Subjective insomnia Sleepless nights often just a dream experience?

Insomnia - just a bad dream?

It has long been known that lack of sleep endangers the health. Some people do not come to rest at night - at least that's what many of them mean. As researchers have now shown, sleepless nights often take place only in dreams. Although this is also stressful for those affected, it allows for new therapies.

Sick due to too little sleep

Who does not come to rest at night, endangers his health. For example, studies have shown that lack of sleep, among other things, increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke, obesity and diabetes. But according to surveys, about one in four Germans does not sleep enough. Some people do not even sleep at night - or they think that's the case. Researchers at Freiburg University Hospital have now shown that sleepless nights often take place only in dreams. That does not make it any less stressful, but it allows new therapies.

Researchers were able to show that insomnia often only occurs in dreams. This is also distressing for those affected. (Image: photographee.eu/fotolia.com)

Insomnia in many cases just a bad dream

As the Freiburg clinic writes in a message, insomnia is perceived by those affected as very stressful. You feel tired, underperforming and unfocused.

However, insomnia is often not measured.

"Most patients who report severe insomnia sleep about 80 percent of their normal workload in the sleep lab," explains Drs. Bernd Feige, research group leader at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the University Medical Center Freiburg.

Scientists have been searching for the cause of this discrepancy between subjective perception and objectively measurable sleep duration for some 20 years.

Researchers at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Freiburg University Hospital are now providing an objectively measurable explanation for the first time.

In the journal "Sleep" they describe that insomnia is in many cases just a bad dream.

Subjects from the REM phase awakened

The Freiburg researchers asked 27 subjects with severe sleep disorders and 27 healthy sleepers for their study in the sleep laboratory. During the first two nights, the study participants got used to the environment.

In the two following nights, the scientists awoke the subjects with a signal from the REM phase, which is also referred to as the dream phase.

As soon as they woke up, the study participants pressed a button and a study worker questioned them in the darkened room. The first question was: "Did you just sleep or were you awake?"

The amazing result: "Although all subjects were awakened from the dream sleep, every sixth subject with sleep problems was sure to have awake," said Dr. med. Cowardly. Healthy study participants almost never woke up.

Worrying about a sleep disorder is built into the dream

Asked about their last memory before the beep - that is, about their dreams - the supposedly awake subjects reported tormenting thoughts about not being able to sleep.

"Obviously, some people incorporate the worry of a sleep disorder into their dreams. So you only 'dream' of a sleep disorder, "says Dr. Cowardly.

When questioned, employees avoided terms such as "dreaming," "awakening," and "sleeping," so as not to give the subject any indication of their condition.

Dream therapy could help

"It is very important: it makes no difference to the burden on the patient whether the sleep disturbance is objectively measurable or only exists in the dream. But the knowledge gives us valuable information on how to treat the sleep disorder, "explains study leader Prof. Dr. med. Dieter Riemann, spokesman for the Sleep Medicine Center at the University Medical Center Freiburg.

For example, established dream therapies could help those affected or drugs that aim to strengthen the dream phase.

"Insomnia can be a serious illness and increase the risk of other serious illnesses, such as depression or stroke," says Prof. Riemann.

Many insomnia patients are very performance-oriented, focused and planned. "But this strategy does not work while sleeping. Sleep comes when you break with expectations, "says Prof. Riemann.

Healthy lifestyle promotes good sleep

Basically beneficial for a restful sleep is a healthy lifestyle and the absence of late food, coffee, nicotine, alcohol and intense sports in the evening.

Even those who observe regular sleep times and reduce their weight in the case of overweight can significantly improve their sleep.

In addition, various home remedies can help with sleep disorders. For example, a calming tea made of passionflower or chamomile has proven to be effective in relieving tension and relieving inner restlessness.

Relaxation techniques for stress relief such as autogenic training or progressive muscle relaxation can also be very effective. (Ad)