© iStock

Dreams - People from all over the world have been experiencing vivid and bizarre dreams since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

© Shutterstock

Quarandreams -

People started to report these bizarre dreams on the internet and they were eventually dubbed "quarandreams."

© Shutterstock 

Collective dreaming -

We are currently experiencing a sort of “collective dreaming.” People from all corners of the world are having vivid dreams and, in some cases, nightmares.

© Shutterstock 

History - Because in the past there was no internet and people were not connected through social media, there is no record in history of such an experience on such a broad level.

© iStock

Why are we dreaming more? - One theory is that we're sleeping more, and therefore experiencing more REM sleep cycles per night. This is the stage of sleep where the most vivid dreams happen.

© iStock

Why are we dreaming more? - Another hypothesis points to a phenomenon called REM rebound, says Brittany LeMonda, Ph.D, a neuropsychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and Northwell Health Neuroscience Institute in Great Neck, New York.

© Shutterstock

REM rebound - This is when there is an increased frequency and depth of REM sleep that happens after periods of poor sleep (either sleep deprivation or insomnia).

© Shutterstock

REM rebound -

We’re essentially paying our “dream debt," so we have more vivid dreams as a result.

© Shutterstock 

Bad dreams -

But not only are we dreaming more, some of these dreams are also in fact quite bizarre and sometimes even disturbing.

© Shutterstock 

Recurring themes -

Themes vary, but there are some more commonly reported dream patterns.

© Shutterstock 

Catching COVID-19 -

People are having both literal and metaphorical dreams about catching the virus. Some are related to themselves, but family and friends catching is also a recurrent theme.

© Shutterstock

Bugs -

Swarms of bugs, grasshoppers with fangs, slithering worms, and maggots are appearing in people's dreams.

© Shutterstock

Breathing problems -

Gasping for air and difficulties breathing is also a recurring theme. 

© Shutterstock

Coughing -

Examples include being in a place where people would deliberately cough on you.

© Shutterstock

Social distancing -

Being stuck in a crowded place where people don't wear a mask or respect social distancing rules.

© Shutterstock

Work nightmare -

Reports of people entering the wrong Zoom meeting and other similar work-related online situations.

© Shutterstock

Natural disasters -

Natural disasters, including tidal waves and tornadoes, among others.

© Shutterstock

Others -

Witches, wolves and other animals attacking people, and many other nightmarish themes have been reported.

© Shutterstock

Trauma -

Health professionals on the frontline have reported dreams such as trying to save a patient's life and failing to do so.

© Shutterstock

Why are we having these dreams? -

Dr. Deirdre Barrett, a psychologist at Harvard University, has been surveying these dreams since the pandemic began.

© Shutterstock 

Reasons - Dr. Barrett also believes that one of the reasons is because many of us are sleep-deprived most of the time. People are sleeping more and that is a common pattern when it comes to dream recall.

© Shutterstock

Reasons -

Many people are also waking up without an alarm, which again makes dream recall more likely.

© iStock

Reasons -

And then there is the obvious reason: the psychological effect of the pandemic and being stuck at home.

© Shutterstock

Reasons -

Big life changes, or periods when we are more emotional, tend to result in more vivid dreams.

© Shutterstock

Reasons - "Nightmares have a strong correlation with daytime anxiety," says Dr. Barrett.

© iStock

What can you do to prevent these dreams? - Try suggesting to yourself the kind of dream you want to have that night. Do it as you go to bed and think about it.

© Shutterstock

What can you do to prevent these dreams? - Perhaps you want to dream about someone or a particular place? Try to visualize it as you fall asleep and it's more likely that you'll dream about it.

© Shutterstock

What can you do to prevent these dreams? - Good sleep hygiene can also help you have a good night's sleep. Some steps include having a set time to go to bed and wake up, and avoiding looking at screens prior to sleep.

© Shutterstock

Mental health - If these dreams are indeed deeply affecting your mood, then you might want to seek professional help.

© iStock

Health -

Remember, sleeping well helps to strengthen your immune system, and if there was a time you wanted your body to be in top notch condition, this is it.

See also: The effects and health risks of sleeping too much.

© Shutterstock