a nightmare once and for all.

Why Do I Cry in My Sleep?

12 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Weinstein N, Campbell R, Vansteenkiste M.Linking psychological need experiences to daily and recurring dreams.Motivation and Emotion. 2017;42(1):50-63. doi:10.1007/s11031-017-9656-0Skeie-Larsen M, Stave R, Grønli J, et al.The effects of pharmacological treatment of nightmares: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;20(1):777. doi:10.3390/ijerph20010777Lancel M, van Marle HJF, Van Veen MM, van Schagen AM.Disturbed sleep in PTSD: Thinking beyond nightmares.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:767760. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.767760Vanek J, Prasko J, Ociskova M, et al.Insomnia in patients with borderline personality disorder.Nat Sci Sleep. 2021;13:239-250. doi:10.2147/NSS.S295030American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Schredl M, Göritz AS.Nightmare Themes: An Online Study of Most Recent Nightmares and Childhood Nightmares.Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2018;14(03):465-471. doi:10.5664/jcsm.7002Robert G, Zadra A.Thematic and Content Analysis of Idiopathic Nightmares and Bad Dreams.Sleep. 2014;37(2):409-417. doi:10.5665/sleep.3426Zadra A, Pilon M, Donderi DC.Variety and Intensity of Emotions in Nightmares and Bad Dreams.The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2006;194(4):249-254. doi:10.1097/01.nmd.0000207359.46223.dcGieselmann A, Ait Aoudia M, Carr M, et al.Aetiology and treatment of nightmare disorder: State of the art and future perspectives.J Sleep Res. 2019;28(4):e12820. doi:10.1111/jsr.12820Sandman N, Valli K, Kronholm E, Vartiainen E, Laatikainen T, Paunio T.Nightmares as predictors of suicide: an extension study including war veterans.Sci Rep. 2017;7:44756. doi:10.1038/srep44756Ennis CR, Short NA, Moltisanti AJ, Smith CE, Joiner TE, Taylor J.Nightmares and nonsuicidal self-injury: The mediating role of emotional dysregulation.Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2017;76:104-112. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.04.003Morgenthaler TI, Auerbach S, Casey KR, et al.Position paper for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults: an american academy of sleep medicine position paper.Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2018;14(06):1041-1055. doi:10.5664/jcsm.7178

12 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Weinstein N, Campbell R, Vansteenkiste M.Linking psychological need experiences to daily and recurring dreams.Motivation and Emotion. 2017;42(1):50-63. doi:10.1007/s11031-017-9656-0Skeie-Larsen M, Stave R, Grønli J, et al.The effects of pharmacological treatment of nightmares: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;20(1):777. doi:10.3390/ijerph20010777Lancel M, van Marle HJF, Van Veen MM, van Schagen AM.Disturbed sleep in PTSD: Thinking beyond nightmares.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:767760. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.767760Vanek J, Prasko J, Ociskova M, et al.Insomnia in patients with borderline personality disorder.Nat Sci Sleep. 2021;13:239-250. doi:10.2147/NSS.S295030American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Schredl M, Göritz AS.Nightmare Themes: An Online Study of Most Recent Nightmares and Childhood Nightmares.Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2018;14(03):465-471. doi:10.5664/jcsm.7002Robert G, Zadra A.Thematic and Content Analysis of Idiopathic Nightmares and Bad Dreams.Sleep. 2014;37(2):409-417. doi:10.5665/sleep.3426Zadra A, Pilon M, Donderi DC.Variety and Intensity of Emotions in Nightmares and Bad Dreams.The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2006;194(4):249-254. doi:10.1097/01.nmd.0000207359.46223.dcGieselmann A, Ait Aoudia M, Carr M, et al.Aetiology and treatment of nightmare disorder: State of the art and future perspectives.J Sleep Res. 2019;28(4):e12820. doi:10.1111/jsr.12820Sandman N, Valli K, Kronholm E, Vartiainen E, Laatikainen T, Paunio T.Nightmares as predictors of suicide: an extension study including war veterans.Sci Rep. 2017;7:44756. doi:10.1038/srep44756Ennis CR, Short NA, Moltisanti AJ, Smith CE, Joiner TE, Taylor J.Nightmares and nonsuicidal self-injury: The mediating role of emotional dysregulation.Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2017;76:104-112. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.04.003Morgenthaler TI, Auerbach S, Casey KR, et al.Position paper for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults: an american academy of sleep medicine position paper.Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2018;14(06):1041-1055. doi:10.5664/jcsm.7178

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Weinstein N, Campbell R, Vansteenkiste M.Linking psychological need experiences to daily and recurring dreams.Motivation and Emotion. 2017;42(1):50-63. doi:10.1007/s11031-017-9656-0Skeie-Larsen M, Stave R, Grønli J, et al.The effects of pharmacological treatment of nightmares: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;20(1):777. doi:10.3390/ijerph20010777Lancel M, van Marle HJF, Van Veen MM, van Schagen AM.Disturbed sleep in PTSD: Thinking beyond nightmares.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:767760. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.767760Vanek J, Prasko J, Ociskova M, et al.Insomnia in patients with borderline personality disorder.Nat Sci Sleep. 2021;13:239-250. doi:10.2147/NSS.S295030American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Schredl M, Göritz AS.Nightmare Themes: An Online Study of Most Recent Nightmares and Childhood Nightmares.Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2018;14(03):465-471. doi:10.5664/jcsm.7002Robert G, Zadra A.Thematic and Content Analysis of Idiopathic Nightmares and Bad Dreams.Sleep. 2014;37(2):409-417. doi:10.5665/sleep.3426Zadra A, Pilon M, Donderi DC.Variety and Intensity of Emotions in Nightmares and Bad Dreams.The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2006;194(4):249-254. doi:10.1097/01.nmd.0000207359.46223.dcGieselmann A, Ait Aoudia M, Carr M, et al.Aetiology and treatment of nightmare disorder: State of the art and future perspectives.J Sleep Res. 2019;28(4):e12820. doi:10.1111/jsr.12820Sandman N, Valli K, Kronholm E, Vartiainen E, Laatikainen T, Paunio T.Nightmares as predictors of suicide: an extension study including war veterans.Sci Rep. 2017;7:44756. doi:10.1038/srep44756Ennis CR, Short NA, Moltisanti AJ, Smith CE, Joiner TE, Taylor J.Nightmares and nonsuicidal self-injury: The mediating role of emotional dysregulation.Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2017;76:104-112. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.04.003Morgenthaler TI, Auerbach S, Casey KR, et al.Position paper for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults: an american academy of sleep medicine position paper.Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2018;14(06):1041-1055. doi:10.5664/jcsm.7178

Weinstein N, Campbell R, Vansteenkiste M.Linking psychological need experiences to daily and recurring dreams.Motivation and Emotion. 2017;42(1):50-63. doi:10.1007/s11031-017-9656-0

Skeie-Larsen M, Stave R, Grønli J, et al.The effects of pharmacological treatment of nightmares: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;20(1):777. doi:10.3390/ijerph20010777

Lancel M, van Marle HJF, Van Veen MM, van Schagen AM.Disturbed sleep in PTSD: Thinking beyond nightmares.Front Psychiatry. 2021;12:767760. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.767760

Vanek J, Prasko J, Ociskova M, et al.Insomnia in patients with borderline personality disorder.Nat Sci Sleep. 2021;13:239-250. doi:10.2147/NSS.S295030

American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.

Schredl M, Göritz AS.Nightmare Themes: An Online Study of Most Recent Nightmares and Childhood Nightmares.Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2018;14(03):465-471. doi:10.5664/jcsm.7002

Robert G, Zadra A.Thematic and Content Analysis of Idiopathic Nightmares and Bad Dreams.Sleep. 2014;37(2):409-417. doi:10.5665/sleep.3426

Zadra A, Pilon M, Donderi DC.Variety and Intensity of Emotions in Nightmares and Bad Dreams.The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 2006;194(4):249-254. doi:10.1097/01.nmd.0000207359.46223.dc

Gieselmann A, Ait Aoudia M, Carr M, et al.Aetiology and treatment of nightmare disorder: State of the art and future perspectives.J Sleep Res. 2019;28(4):e12820. doi:10.1111/jsr.12820

Sandman N, Valli K, Kronholm E, Vartiainen E, Laatikainen T, Paunio T.Nightmares as predictors of suicide: an extension study including war veterans.Sci Rep. 2017;7:44756. doi:10.1038/srep44756

Ennis CR, Short NA, Moltisanti AJ, Smith CE, Joiner TE, Taylor J.Nightmares and nonsuicidal self-injury: The mediating role of emotional dysregulation.Comprehensive Psychiatry. 2017;76:104-112. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2017.04.003

Morgenthaler TI, Auerbach S, Casey KR, et al.Position paper for the treatment of nightmare disorder in adults: an american academy of sleep medicine position paper.Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2018;14(06):1041-1055. doi:10.5664/jcsm.7178

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