If your temperature goes from a normal 98.6 to over 100.4 degrees, then along with symptoms like chills and sweating, it’s common to have strange dreams called fever dreams.
While it’s still unknown how a fever exactly causes fever dreams, one theory is that an overheated brain is to blame.
Now I know that term sounds concerning, but your brain and immune system are working overtime during a fever and as a result, inflammation around the brain can impact your sleep and your dreams.
An unsettling fever dream can sometimes feel like a nightmare, but a nightmare results from deeper anxiety, stress, or trauma, and a nightmare disorder can be treated through psychotherapy.
A fever dream may also feel similar to a lucid dream. However, during a lucid dream, the dreamers are not only aware they’re asleep but can also control the dream they’re in.
In a fever dream, the dreamer cannot change the dream, leaving them to face the weird and scary dreamscape that their mind creates.
fever dreams mix the dreamer’s current discomfort into the dream itself, they can be more negative and even involve feelings of heat. Though not necessarily bad for you, they can be quite alarming.
fever dreams may feel surreal and even puzzling sometimes, but there’s nothing to be concerned about. Your brain’s just super focused on healing your body.