Why We Get Fever Dreams<\/h2>\n
Since nobody knows for sure why we experience regular dreams in the first place, the same holds true for why we experience fever dreams. Scientists believe high core body temperatures disrupt the brain\u2019s ability to think normally<\/a>, leading to lower cognitive function and sometimes even wake time hallucinations.<\/p>\n Combine the feverish brain\u2019s cognitive impairment with the fact the core body temperature rises during Rapid Eye Movement sleep<\/a> (REM sleep), and this increased elevation may impact your brain\u2019s normal dreaming activity, leading to intense or unpleasant dreams.<\/p>\n All fever dreams are vivid, but the bad news is the overwhelming majority of people who experienced them identified them as upsetting<\/a>. When you\u2019re having a fever dream, you may experience more intense emotions, more bizarre narratives, and\/or more harrowing situations than during your normal dreams. These strange dreams can and do interrupt sleep. They also have some common themes.<\/p>\n A lot of times the content of dreams induced by fever might include things like forest fires, melting objects, or heat waves. This might be due to the brain\u2019s awareness of the body\u2019s elevated temperature.<\/p>\n Some people reported dreams like recurrent childhood nightmares suddenly returning to them in adulthood. Many also reported feeling endangered during recent fever dreams. You might experience anxieties about death, accidents, violence, or personal phobias during one of these bizarre dreams. Negative dream emotions like sadness and fear and scary health-related themes are also common.<\/p>\n Fever dreams often involve bizarreness such as alien creatures, distorted sensory perception, and vastly different environments from real life.<\/p>\n Another big thing about fever dreams is they have a high dream recall frequency, meaning you remember them more often than regular dreams. This could be due to their intensity or unpleasantness, and it could also be because these dreams tend to interrupt REM sleep with more frequency. When your sleep is disturbed during a dream, you\u2019re more likely to remember that dream.<\/p>\n SEE ALSO:\u00a0Maladaptive Daydreaming: Symptoms and Treatments<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n For some people, intense dreams while they\u2019re sick don\u2019t really bother them, but for others, fever dreams are often nightmares that can cause anxiety surrounding sleep, fear of falling asleep, or in the severest of cases, psychological trauma. There\u2019s no magic bullet for all fever dreams, but if you want to prevent them, controlling your core body temperature is a good start.<\/p>\n To keep your fever down:<\/p>\n Not really. While these dreams are both extremely vivid, lucid dreams happen when you know you\u2019re asleep and dreaming. This consciousness can sometimes allow you to learn to control the content and narrative of your dreams. By contrast, fever dreams are entirely out of your control and you normally aren\u2019t aware they\u2019re dreams while they\u2019re happening.<\/p>\n No. A fever isn\u2019t like a concussion. In fact, if you\u2019re sick, sleep is an important part of getting better<\/a>. Rest can help boost your immune system and get you well again faster, and it also allows your body to devote more energy to healing itself rather than other things like working, studying, or exercise.<\/p>\n There\u2019s not really a clear answer to this one. We know the body has a harder time controlling its internal temperature during the REM stage of sleep. We know fever raises the core temperature. And we know body temperature has a profound effect on cognition. But why all this seems to lead almost exclusively to bizarre and unpleasant dreams<\/a>, rather than fun and enjoyable dreams, is still mostly a mystery that might never be solved by future studies.<\/p>\n While we know other animals besides humans experience dreams (dogs are a good example), there\u2019s not much research on whether they have more intense dreams during illness. However, since animals do have complex and vivid dreams<\/a>, and they\u2019re also similar to humans in a number of other ways<\/a>, it wouldn\u2019t be implausible to think they can experience fever dreams while they\u2019re sick.<\/p>\n Since fever dreams can occur for nothing more than a common cold, they\u2019re not a sign of serious illness in and of themselves. However, if you have a persistent fever or illness, there could be something else going on. The general rule is if you have mild symptoms like a low-grade fever or stuffy nose that last more than a week or two, you should see your doctor.<\/p>\n Also, if you have a high fever\u2014over 103\u2014it\u2019s a good idea to call your doctor right away. Remember, any fever over 104 is an emergency because it can cause lasting brain damage.<\/p>\n Fever dreams can be vivid and often upsetting, but thankfully they\u2019re not normally dangerous on their own, and they tend to go away when your illness does.<\/p>\n If you have disturbing fever dreams frequently, the best way to prevent them might just be to avoid getting sick. In fact, \u201cif you\u2019re sick enough to be running a fever, the distress and discomfort of being ill may turn up in your dreams,\u201d says Dr. Alicia Roth, DBSM. Wash your hands frequently, don\u2019t drink or eat after others, and avoid touching your face as much as possible. Your brain and your body will both thank you.<\/p>\nWhat Fever Dreams Are Like<\/h2>\n
Heat or Fire<\/h3>\n
![\"Fever](\"https:\/\/eachnight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/What_is_a_Fever_Dream-02-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nStressful or Intimidating Situations<\/h3>\n
Fantastical Elements<\/h3>\n
Higher Dream Recall Value<\/h3>\n
How to Prevent Fever Dreams<\/h2>\n
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FAQs<\/h2>\n
Is a fever dream the same as a lucid dream?<\/h3>\n
Is it bad to sleep with a fever?<\/h3>\n
Why are fever dreams so often nightmares?<\/h3>\n
Do other species experience fever dreams?<\/h3>\n
Are fever dreams ever a sign of something serious?<\/h3>\n
Bottom Line<\/h2>\n