Nightmares to Order

Got to count myself in the camp of writers that normally enjoy their nightmares, although I can't really call my dark dreams nightmares. They generally only seem sinister or creepy as I'm writing them in my dream journal. While in the dream, the zombies, wolves, aliens, demons seem pretty normal and that's part of what fascinates me about them.

Wake up? I want to know what happens in the end.

I put this tendency down to writing a lot of horror and the fact that my interest in doing so has always been in compelling characters and situations. I rarely set out to scare anyone. My stories start as 'what ifs' and descend into darkness from there.

It's certainly another matter for those who have genuinely unpleasant nightmares or post-traumatic stress flashbacks and I've learnt that these flashbacks occur throughout all stages of sleep, which sounds particularly harrowing.

I know two guys who served in the military and are treated to terrifying flashbacks every night. Although they are well aware of dream incubation techniques and therapy, I hope I may still learn a few things in order to be of some use to them.

LINK > http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/why-we-have-nightmares-and-what-they