According to recent research published in the Journal of Sleep Research, waking-life stress significantly contributes to nightmare frequency.
According to recent research published in the Journal of Sleep Research, waking-life stress significantly contributes to nightmare frequency.
As Halloween casts its eerie glow, new research reveals the terrifying experiences happening in Bay of Plenty bedrooms every night.
According to sleep experts at bed-in-a-box company Ecosa, Bay residents were among New Zealand’s most frequent nightmare sufferers, with more than 47,000 nightmare-related Google searches made each month.
Recent researchpublished in the Journal of Sleep Research said waking-life stress contributed significantly to nightmare frequency, with poor sleepers showing elevated nightmare rates compared to the general population.
The study found stress levels directly impacted the relationship between sleep quality and how often people experienced nightmares.
Ecosa’s research team at Ecosa analysed Google search data across almost 6000 nightmare-related keywords to understand which nightmares haunted Bay of Plenty residents the most.
Keywords such as “tsunami nightmare” and “naked dream” were used to collect data.
Dreams about teeth falling outtopped the list, with 2590 searches per 100,000 residents.
Sleep psychologist Carly Dober said those dreams could represent feelings of powerlessness, loss of control, or concerns about appearance and how others perceive you.
“The exceptionally high search rate in Bay of Plenty suggests many residents may be experiencing significant life changes or situations that make them feel particularly vulnerable or helpless.”
Spider nightmares ranked second, with 1534 searches per 100,000 residents.
Dober said those dreams often reflected feelings of being trapped or manipulated.
“They can indicate anxiety about someone in your life who may be dishonest, or feelings of being overwhelmed by circumstances beyond your control.”
The high prevalence could point to complex social or work situations.
Falling dreams come in third, with1422 searches per 100,000. These typically signalled stress, loss of control, or anxiety about falling behind in life.
“They can reflect pressure from work, relationships, or major life transitions,” Dober said.
Fire dreams followed closely at 1380 searches per 100,000, symbolising intense emotion, from anger to transformation.
“They often represent inner turmoil or suppressed feelings that are burning to be expressed,” Dober said.
Infidelity dreams, with 1084 searches per 100,000, suggest deeper relationship anxieties.
“These dreams are often linked to romantic jealousy or trust issues,” Dober said.
“They can also reflect insecurity in other areas of life.”
The top 10 most searched nightmares in the Bay of Plenty
Teeth falling out dream – 9200 searches/month
Spider dream – 5450 searches/month
Falling dream – 5050 searches/month
Fire dream – 4900 searches/month
Infidelity dream – 3850 searches/month
Being shot dream – 3700 searches/month
Tsunami dream – 2950 searches/month
Going bald / hair falling out dream – 2750 searches/month
Family member dying dream – 2750 searches/month
Drowning dream – 2500 searches/month
How to keep the nightmares at bay
Dober said nightmare frequency could be reduced with better sleep hygiene.
Her tips included:
Keeping your bedroom cool and dark
Avoiding screens for an hour before bed
Ensuring your mattress and pillow offer proper support
“We can reduce nightmare frequency through better sleep practices. Simple changes make a huge difference,” she said.
“When we get deeper, more restorative sleep, our brains process stress and emotions more effectively during REM cycles, which can naturally reduce nightmare intensity.”
Ecosa analysed Google search data across almost 6000 nightmare-related keywords to understand which types of nightmares Bay of Plenty residents are being haunted by the most based on their Google searches. Photo / Supplied
For people regularly waking up from bad dreams, Dober suggested trying a consistent bedtime routine and considering whether their sleep environment was working against them.
“Sometimes the difference between a nightmare-filled night and peaceful sleep is as simple as the right pillow or removing that charging phone from your bedside table.”
