While nightmares mostly affect children, even adults have an occasional bad dream.
Why do nightmares happen? The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers this list of possible causes:
-Being stressed or anxious, often resulting from a significant life event.
-Withdrawing too quickly from alcohol use, or drinking too much alcohol.
-Having a sleep disorder, such as narcolepsy.
-Being sick with a fever.
-Having a side effect or reaction to a drug.
-Eating too close to bedtime, which raises your metabolism and increases brain activity.