Is there a difference between a BAD dream & a nightmare?

Question

If that's the case, I have a nightmare every night. I always wake up fussing & fighting, thinking I'm still dreaming.

Answer 1

The difference would depend on how you feel about the dream upon waking and what you see as a nightmare.

A nightmare is more typically something dreamt where you may well have a conscious recollection of a specific terror.  Being pursued by a relentless creature or thing that would harm you, for instance.  

What you describe may have more to do with a 'bad dream' that is based on some conflict in your life.  You don't name any particular thing that you recall of the dream, so the dreams may be more to do with a waking issue - almost literally fighting wakefulness.  We pass through an odd world of twighlight as we emerge from sleep.  Dreams happen mostly just before waking - and in a way we often drag them with us.  The waking experience itself can be disturbing enough to a pleasant dream to generate the response you describe in some people.  As we awaken we can go through a semi-waking awareness of sleep paralysis - and some can fight that, lash out as if they are restrained by something unwanted.  As the mind comes awake the muscles release this and begin to work on command - and we lose our grip on the dream: perhaps even a nice one.

Stuff to fight over?  Depends on how you feel.  If 'nightmares' it is odd that you don't mention specific details.  This really sound more related to a 'waking' issue as sleep is released - a combination of physical and mental influences driving an agitated response.  

Unless it truly distresses you, it is probably quite OK.  Perhaps even reflecting on these things can help your understanding and therefore even perhaps give some relief.

All the best to you.

ADDED:

That additional information is quite useful.

You are having dreams borne of continuing conflict - the kind that drives a good bit of hostility, understandably so.

At your age and with this continuing so frequently you really need to talk this out with someone beyond your family who can listen and perhaps help you find a break from the cycle.  This dreaming will only continue - and perhaps grow worse along with the emotional struggle that must go with it - until you are able to do so.

Don't put up with that kind of frustrating misery - get some help airing this out and find some ways to get relief from family conflict.

All the best to you.

Answer 2

Check your room's feng shui. It may be some bad chi in you room. We had restless night in new bedroom over weekend and realized we had the bed turned the wrong way.

There is a difference between the two. A bad dream means you feel bad and a nightmare you are terrorized.

Answer 3

Your physical reaction is a condition that means your ususal trigger for shutting down your muscles while you dream is not working.  This is not a bad thing just inconvinient and something you should warn future sleeping partners about.  

This may be adding to your fears.  Your family represents your fears and concerns and you are battleing those fears in your dreams because you find them overwhelming during your waking life.  It would be best if you can get professional help in dealing with your life.  It is obvious you are concerned about your mother and her drug use.  This may stick with you for awhile.  Unfortunately you can't control your mother just be there to support her when she needs you.  But that is easy to say and harder to do.

Good luck

Answer 4

i have an 8 year old cousin that has been having night terrors since she was 3 1/3, 4. she will randomly hit, swing her arms around, kick, cry, and scream, in her sleep, and wake up not knowing it. When her mom was carrying her she was on a drug that you can not take when your pregnet, and one of the side effect was birth defects in sleeping. ask your mother if she took ANY drugs while carrying you.