In my life I have had a few nightmares that were horrific in the extreme. I have faced death, actually died, seen family members die and other horrors.

The thing is, that I have only ever woken up feeling slightly unsettled and this has soon receded.

When real people experience trauma they suffer PTSD and other such psychological conditions.

For me, the experience felt real - for me, it was real.

How does the brain seperate these incidents from reality? Why is there only a very mild psychological residue?

Is there something that is turned off in the brain whilst we sleep?

DA Morgan - do not tell me to google this, I know I should, in fact I'm off to do it now, but if anyone has their own thoughts...

Regards,

Blacknad.