The nearest I can come to thinking about this is instances of RISP (Recurrent Isolated Sleep Paralysis) in which the individual has more than one episode in which the body remains paralysed after the individual begins waking.
The old mythology of the hag has its origins due to sleep paralysis which is a perfectly normal thing for the body to do during deep sleep. The legend of the Hag is the belief that a witch was seated on your chest as you awoke and could not move, this mixed with the hypnagogic hallucinations make for a terrifying experience.
Certainly RISP could lead to some profoundly severe health issues with reduced quality of sleep as well as fear leading to depression etc.
P.S I just checked the DSM 5 and did find an entry unique for 'Nightmare Disorder' one of the criteria is '...sleep disturbances causes significant distress or impariment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.'
Along with these considerations the disturbances may of course produce excessive daytime sleepiness, poor concentration etc.
So due to the fact that it is labelled under the DSM the experience of nightmares while perfectly normal can become pathological.
@Daniel Sumner Sleep disorders can lead to poor mental health because impaired sleep may decrease myelin 's( cover of nerve cell) sensitivity to serotonin. Disturbed levels of serotonin can easily cause mental health problems.
Interesting post
The nearest I can come to thinking about this is instances of RISP (Recurrent Isolated Sleep Paralysis) in which the individual has more than one episode in which the body remains paralysed after the individual begins waking.
The old mythology of the hag has its origins due to sleep paralysis which is a perfectly normal thing for the body to do during deep sleep. The legend of the Hag is the belief that a witch was seated on your chest as you awoke and could not move, this mixed with the hypnagogic hallucinations make for a terrifying experience.
Certainly RISP could lead to some profoundly severe health issues with reduced quality of sleep as well as fear leading to depression etc.
P.S I just checked the DSM 5 and did find an entry unique for 'Nightmare Disorder' one of the criteria is '...sleep disturbances causes significant distress or impariment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.'
Along with these considerations the disturbances may of course produce excessive daytime sleepiness, poor concentration etc.
So due to the fact that it is labelled under the DSM the experience of nightmares while perfectly normal can become pathological.
Great question