Tore Nielsen defines nightmares as “Powerful unpleasant dreams associated with feelings of threat, anxiety, fear, or other negative emotions that occur during late-night REM sleep and that are clearly recalled on awakening”. He explains that fear manifests in 65-85 percent of nightmares whereas other dysphoric emotions such as anger and sadness are in the remaining percentage. We are also told that nightmares are more frequent among those that suffer from impaired sleep quality, sleep disorders, depressive/anxiety symptoms, neuroticism and post traumatic stress disorder. Nielsen states that nightmares are also associated with suicidal ideation independent of other psychopathologies.
Much like the previous journal, recurring nightmares are said to be based on real traumatic memories and may develop over time with repeated emotional stress. If one chooses to avoid these memories, they are more likely to experience recurring dreams.
Tore A Nielsen, Michelle Carr (2017) Nightmares and Nightmare Function.
Ayanfe III 