Transformation of Nocturnal Dreamscapes Amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic: Insights on the Nexus between Anxiety and Dream Activity
In the wake of the pandemic, folks worldwide have reported strange transformations in their nightly dreams. Dreams have become more unsettling, intense, and vibrant. Want to know why? We tapped two dream experts to get some insights!
One dreamer shared, "I found myself hostage by a menacing man with a gun, while my loved ones fretted over missing their dinner!" Another recounted, "I was lost at sea, surrounded by explosions and falling debris in a vivid red sky!" Some even dreamt about exotic adventures, meeting new faces in distant lands.
Since the pandemic's onset in early 2020, countries enforced stringent measures – nationwide lockdowns, travel restrictions, and so on – to combat the virus. Apart from the mental strain, these steps had other effects.
One of the most peculiar phenomena people reported during this period is a change in the nature or intensity of their nighttime dreams. Folks started noticing their dreams appearing weirder and more vivid. These unusual dreams gained nicknames like "quarandreams" or "corona dreams."
We chatted with Deirdre Barrett, Ph.D., (a dream expert from Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA) and Denholm Aspy, Ph.D. (a lucid dreaming scientist and trainer from the University of Adelaide in Australia) to shed light on this phenomenon.
According to Barrett, dreams often reflect fears and desires that were accentuated by the pandemic. For example, some dreams showed the dreamer being attacked or infected with the virus, or dreaming of finding a cure for the world. "My research found that dreams recalled were up by 35% early in the pandemic," Barrett told us.
Aspy also mentioned observing direct references to COVID-19 in peoples' dreams, such as wearing face masks, getting into fights at supermarkets, being admitted to the hospital, and even dreaming about passing away due to the virus.
Isolation due to physical distancing measures and barriers that kept people from connecting with loved ones might have contributed to dreams that closely mirrored feelings of abandonment or longing for social interaction.
Not all dreams were nightmares, though. Some dreamers experienced dreams they couldn't have in reality, such as recovering from the virus or finding a cure for the world.
Healthcare workers, front-line workers, and those who had experienced ill health during the pandemic were more likely to encounter disturbing dreams.
Why the shift in dream quality? Stress and trauma are significant factors in dreaming, says Barrett. "Any big life change stirs up one's dream life, resulting in more vivid dreams," she says. The shelter-at-home situation and the viral threat further contributed to this shift.
The high media exposure to the anxiety surrounding the pandemic also played a role in influencing what people dreamed about each night.
"Learning to lucid dream might help during these times," notes Aspy. Lucid dreaming is a technique that allows people to become aware they're dreaming, giving them control over the dream. This could potentially reduce anxiety levels, leading to better sleep.
Aspy suggests practicing "dream incubation," a self-suggestion technique before sleeping. Instead of pondering the pandemic before bed, think about pleasant dreams, watch adventure films, or read fiction. This helps train the mind to focus on positive, engaging dreams.
So next time stress gets the better of you, try dreaming about your ideal vacation or soaring through the skies – and watch your dreamscapes transform!
If you're seeking advice on COVID-19 prevention and treatment, visit our dedicated coronavirus hub. For more about lucid dreaming, check out our Special Feature on lucid dreaming techniques.
Reference(s):[1] Stress can alter dream content, study finds[2] Irregular sleep patterns linked to vivid, anxious, and bizarre dreams[3] The influence of media exposure on nightmare content during the COVID-19 outbreak[4] The impact of social isolation on sleep and dreaming[5] Emotional processing during sleep: Implications for therapy and personality[6] Lucid dreaming as a coping mechanism for managing nightmares[7] The neurobiology of lucid dreaming and its potential therapeutic applications[8] Training yourself to lucid dream: Techniques and tips for beginners.
- The coronavirus pandemic has led to a surge in unusual dreams, with some dreamers reporting encounters with diseases or cures, reflecting fears and desires accentuated by the crisis.
- As COVID-19 swept across the globe, dream experts like Deirdre Barrett and Denholm Aspy noted a rise in dreams with direct references to the viral threat, such as wearing face masks or being admitted to hospitals.
- Apart from the physiological effects of the pandemic, the mental health implications are significant, with many people experiencing disturbing dreams due to stress and isolation, making it more important than ever to explore techniques like lucid dreaming for coping and reduced anxiety levels.
