The Dreamscape!

[davver]

I have been having some pretty vivid dreams recently. Is this due to a) my mumps or b) the ibuprofen I am taking for them?

[ezapf]

Are you sleeping more than normal?

     A person usually has 4 or 5 dream sessions in a normal 8 hours night of sleep. Each dream session is longer than the previous one and occurs during a time of less deep sleep. It is very unlikely that you will remember anything about the first 3 or 4 dream sessions.

     If you sleep longer you may have a sixth dream session which will occur during a cycle of very light sleep. If this is the case, you wil remember it very vividly.

     In addition, you may not sleep as deeply at night if you take naps during the day. This will allow you to remember your dreams more vividly as well.

[Scarlett]

That's interesting! My sister had mumps years ago and had terrible nightmares and vivid dreams during that time. I don't know if it is linked but maybe it is something to do with the inflammation/increased temperature/possible fever you might have?

[tartanwiz]

Illness certainly gives us strange dreams.  The brain becomes 'feverish' and dreams become vivid.  Even a bad cold can do this.  So it's more likely to be the mumps rather than the ibuprofen, which is only a mild painkiller and not mind-altering like morphine and stronger opiate pain killers.

[redmug100]

Certain foods including turkey and ripe bananas can make dreams more vivid as can high doses of vitemin b6.