Nightmare disorder facts for kids

Nightmare disorder, sometimes called "dream anxiety disorder," is a type of sleep disorder. It means someone has many scary dreams, or nightmares, very often. While most people have nightmares sometimes, those with nightmare disorder experience them much more frequently. These dreams often make the person feel like their life or safety is in danger.

What is Nightmare Disorder?

Nightmare disorder is when nightmares happen so often that they cause problems in a person's daily life. These nightmares are usually very vivid and upsetting. They can make a person wake up feeling scared, anxious, or even confused. Because of these frequent bad dreams, people might feel tired during the day or even worry about going to sleep.

When Do Nightmares Happen?

Nightmares usually happen during a part of sleep called REM sleep. REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement. This is the stage of sleep where most of our dreaming occurs. Nightmares tend to happen more in the second half of the night, when REM sleep periods become longer.

What Makes a Nightmare a Disorder?

It's normal for everyone to have a nightmare once in a while. But for someone with nightmare disorder, these bad dreams are not just occasional. They happen very often, sometimes several times a week. These frequent nightmares can make it hard to get enough good sleep. This can then affect how a person feels and acts during the day, making them tired, stressed, or worried.

Images for kids

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  A boy having a nightmare