Skip to main content
TREAT YOURSELF—FREE SHIPPING ON ALL POOSH DOMESTIC ORDERS. SHOP NOW.
  • HEALTH + WELLNESS
  • LIFE + STYLE
  • HOME + ENTERTAINING
  • KKB
Poosh
By Kourtney Kardashian Barker
  • instagram pinterest facebook twitter youtube join newsletter
  • Shop
  • search
  • search
  • body
  • diy
  • fitness
  • Giving Back
  • health
  • mind
  • Relationships
  • Sexual Wellness
  • soul
Biohack Your Mood With a Little Movement
Biohack Your Mood With a Little Movement
The New Era of Pads + Liners
The New Era of Pads + Liners
5 Energizing Morning Yoga Poses 
5 Energizing Morning Yoga Poses 
How to Manifest the Relationship You Want
How to Manifest the Relationship You Want
How to Maintain Friendships as an Adult
How to Maintain Friendships as an Adult
3 Yoga Moves to Help Boost Your Immunity
3 Yoga Moves to Help Boost Your Immunity
  • Adulting
  • beauty
  • guides
  • Hacks
  • style
  • travel
All-Natural Secrets For Shiny Hair
All-Natural Secrets For Shiny Hair
Meet Your Summer Curly Hair MVP
Meet Your Summer Curly Hair MVP
The Poosh Mother’s Day Gift Guide
The Poosh Mother’s Day Gift Guide
Why You Should Consider a High Tech Facial
Why You Should Consider a High Tech Facial
Our Camp Poosh 2025 Photo Diary
Our Camp Poosh 2025 Photo Diary
Meet the Campers: Here’s Who’s Staying With Us At Camp Poosh 2025
Meet the Campers: Here’s Who’s Staying With Us At Camp Poosh 2025
  • decor
  • entertaining
  • kids
  • motherhood
  • Playlists
  • recipes
Salmon Sushi Bake
Salmon Sushi Bake
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Caesar Sandwich
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Caesar Sandwich
Pepperoni Hot Honey Pasta Salad
Pepperoni Hot Honey Pasta Salad
Strawberry Matcha Frozen Clusters
Strawberry Matcha Frozen Clusters
Avocado Sweet Potato Toast
Avocado Sweet Potato Toast
Beet Ricotta Cheese Pasta
Beet Ricotta Cheese Pasta
  • family
  • kourtney
Part One: Life Lessons from Kourtney
Part One: Life Lessons from Kourtney
What Kris Jenner Is Reading Right Now
What Kris Jenner Is Reading Right Now
Kourtney’s Birthday Sale Is Here!
Kourtney’s Birthday Sale Is Here!
What Khloé Kardashian Is Reading Right Now
What Khloé Kardashian Is Reading Right Now
Inspired by Kim Kardashian: 3 Total-Body Gym Moves
Inspired by Kim Kardashian: 3 Total-Body Gym Moves
Kris Jenner’s Martini Recipe
Kris Jenner’s Martini Recipe

Menu

  • Shop
  • HEALTH + WELLNESS
    • body
    • diy
    • fitness
    • Giving Back
    • health
    • mind
    • Relationships
    • Sexual Wellness
    • soul
  • HOME + ENTERTAINING
    • decor
    • entertaining
    • kids
    • motherhood
    • Playlists
    • recipes
  • KKB
    • family
    • kourtney
  • LIFE + STYLE
    • Adulting
    • beauty
    • guides
    • Hacks
    • style
    • travel
  • About
  • Newsletter
instagram pinterest facebook twitter youtube join newsletter
mind

WEIRD DREAMS? These are the Most Common Culprits

By Poosh
share on pinterest share on facebook share on twitter Share on Flipboard share by email
 Photo credit @fvlyacelik
@fvlyacelik

Sweet dreams are made of … not these. 

We know that sleep is crucial for our well-being, but have you ever wondered why sometimes our brains play the most insane, wtf movies while we snooze? Dreams that leave you so unsettled that you think you should text your therapist? 

Dr. Wendy Troxel is a clinical psychologist and author of Sharing the Covers: Every Couple’s Guide to Better Sleep. She wants to assure people that, although they may be unpleasant, weird dreams are normal and may even help people work through different emotional issues that are going on in their waking lives.
 
But what factors can cause weird dreams? Dr. Troxel outlines her top three offenders below.

1. Not Enough or Low-Quality Sleep

Sure, staying up an extra hour to scroll on social media or engage in a group chat seems like a good idea at the time, but it has consequences. Dr. Troxel says that regularly skimping on sleep or getting poor-quality sleep is likely the culprit of weird dreams. “After being deprived of sleep, the individual experiences greater sleep intensity after falling asleep. That means there is more brain activity, which can lead to more vivid or bizarre dreams,” she explains.

2. Hormone Monster

Women’s hormones are constantly shifting, especially around that time of the month and during pregnancy. According to Dr. Troxel, this affects both the body and mind. “Hormonal changes, as well as the increased stress often experienced before the birth of a baby, can also lead to especially weird dreams,” she notes.

3. Alcohol

A boozy beverage (or two or three) leading to a good sleep is a myth. “Alcohol use suppresses rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep), the sleep phase when most of our dreams occur,” Dr. Troxel explains. That means regular drinkers who abstain “are likely to experience a rebound in REM sleep and an increased likelihood of vivid dreams.

How to Prevent Weird Dreams

Dr. Troxel has some additional tips for the weird-dream-prone sleepers: 

Check your medication labels. See if intense dreams are a possible side effect. 

Get professional treatment. She recommends this for those who experience chronic or distressing dreams/nightmares that begin to affect daytime functioning or overall sleep quality.

Shop our sleep collection:

Shop Reishi Mushroom Gummy
Shop Calming Body Oil
Shop White Queen Zippered Pillowcase
Shop Sleep Tea + Melatonin
Shop Mindful Focus Hourglass
Shop Weighted Blanket
Shop Black Contour Sleep Mask
Shop Hormone Soothing Bath Soak
Shop CozyChic Throw
Shop Kourtney x Barker Wellness Calm Magnesium Bath Flakes

Dr. Wendy Troxel is a clinical psychologist, Mattress Firm Sleep Marriage Consultant, Senior Behavioral Scientist at RAND Corporation, and author of Sharing the Covers: Every Couple’s Guide to Better Sleep.

The content provided in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice and consultation, including professional medical advice and consultation; it is provided with the understanding that Poosh, LLC (“Poosh”) is not engaged in the provision or rendering of medical advice or services. The opinions and content included in the article are the views of the author only, and Poosh does not endorse or recommend any such content or information, or any product or service mentioned in the article. You understand and agree that Poosh shall not be liable for any claim, loss, or damage arising out of the use of, or reliance upon any content or information in the article.

Up next, be the first to know our weekly content and sign up for our Poosh newsletter.

Related Articles

Goes to article Biohack Your Mood With a Little Movement
mind

Biohack Your Mood With a Little Movement

Goes to article How to Manifest the Relationship You Want
Relationships

How to Manifest the Relationship You Want

Goes to article The Poosh Guide to Cozymaxxing
mind

The Poosh Guide to Cozymaxxing

Goes to article The Power of Intuitive Decision Making
mind

The Power of Intuitive Decision Making

Goes to article How to Stop Overthinking Your Crush
mind

How to Stop Overthinking Your Crush

Goes to article Signs You Have Chronic Stress
health

Signs You Have Chronic Stress

Goes to article How to Catch Lucky Girl Syndrome
mind

How to Catch Lucky Girl Syndrome

Goes to article 5 Ways To Get Over Your Fear of Change
mind

5 Ways To Get Over Your Fear of Change

  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • California Privacy Rights
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Accessibility

Keep in Touch

instagram pinterest facebook twitter youtube join newsletter
Reviewed by Allyant for Accessibility
  • © poosh, llc
    All Rights Reserved