There is usually a wave of relief when you wake up from a bloody nightmare, safe and in a somewhat sane world. Some want this to end, but others find it intriguing. There are many different classifications of dreams, from nightmares to night terrors. They all occur at different times of sleep and affect everyone differently. Nightmares are just dreams with scary stories and are extremely common and affect almost everyone sooner or later. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Nightmares are experienced during the rapid eye movement phase of sleep, which occurs at the end of the sleep cycle. In most cases, this is not a serious problem. Scary dreams are to be expected here and there, especially if we have witnessed or experienced something upsetting during the day. These bad dreams may be associated with poor sleep and slow performance during the day. However, recurring nightmares are the most noticeable symptom of PTSD and are associated with other mental illnesses. A dream is the memory of mental activity that occurred earlier during sleep. Sleep is divided into 4 phases which include; sleep onset, light sleep, deep sleep, and non-rapid eye movement otherwise known as REM. This REM sleep usually occurs every 90 minutes during nighttime sleep and is known to be associated with high brain activity, rapid eye movement, and suppression of voluntary motor activity. This can occur in all stages of sleep. Stage one and two dreams tend to be simple and short, very different from REM sleep. While we have nightmares, there is one type of dream that tends to be even worse: night terrors. These “night terrors” are nocturnal episodes of extreme fear and panic that usually occur at the beginning of the sleep period. They may be similar to other arousal disorders that occur such as sleepwalking. These frightening dreams are more common in children and may diminish in adulthood. Adults who suffer from night terrors are more likely to suffer from psychopathologies, mainly substance abuse and affective disorders. The best way to prevent nightmares is to practice good sleep hygiene, which will help prevent sleep deprivation. In some cases, medications may be used along with therapy to treat nightmares/terrors related to PTSD. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay There can be numerous psychological triggers that Because these scary dreams, medications for anxiety and depression can also be a helpful tactic to try to prevent them. There are many reasons why we have nightmares, and post-traumatic stress seems to be the biggest one. People who have gone through major life-altering events are often haunted by fear and anxiety even while they sleep. There are also some medications that disrupt several hormones and neurotransmitters that regulate REM sleep, which leads to terrifying dreams. People with psychological disorders are also prone to having nightmares. Having any of these is no fun, but some people like the rush they get.