How Does Stress Effect Our Dreams?

Do you ever have those nights where you can’t seem to get a good night’s sleep? You toss and turn for hours on end, and feel more exhausted when you wake up in the morning then when you went to bed? Chances are, your restless night was due to stress. Stress is one of the leading causes of insomnia and other sleep problems. But what about dreams? What role does stress play in our dreams?

In times of stress and anxiety we either dream more or remember our dreams more often, as a way of coping with challenging circumstances and new information. This is also in line with another theory of dreaming – the mood regulatory function of dreams. The stress-related increase in dreaming has been linked to a number of benefits, such as allowing us to process and consolidate new information and experiences, helping us to creatively explore different solutions to challenges we’re facing, and serving as a form of emotional regulation.

So, what does all this mean for us? If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, it may be helpful to pay attention to your dreams. Keep a dream journal by your bed and jot down any dreams you remember upon waking. You may find that the act of writing down your dreams helps you to better process and understand them. Additionally, there are a number of online resources and books available on dream interpretation if you’re interested in exploring your dreams further. Who knows, you might just find some valuable insights into what’s going on in your life!

Stress Dreams vs. Nightmares

What’ve all experience both stressful dreams and nightmares but is there a difference? First off, it’s important to make the distinction between stress dreams versus nightmares. While there can be some overlap, therapist and dream expert Leslie Ellis, Ph.D., explains. Stress dreams are often more frustrating rather than truly frightening as in the case of nightmares. Additionally, nightmares are more likely to wake you up in a panic.

So what causes these nocturnal disturbances? It turns out that stress dreams and nightmares can be triggered by a number of different things. One common culprit is sleep deprivation, which can lead to an increase in stress hormones and a decrease in the quality of your sleep. Another is anxiety or depression, which can cause you to ruminate on negative thoughts before bed (not ideal). And last but not least, certain medications or substances can also be to blame.