Nightmares are dreams that have developed a frightening plot twist. During a nightmare, the dreamer may feel a variety of emotions -- anger, sadness, terror. Nightmares often awaken the sleeper who remembers the dream, or parts of it, in vivid detail.
To rid the mind of the fear, it's a good idea for the dreamer to talk about the nightmare. The bad dream can even be used as a form of self-therapy. Recalled images may merely represent adverse conditions in the dreamer's life. Recording remembered dreams in a Dream Journal over a period of time may provide a key to the dreamer's subconscious thoughts.
Nightmares can occur at any age but are more common during childhood. So are night terrors.
Night terrors are very different from nightmares. Where nightmares occur during the lighter REM sleep, night terrors occur during the deep phase four non-REM sleep. Also called sleep terrors syndrome, night terrors cause the dreamer to mumble and scream, to toss and turn, and even to leave the bed and walk or run around the room. He or she may flail about as though fighting off an attacker. If the dreamer is an adult, he can be a danger to himself or others.
