What makes your dreams so vivid that you remember them long after you wake up?

Given the huge amount of hours we spend sleeping throughout our lives, we only remember certain dreams long after waking up and these are the so-called "vivid dreams".

What makes some dreams vivid and memorable may say something about the dream itself, what is happening in your real life, or a combination of both.

Jennifer M. said: "It's normal to remember dreams and it's normal not to remember dreams," Mundt, director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Laboratory and Training Program at Northwestern University.

Sometimes, however, dreams can become so vivid and disturbing that they disrupt your sleep. And when this happens regularly, it can put your health at risk.

Whether we remember it or not, humans dream every night while we sleep. A typical sleep cycle lasts about 90 to 110 minutes and cycles between two main stages: non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

And while dreams can occur in either stage of sleep, the most vivid dreams usually occur during REM sleep because this is when brain activity increases.

In fact, research shows that levels of brain activity during REM sleep are comparable to when we're awake. Some areas of the brain are also more active, including the amygdala and hippocampus, which control our memory and our emotions.

This may help explain why the dreams you have during REM sleep feel so real.

There is no solid answer about why people dream in the first place, but why we remember certain dreams is much clearer. First, timing plays a major role.

Over the course of a night, we go through four to six sleep cycles. And with each additional cycle, we spend a little more time in REM, so we have more time to dream. Thus, dreams close to awakening are more likely to be remembered than right after falling asleep. You are also more likely to remember the dream if you wake up in the middle of a REM cycle.

In addition to the timing, the dream itself is also a contributing factor. The more vivid and intense the dream, the more likely it is to remember it, says Alan Eiser, MD, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School and a consultant at the Sleep Disorders Centers at Michigan Medicine.

Moreover: "We are more likely to remember dreams if they are disturbing or if we consciously try to remember them."

In particular, disturbing or abnormal dreams are a common side effect of some medications, including cardiovascular drugs called beta-blockers, antidepressants such as venlafaxine, and, in rare cases, the insomnia drug ramelteon.

Nightmares are also linked to medical conditions such as narcolepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder, pregnancy, and recovery from alcohol and drug abuse.

And when vivid dreams become troubling, this is the time to take action.

Vivid dreams can become a health concern when the dreams are significantly disruptive to a good night's sleep over a prolonged period of time, as shown by Dr. in post-traumatic stress disorder, night terrors, and nightmares disorders.”

How to overcome living nightmares

The first step to preventing nightmares, Dr. Mundt said, is to get enough sleep and practice guided relaxation before bed.

If the nightmares keep coming back and you're having trouble getting back to sleep, Mondt recommends noticing what's around you to ground yourself in the present, such as objects in your bedroom or the color of blankets, to remind yourself that you're awake.

However, if that doesn't help, Mondt recommends a type of cognitive behavioral therapy technique called Imagery Rehearsal Therapy, which she says is "the most effective way to overcome chronic nightmares."

If your dreams are so vivid that they interfere with your sleep, take note of any medications you're taking or any medical conditions that may be contributing to it and discuss with your doctor how to improve your sleep.

Source: Business Insider

Israel thwarts the smuggling of a dangerous drug for homosexuals on its way to Egypt

Israeli media revealed today, Friday, that the Border Police thwarted the smuggling of a shipment of drugs that was on its way to Egypt.

The Israeli media said that as part of the activity of the soldiers of the southern border area police force, the customs inspectors at the Eilat crossing, and the investigators of the drug unit at the Eilat customs, a car carrying three passengers arrived on Friday night, who wanted to move through the "Begin" (Taba) crossing in the direction of Egypt.

The Israeli police forces searched the driver of the car, who was found unfit to drive and was arrested immediately. During the search of the car, approximately 8 kilograms of a suspected synthetic drug known as "Tina" or crystal meth and 2 kilograms of cannabis seeds were seized.

Immediately, two suspects, a resident of Baqa al-Gharbia village and the driver of the vehicle, a resident of the Bedouin city of Rahat in the Negev desert, were arrested and transferred to the Israel Police for interrogation.

"Tina" or crystal meth is used among the gay community, as crystal meth, known among the gay community as "Tina" (Christina for short), has become a popular party drug among the members of this community. The use of this drug has gained great momentum abroad, and in recent years it has also reached Israel.

Source: Israeli media