As exam season approaches, many students may start experiencing a recurring nightmare – finding themselves in an exam hall with a paper full of questions for which they have not prepared. But why do we get these dreams, and is there anything we can do to stop them?
According to Colin Espie, professor of sleep medicine at University of Oxford, our brains are active while we sleep and produce “output” in the form of dreams. Dreams about exams could be a sign that our brains are working on consolidating what we have learned.
Moreover, exams can stand out in our dreams because they are often perceived as threatening or challenging. While exam dreams are quite common, not everyone remembers them.
Nightmares are emotional dreams and can linger for years, possibly triggered by similar emotions, such as being stuck or tested in some way. To avoid anxiety dreams, Prof Espie recommends having a good study timetable with regular breaks, avoiding late-night cramming and giving oneself a wind-down period before sleep.
Additionally, if you wake up from a bad dream, try to be compassionate to yourself and not let anxiety take a toll. Rose, 19, recommends watching her favourite TV show to calm herself and get back to sleep. Moreover, trust your sleep cycle and do not get caught in a vicious cycle of trying too hard to fall back to sleep
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