Into the Fever Dream World

Have you ever fallen sick and had an unusually odd dream? Was it so weird and frightening that you remember it even after years? Did you wake up in a completely confused state only to find your body still burning with 103 F? Yes, what you had was a fever dream. And you’re not alone. Many people experience this when they fall sick. Read on to know more about it in detail. 

Psychology of Dreams

According to psychology, dreams are the brain’s way of processing what is happening in our life currently. The resting brain tries to reflect on things, digest it and also learn from it. The famous American neurologist Sigmund Freud theorized that dreams reflect our inner most desires and struggles. Falling sick is a temporary struggle in a person’s life which can sometimes play out weird dreams in sleep. Some sleep experts and researchers say that, fever dream is because of an overheated brain which affects our cognitive processing leading to strange dreams. They are not the same as nightmares because nightmares are typically caused by anxiety whereas fever dreams are the result of fever. 

What is a Fever Dream? 

Dreams are a series of visions that you experience during sleep. Fever dream is a scary and an unpleasant Dream you experience when you’re suffering from a fever. Fever dreams are said to be very disturbing for many people as it adds more discomfort to their sickness. When the body is waging a war for you, how can your mind rest peacefully? It contributes to the chaos with what we call ‘fever dreams’! When you’re physically sick and suffering it takes a toll on our mental health too.

When do you get Fever Dreams?

When you are fighting an infection or Illness there’s a stark rise in body temperature. That’s the sign of your immune system reacting and fighting inside. Other than the high body temperature, a fever may also affect your gut health, mood, your understanding capacity and also your sleep! 

Our sleep cycle occurs in four stages.  

• Stage 1 Non Rapid Eye Movement – falling asleep. 
• Stage 2 NREM – Light sleep
• Stage 3 NREM – Deep sleep 
• Stage 4 REM – Primary dreaming stage. In this stage our brain activity resembles an awake brain. 

The other typical symptoms of fever like, runny nose, sore throat, headache, feeling hot, experiencing chills, sweating profusely, nasal obstruction causes significant sleep disturbances. People with fever experience frequent awakening from sleep and their stage 3 and 4 of the sleep cycle get affected. Which makes a person with fever to wake up during the REM sleep stage with bizarre unsettling dreams.

Read More: The 5 Stages of Sleep Cycle

Fever vs Psyche

The content people see in fever dreams are mostly reported as negative and bizarre. It could include, moving walls, terrorists, giant insects or animals and extreme feeling of heat in dream. While in a study conducted in 2013, the participants reported that they experienced a drastic shift from very pleasant visions and sensations to unpleasant images in a short time. 

Let’s hear about some fever dreams!

One kid reported to have dreams about math problems when he was sick! He also said, he saw his room becoming large and his hands were inflated. The boy was crying to his mom to make it go back to normal size. Another kid reported to have the same recurring dream every time he fell sick! Curious to know what that recurring dream is?  So the kid dreamt about an aquarium that looked like a maze and a dolphin kept jumping here and there. This sleeper reported that he had the same fever dream for 15 years! 

A person reported to have a fever dream which was beyond terrifying. She saw a ghost killing her husband and cat right in front of her eyes in a gruesome way. Later she woke up in panic and found them sleeping peacefully beside her.

Decode a fever dream or not? 

Fever dreams don’t have any special meaning for you to bother and find out. Like any other dream, fever dreams reflect your problems and stressors in your life currently. And during fever, perception of heat is the stressor which gets played out in your dream in an exaggerated way. One sleeper reported having a dream about a huge burning lava ball during fever. 

Is there a way to prevent Fever Dreams?

There is no one fool-proof way to avoid fever dreams. But taking medication to reduce your fever will make you feel better at sleeping time. – Eat something that can be easily digested. Bland food is a good option. You can try, 

• Soups
• Broth
• Hot ginger tea or ginger ale
• Bananas help to replenish your electrolyte stores. If you’re suffering from diarrhoea eating bananas can bring it into control. 
• Some people have reported to have found relief with spicy foods to clear their sinuses but if you have an upset stomach avoid spicy stuff until your fever has gone down. 
• Oatmeal gives you required vitamins and minerals when you’re sick. 
• Avocados are comparatively bland and rich in minerals. 
• Boiled eggs help strengthen your immunity.
• kichadi (made with dhal and rice) is a wholesome comfort food when you’re down with a fever.
• Mashed potatoes.
• Citrus fruits like oranges rich in vitamin C can be consumed as a salad or as in liquid form. 
• Avoid alcohol and coffee as these can cause dehydration and sleep disturbances.
• Drink enough water before going to bed.
• Take the medications like paracetamol and ibuprofen as prescribed by your doctor.
• Sleep in a comfortable position with enough pillows for elevation and keep a blanket nearby.
• Try to get as much rest as possible. 

If your child is sick, monitor the course of fever. Take care of your child with patience while lending as much emotional support as possible. When you’re physically sick and suffering it takes a toll on our mental health too. We become very vulnerable and sensitive during sickness. So if you’ve fallen sick let people around you know about it. If the symptoms persist or worsen and if your temperature has risen, consult a doctor immediately to take the necessary measures to treat your illness.