Page 119 - Healthy (March - April 2020)

because self care is health care

Ever wondered if the dreams that leave you in a
cold sweat, or screaming your household awake,
actually serve a purpose? According to a new
study, they do – by preparing you for stress IRL.
Researchers used brain scans to identify which
areas were activated when people experienced
fear in their dreams. They found that once the
subjects woke up, the areas of the brain that
manage emotions responded to discomfort more
efectively – so the longer someone felt fear in
Words Laura Potter. Photograph Stocksy in the future, but for now, at least, it makes those
their dreams, the less those areas were activated
when they looked at distressing imagery. The
thinking is we simulate frightening situations
while asleep in order to better react to real fear
when we’re awake. The team are hopeful dream
therapy could be used to treat anxiety disorders

irksome nightmares feel less futile. For more on
dreaming’s potential beneits, turn to page 47.

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