Do you have frightening dreams while sleeping? According to an email interview by clinical psychologist and sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, roughly 5 percent of the general population has at least one bad dream per week. Nightmares typically happen during REM sleep, during the middle and later parts of the night.
There is no exact explanation for nightmares, but Breus says it’s possible that they help the brain practise, prepare for and even predict difficult or dangerous experiences in waking life. Of course, it’s possible that nightmares, like dreams in general, don’t have a primary function — that they’re a by-product of other activities in the body. But most sleep scientists think that dreams and nightmares exist for some purposes.
One study found the most common nightmare was falling, followed by dreams of being chased, feeling lost, and feeling trapped. Then why do nightmares happen?
“Certain circumstances and characteristics make some people more likely to have nightmares than others,” says sleep medicine specialist Dr. Barry Krakow. He thinks people who’ve been traumatized (使受精神创伤) are certainly at a higher risk of nightmares Examples are offered of those who have suffered criminal attacks, or who have been in life-threatening accidents. People with some degree of sensitivity in their biological make-up are also more likely to have bad dreams, so they’re more common in people who suffer from anxiety or depression, or who use excess drugs or alcohol. The traditional belief often has it that nightmares are the result of eating too much rich food before bedtime, but it is still uncertain whether this is true. One study from 2015 did find a link between eating dairy or hot foods before bedtime and having disturbing dreams, but the study authors noted that this couldn’t be proven definitely because the data was self-reported and there were a lot of other factors to consider.
However, research in recent decades has shown that people who suffer from sleep disorders are also more likely to have nightmares.
8. What may Dr. Breus agree with about nightmares?
A.They happen for certain purposes. | B.They are similar to daydreams. |
C.They possibly help predict future events. | D.They come true once in a while. |
9. Who does Dr. Krakow think tends to suffer nightmares?
A.John who often stays up late. | B.Peter who has had terrible experiences. |
C.Jack who is sensitive to alcohol. | D.Paul who sleeps soundly at night. |
10. How does the traditional belief explain nightmares?
A.They are often caused by irregular bedtimes. |
B.They are based on disturbing life experiences. |
C.They are the consequence of negative feelings. |
D.They are related to what is taken before bedtime. |
11. From which section of a website is the text probably taken?
A.Mental health. | B.Life experiences. | C.Eating habits. | D.Popular culture. |