Dramatic quarandreams on the up as Brits report strange sleep amid COVID-19 pandemic

Sleep experts suggest that the Covid-19 pandemic could be behind a spike in vivid, and even unusual, dreams and nightmares.

Experts at personalised bedding specialists, nanu, have reported an uplift in customers reporting extreme and unwanted dreams as one of the recent reasons they are seeking a new pillow.

Jamie Moryoussef, spokesperson for nanu, said: “Dreams are actually a key part of how our brain makes sense of our lives, and the dreams we have are generated for many different reasons; be it to process our day, make sense of something upsetting, or to handle stress and trauma. Dreaming acts like a virtual organiser, consolidating all of these issues for us while we’re in the land of nod.

“Most of us will remember few of our dreams and these dreams are rarely likely to impact how we feel once we wake up. Sadly, this may not currently be the case as this crisis continues to unfold, and anxieties around health, work, money and the future could be crossing over from our real world into our subconscious while we’re asleep.”

Nanu is a sleep specialist which creates customised pillows, duvets and pillowcases that help Brits get the best night’s sleep possible.

Experts at the brand have researched what 10 of the most common vivid dreams mean. These include:

Teeth falling out suggests worries about personal appearance and/or worries about others’ perceptions

Being chased may mean a real-life anxiety – or an anxiety about the dreamer’s own personality – is creeping up on them
Being unable to find a toilet may indicate holding back true feelings about someone or something

Being naked in public suggests worries about being exposed as a fraud or being wrongly accused of something

Going into an exam with no preparation reflects a lack of self-belief

Fear of flying could mean the dreamer is afraid they can’t live up the tough goals they set for themselves

The feeling of falling usually indicates overwhelming anxiety

An out of control vehicle may mean the dreamer is worried about a lack of control in where their life is headed

Finding a brand-new room in a building you know well suggests a new (and positive) outlook is just around the corner

Being late suggests the dreamer is worried about time slipping away or that they simply won’t achieve what they need to in the time they have left