Nightmare disorder is characterized by frequent, distressing nightmares that cause significant disruption to sleep and daytime functioning. Symptoms include vivid, upsetting dreams often related to threats to safety, and difficulty returning to sleep after a nightmare. It is relatively rare and more common in children, but can affect individuals of any age, particularly if nightmares lead to daytime sleepiness or behavioral issues.

1. Am I suffering from a nightmare
disorder?

2. You are watching something scary take place. You are trying to stop it and to
get away, but you fail. And, suddenly, you get up from sleep drenched in
sweat. Your forehead is covered in beads of perspiration, and your breathing
is fast. It takes you a minute to realise that you are in your bedroom, safe
from whichever monster you were seeing a few moments ago. You convince
yourself it was a nightmare, and now, you are okay.
Does this scenario sound familiar? Do you know what fear-inducing
nightmares mean? If your answer is yes, you may have a nightmare disorder.
Although this sleeping disorder is rare, it is not unheard of. Here is what you
need to know about it!

3. What is a nightmare disorder?
A nightmare can be explained as a disturbing dream that induces negative
feelings of fear and anxiety. It awakens you from sleep and, occasionally,
leaves you incapable of drifting back to slumber. While both girls and boys
have nightmares, during the teen and young adult years, females see more
bad dreams.
Although nightmares are most common in children, people of any age can
have one. Experts believe that children begin seeing them between 3 and 6
years of age, and the tendency decreases after they are ten. Some people
may even have them when becoming adults, while others may see bad
dreams throughout their lives.

4. Although having nightmares is common, this disorder is relatively rare. It is
when bad dreams occur often and lead to distress, disrupted sleep, problems
with daytime functioning, and fear of going to bed that we call nightmare
disorder.
What are the symptoms of nightmare disorder?
In people suffering from this sleeping disorder, nightmares occur during the
second half of the night. They may appear more frequently, several times in
one night. Typically, the episodes are brief and may make you get up from
sleep. In some cases, people even report trouble getting back to sleep. Here
are a few symptoms that are commonly experienced in this disorder:

5. • The dreams are real, vivid, and upsetting. In some cases, they may become
more disturbing with every passing moment.
• The nightmares are horrific and cause you to wake up.
• They cause distress that prevents you from getting back to slumber.
• When you get up from the nightmare, you can recall the details.
• The person experiencing the bad dream feels scared, anxious, sad, angry,
and disgusted.
• The dreams are often about threats to safety or survival.

6. • How can you distinguish occasional nightmares from nightmare disorder?
• Nightmares are considered to be a part of the disorder only if:
• They are frequent occurrences.
• They lead to daytime sleepiness, fatigue, or low energy.
• The nightmares are causing behavioural problems related to fear of the
dark.
• You are experiencing trouble with performing at work or school.
• It leads to impairments during the day, like anxiety or persistent fear.

7. • When to contact a doctor?
• It is advised to consult your doctor:
• If the nightmares occur frequently and persist over time.
• They lead to fear of going to bed.
• Dreams cause daytime behavioural problems.
• These are a few things you must know about nightmare disorder.
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8. Thank You