The exact cause of frequent nightmares is still unclear and can be related to many factors. For example, being too tired, not getting enough sleep, irregular sleep, high psychological stress or anxiety may increase the probability of having nightmares.
Nightmares may also occur after traumatic events, such as the death of a loved one, failure in a major exam, natural disasters, being beaten, or being abandoned.
Nightmares may be triggered in children after reading, hearing or watching a frightening story or film or television before going to sleep.
A child’s frequent nightmares may be related to the child’s upbringing and personality. Some medications may cause or exacerbate nightmares.
Sometimes nightmares can also be triggered by improper sleep positions or physical discomfort, such as when an arm or blanket presses against the chest during sleep, which can be experienced in the dream as a demon pressing against the body and not allowing air, resulting in moaning, struggling and nightmares.
Although nightmares are common, if you have recently had frequent nightmares that are causing distress to your life and your family’s life and disrupting your sleep rhythm, you should seek medical attention to avoid delays.