Is it bad to dream a lot at night?

There are those who believe that sleeping is a waste of time, since when they go to bed they completely disconnect from what is happening until the alarm clock rings the next morning. On the other hand, for others, every night is an adventure and the dawn brings the memory of the most fascinating, fantastic and intense stories that have been experienced in dreams. Given the differences between each person’s nighttime experiences, it is worth asking whether dreaming a lot can have any impact on our health.

It is likely that those who ask themselves this question the most are those people who suffer from frequent nightmares. Waking up with a great feeling of anxiety is not at all comforting. However, even those who have dreams with neutral or positive content often feel that they are not resting adequately because they have spent the night immersed in these dream worlds. But what is true in all this?

Why is dreaming a lot more common in some people than others?

We generally make a distinction between those who dream a lot and those who rarely have these experiences. However, unless there is a severe pathology, all people dream every night; and not once, but several times. In reality, the difference lies in each individual’s ability to remember those dreams.

So, We can find people capable of recounting the content of their nocturnal daydreams every day and others who can hardly ever remember. what they have dreamed of. If you are wondering what these differences are due to, there are several causes.

The moment of waking up after dreaming a lot

This is a crucial aspect when it comes to remembering dreams. Let us keep in mind that, in humans, Each complete sleep cycle lasts about 100 minutes and goes through various phases. (drowsiness, light sleep, transition, deep sleep and REM sleep). Thus, each night we perform about five complete sleep cycles during our rest hours.

It is mainly during the REM phase that the most vivid and complex dreams take place; and, If we wake up during this phase, it is much easier for us to remember what we dreamed. As we move further away from this moment, it becomes more difficult to remember it.

The content of the dream

Nightmares and very vivid and intense dreams are remembered more frequently. Generally when we have “irrelevant” dreams or dreams with little emotional charge, they easily fade from our minds.

In this way, when we wake up we do not remember them. On the other hand, if they are extravagant, disturbing or distressing, that sensation lasts when you wake up and it is easier for the content of the dream to remain present and accessible to memory.

Personality

There also seem to be differences in personality between those who frequently remember their dreams and those who do not usually do so.

Thus, the first They tend to be more imaginative and creative individuals, but also more reflective and prone to introspection.. In some way, they are people who are more in touch with themselves and their unconscious.

Neurobiological characteristics

One of the most interesting findings reveals that there are biological differences between people who remember their dreams and those who do not. Some studies have found that those who tend to remember show greater spontaneous activity in the temporoparietal junction of the brain. This implies that they produce a greater number of dreams and are also more likely to remember them when they wake up.

Is it bad to dream a lot at night?

To answer the initial question we have to remember that dreaming is a natural and necessary function for the body. During sleep, important processes of information organization and memory consolidation occur. Therefore, dreaming is very beneficial.

If you are one of those who tend to remember your dreams, you probably spend a good amount of time in REM sleep. and may your sleep be deep and restful. However, having the feeling that you dream a lot can also indicate that:

You experience frequent awakenings throughout the nightwhich make it easier for you to remember your dreams but can seriously affect your rest.You suffer nightmares on a regular basiswhich can be a sign of a state of stress or even an anxiety disorder.

In short, dreaming a lot (or remembering dreams a lot) is not negative unless this is having an impact on your quality of life. If you feel that you are not resting well or that the content of your dreams affects your mood during the day, it is important that you consult with a health professional.. Ruling out major alterations and establishing good sleep hygiene may be necessary and beneficial.

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