Symptom 5: Fatigue and Daytime Sleepiness
While nighttime is the immediate battleground for those with nightmare disorder, the ripples extend into daylight. Disrupted sleep cycles invariably lead to fatigue. But this isn’t your usual, “I stayed up too late watching movies” kind of tiredness. It’s deeper, more profound—borne out of a consistent deprivation of restorative sleep.
Fatigue, in this context, isn’t limited to just physical exhaustion. The mental and emotional weariness can be equally, if not more, debilitating. The mind, having been through the wringer with distressing dreams and wakefulness, doesn’t get its requisite downtime. This means cognitive functions—focus, memory, decision-making—take a hit.
Come morning, after a night dotted with nightmares, an overpowering sleepiness often sets in. This isn’t just about feeling drowsy. It’s an overarching heaviness, a weight that pulls down both body and mind. The paradox? Even though they’re sleep-deprived, the dread of nightmares makes them wary of catching up on sleep, perpetuating the cycle.
This combination of fatigue and sleepiness isn’t benign. It bleeds into daily activities. Simple tasks seem monumental. Concentration wavers. Productivity dips. Relationships can strain. For a student, it might mean plummeting grades; for a working adult, missed deadlines. The ripple effects of a bad night are far-reaching.
The obvious solution might seem to be daytime naps—a way to catch up on lost sleep. However, for those with nightmare disorder, even naps come with the shadow of potential nightmares. It becomes a gamble, weighing the desperate need for rest against the possible torment of another bad dream. (5)
