adult nightmares (v. bad ones!) What do they mean?

[sauce]

I've forgotten most of my psych 101 & only remember that dreams express fears or desires. Yet every morning, just before waking up, I've been having the most terrible dreams which leave me feeling frightened & anxious. Any words of comfort for me? Thx

What do you dream? I often have vivid and horrible dreams,but I quite enjoy them -- like going to the cinema to watch a schlocky horror film. Could you not try to treat them as an entertaining story?

Poor you. Could you talk to someone about them? If you talk about what is happening in them you might get some insight about what your subconscious is trying to tell you. Is it a recurring dream?

Sometimes it can be hormonal or caused by oppressive weather (ie just before a storm) so don't assume you have something in your life that needs fixing. Nightmares are actually very common but normally you don't recall them.

Is it possible though that you are concerned about things you have to do during the following day and that you are unconsciously running through worst case scenarios?

Also, are you eating lots of cheese/chocolate - that can make things worse for me.