Everyone has had that one dream. The one that jolts you awake. Nightmares have a way of sticking with us. Whispering fears we didn’t even know we had. But truly, what makes nightmares so terrifying? Why do our brains create them in the first place?
Nightmares can range anywhere from scary movies to roller coasters. Some may be more personal, like being alone or talking to people. In honor of Halloween, we have interviewed students and staff at LSHS about their worst nightmares.
Three out of every ten interviews said their worst nightmare involved death. Death is one of the most common and unsettling themes in dreams; it can bring up topics of loss and fear of death.
Nightmares are more than just a “bad dream.” Based on an article by Sleep Foundation, titled ‘How Trauma Affects Dreams,’ nightmares can often reflect emotional struggles we face during our day-to-day life. For students, stress levels can become very high while trying to stay on top of things, it’s no surprise that nightmares show up quite often.
Most people tend to have “common nightmares”, but some tend to be more creative. A freshman, Ariel Coffing says her worst nightmare is, “getting locked into a public bathroom.” This could’ve been derived from a childhood trauma, or maybe she’s just deathly afraid of public restrooms.
Surprisingly enough, not all nightmares are bad news. According to MIT Media Lab, nightmares can actually help brain processes and spark creativity. Many artists, writers, and musicians have taken their nightmares and turned them into something beautiful. So, who knows? Your nightmare may just become the start of your next brilliant idea.
