Why am I having weird dreams? The science behind your dreams and how to manage them – Insider – INSIDER

Unexpected life events, high levels of stress, and changes in routine can all impact our dreams making them weirder, more vivid, and more memorable.

Here's what could be causing your weird dreams and how you can better manage them.

Our bodies cycle through different stages of sleep each night. Most of your dreaming will occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which occurs about 90 minutes after you fall asleep.

"Dreams during REM sleep are often bizarre, vivid, or whimsical, and are often tied to emotions," says Stephanie Stahl, MD, a sleep medicine physician at Indiana University Health.

The purpose of dreams is still a bit of a mystery to the scientific community, though there is some evidence as to why you may be having especially weird or vivid dreams:

Most everyone has strange dreams from time to time, Dimitriu says, and they are usually not a cause for concern.

In fact, there a few strategies you can try for preventing weird dreams or calming yourself down after they occur:

If you continue to experience disturbing dreams or nightmares that make it difficult for you to get a good night's rest, it's worth discussing your sleeping habits and stress levels with a doctor.

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Why am I having weird dreams? The science behind your dreams and how to manage them - Insider - INSIDER