Nightmares, Essay Example

Abstract

This paper examines the concept of nightmares from a psychological perspective. It addresses the question of what actually causes nightmares and the psychological considerations relative to same.  The paper is split into the following sections: (i) Introduction and Background (ii) The causes of nightmares (iii) Psychological considerations (iv) Conclusions.

Introduction

Virtually everyone experiences nightmare or bad dreams at one time or another. The experience can leave you feeling scared, upset and frightened. The reality is that it cannot harm you.  Adults come to terms with this condition but this can be extremely frightening for young children who are still at an impressionable age and receive much more vivid dreams because of the very active state of the brain at that age.  As you sleep the brain does not shut down but goes through a state called Rapid Eye Movement (REM). During this condition you enter a dream state and these can potentially be very frightening or disturbing.

The Causes of Nightmares

The condition of a nightmare or bad dream is often a stress reliever and as such an upsetting experience during the day may be translated as a bad dream. This equally applies to watching horror movies like Nightmare on Elm Street, Dracula, Jason etc.  It can equally be induced by reading a scary book.  I remember being disturbed after reading a ghost story by Charles Dickens called the Signalman which portrayed tunnels.  Certain medications can also induce the state but equally there may be no apparent reason at all.

It is possible to help prevent nightmares for children by getting them into a healthy sleep state. Get them to avoid watching scary movies before they go to bed as the brain is particularly receptive to graphic images of violence. You may also use a nightlight in the child’s bedroom so that if they wake up suddenly they are surrounded by familiar things. Young children might be provided with a cuddly toy like a Teddy Bear that is essentially a prop as a trusted and protective friend.

Psychological Considerations

Where children experience repeated nightmare conditions, it may be prudent to seek medical advice from your Doctor who might recommend psychological counselling.  This is unusual but it may be symptomatic of a more serious problem. The child might have been traumatised in some way e.g. A marriage break-up or divorce, a dispute between the parents, a bullying situation at school etc.  These can be treated by medication but need to be addressed before more serious complications arise. Equally it might just require a simple condition change i.e. the child just needs to be hugged and feel protected. “ A sleep clinic can check your brain waves, muscle activity, breathing and other things that happen with your body whilst you sleep” (Gavin, 2009).

Conclusions

Adults are most prevalent to nightmares from taking medication or involved with heavy drinking “Particularly among adults, prescription drugs such as levedopa, reserpine, beta blockers, and antidepressants, as well as withdrawal from addictive drugs, all can provoke nightmares. Heavy drinking also is strongly associated with nightmares” (USA Today, 2010). In more serious cases Psychological intervention may prove to be extremely beneficial and they have access to a number of different techniques “Chronic nightmares have also been treated by a desensitization method that uses instruction about rehearsal of the nightmare and the imagining of a different ending.” (USA Today, 2010)

Works Cited

Gavin, M. L. (2009, 9 1). Nightmares. Retrieved 9 11, 2010, from Kids Health: http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/thought/nightmares.html#

USA Today. (2010). Health Encyclopedia – Diseases and Conditions. Retrieved 9 1, 2010, from USA Today: http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/612/main.html