Many people suffer from bad dreams, often called nightmares, every night. It's not uncommon to experience a fear-filled sleep from time to time, but some people are prone to suffering from the occasional bad dream more often. While some mental health professionals believe that nightmares reduce mental tension by allowing the mind to express its fears, new research suggests that bad dreams are more likely to increase anxiety in everyday life. Besides life worries, what other factors contribute to nightmares and why? Awake with a start, almost aware of reality, with a pounding heart and drenched in sweat, people who suffer from nightmares are profoundly affected by the fact that they cannot sleep peacefully. Things get worse when the idea of ​​going to bed to sleep starts the anxiety cycle. Chronic nightmares can lead to sleep disturbances and, if left unaddressed, will develop into sleep disorders that require medical intervention. Anxiety and stress have long been believed to be the main cause of nightmares. According to the International Association for the Study of Dreams (IASD), traumatic life events such as major surgery, long-term illness, grieving the loss of a loved one, an injury, or being involved in or witnessing a serious accident can trigger bad dreams. But traumatic experiences are not the cause of all nightmares. For many people, ordinary stress caused by work or financial worries, or major life changes such as a move or divorce, can also cause sleep disturbances and bad dreams. Because some nightmares are believed to be a subconscious release of emotions and inner turmoil, feelings of inadequacy, insecurities, and fear can also contribute to night terrors in adults and children. (I… halfway through the article… stress and anxiety as well as regular exercise can improve the quality of sleep and reduce a person's chances of suffering from nightmares or sleep disturbances. Works Cited Angier, Natalie. "Science." In the Dreamscape of Nightmares, Clues to Why We Dream. New York Times Company, October 23, 2007. Web. April 8, 2014. "International Association for the Study of Dreams." nd Web. 08 Apr. 2014. .Lin, David. “COMFORT FOOD AND YOU.” Sussex Publishers, LLC, 13 May 2010. Web. 8 Apr. 2014. .