Expert reveals the one sleep position that can give you more nightmares
Niamh Shackleton
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
If you find that you experience a lot of nightmares, it might come down to the position you're sleeping in.
Ok, if you've been watching The Exorcist before going to sleep, then there's a good chance you'll experience bad dreams afterwards, but the cause of a nightmare isn't always related to something you've seen.
We all have a preferred sleeping position, with the post popular being on your side. In fact, around 60 percent of people are said to prefer this way to sleep, says the Sleep Foundation.
The organization says there's several benefits to sleeping this way, including promoting healthy spinal alignment. Sleeping on your side is also said to be less likely to cause you back pain.
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While side sleeping seems to be the best, you might be someone who sleeps in the fetal position.
Sleeping on your side is reportedly associated with being relaxed. Meanwhile, the fetal position, as per research, is associated with sensitivity and anxiety.
Away from how your feeling, your sleeping position supposedly impacts what type of dreams you have.
It even comes down to which side you sleep on.
"Right-side sleepers may experience fewer nightmares than left-side sleepers," says Psychology Today.
"Back sleepers also may be more likely to have nightmares—and research indicates they may also have a harder time recalling their dreams."
It goes on: "Stomach sleepers, according to studies, experience dreams that are more vivid, intense, and sexual. They’re also more likely to have dreams in which they’re immobilized or restrained."
Some of this information was divulged in a 2004 study titled 'Sleeping Position, Dream Emotions and Subjective Sleep Quality'.
READ MORE:
REASON WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO REMEMBER DREAMS
As per Dreams, the study analyzed 63 people and their sleeping positions and discovered that those who slept on their left side were more likely to have nightmares.
In comparison, right side-sleepers reported having more dreams 'with the feeling of relief and safety'.
Who knew?
Another study conducted by Dr Calvin Kai-Ching Yu of Hong Shu Yan University and published in 2016 revealed that participants who slept on their stomaches had more vivid and positive dreams.
This particular study concluded that personality wasn’t a factor when it came to dreaming, but sleeping position was.
Personality might not affect your dreams, but things in your bedroom might.
According to the UK-based bed retailer and manufacturer Dreams, things like the temperature and brightness of your bedroom can impact your dreams, as well as sounds, music, and nightwear.