Reason why you might be having really vivid dreams at the moment
If you've started waking up in the morning and are able to recall in great detail the goings-on within an extremely realistic dream you've just enjoyed, there might be a very good reason as to why.
It turns out that - according to several sleep experts and psychologists - this time of year often marks a rise in vivid dreaming caused by a particular phenomenon.
According to an extensive study carried out by experts at MattressNextDay, several patterns in relation to dreams have been reported by sleeping Brits in recent weeks.
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Experts not only discovered that those questioned were able to recall the goings-on that occurred in their imagination the evening prior - to a much stronger degree than other times of the year, but that many people were dreaming about the same things.
They found, for example, that a staggering total of 26,600 internet searches about what it means to dream about your teeth falling out means over the period of a few weeks.
Similarly, they found that just under 10,000 dreamers had frantically searched what dreaming about a pregnancy could indicate about your psyche, whilst 7,800 sleepers had endured a dream about spiders.
And we've all been there - suddenly waking up after feeling like you're falling.
Apparently, it's pretty common, with 2,900 dreamers researching why it happened.
Whilst you may notice the pattern amongst these themes - that they can all pose as triggers for anxiety - two expert say there's a reason why you might be having such realistic dreams about such subjects at the moment.
Whilst Martin Seeley - sleep expert and CEO of the mattress firm - told Tyla this week that it's all part of a sign of the times.
"When the seasons change and the clocks go back in October, our internal body clocks must adapt to a new nightly routine," he said. "As the days become shorter and darkness descends earlier, our melatonin production, the hormone responsible for sleep, increases. This adjustment can influence the frequency and vividness of our dreams."
"The recent hot weather can also play as a role, as our bodies are sensitive to temperature changes. Hotter nights can lead to more restless sleep, increasing the likelihood of dream recollection."
But why such chilling subjects? Why not dreams of sunshine and rainbows?
Well, according to celebrity psychic and dreams analyst Inbaal Honigman, these troublesome topics are also common due to the prominence of change right now.
Teeth falling out
Talking about dreams about losing teeth, she explained that our pearly whites are a sign of life's 'ages and stages'.
"We are born with none, go through two sets in childhood and adulthood, and start to lose them again in old age," she explained.
"Therefore, dreaming about losing teeth symbolises loss, like leaving a relationship behind or even moving house."
Pregnancy
And when it comes to dreams about a bun in the oven, she explained that pregnancy dreams can serve as 'predictive dreams'.
"Parents-to-be dream of their pregnancy even before the home pregnancy kit turns pink," she said.
"And it's common to see your baby's gender or predict the date of birth correctly. "Beyond fertility, pregnancy in a dream can represent the wanting of a new job or creative project, like a ‘new lease of life’."
Spiders
And using the example of creepy crawlies, she said that dreams about insects and bugs often represent a 'need to confront your fears and insecurities head-on'.
"Just like spiders face the challenge of creating and maintaining their webs with precision, you are being prompted to tackle your life challenges with resilience and determination," she told us.
"It's a time to face challenges with resilience and determination. Pay attention to the details in your dreams for more specific insights into your unique situation."
Feeling like you are falling
Lastly, when it comes to 'falling out of your tree' - otherwise known as a horrific falling sensational - she says this is simply a 'psychological reaction to the body going to sleep'.
She went on: "As the nervous systems begin to calm, and your heart rate and blood pressure drop, this can trigger a falling dream, otherwise known as a ‘hypnic jerk’.
"The movements can be minor but sometimes, they’re violent enough to wake you up. These sudden movements typically last only a second or two, but they can be quite startling if you’re not expecting them.
"While they’re not a dream, if they happen a lot, they’re a metaphorical nightmare as they disrupt your sleep."
Rhianna Benson