Decoding your quarantine dreams
Covid-19 pandemic has turned lives upside down and changes in daily habits and sleep patterns is leading to psychosomatic disorders.
According to a research, Google search results for questions like “why does one get unusual dreams” have increased by 200% compared to last year. Besides, there has been a 190% increase in users asking “why do I keep having bad dreams.”
While some dream of falling, others might have dreams which could be situations out of a post-apocalyptic TV series or film.
Delhi-based clinical psychologist Priyanka Verma admits that since the lockdown, she’s got an array of clients with issues and complaints related to dreams. “We have a lot of time for introspection and it’s not unusual to experience anxiety and dream about such things. One needs to address it. One needs to understand that these are just thoughts of fear and not the real situation,” says Verma.
Another city-based clinical psychologist Pulkit Sharma is also dealing with many patients having such vivid dreams. “Everyone is grappling with uncertainty. Hence it’s crucial to make your day as meaningful as possible. Before going to sleep, retire to your bed in a conscious manner. Don’t snack on videos. Instead, listen to relaxing music and dim the lights,” suggests Sharma.
Clinical psychologist Kamna Chhibber observes that now since one is at home and social life isn’t robust, there could be more anxiety. “It may not be only about old friends, but also anxiety about the future. We are confronting questions on jobs and the likelihood of the vaccines right now. One’s got to actively keep pulling oneself in the current moment since we can neither resolve the future nor change the past,” says Chhibber.