Dreams are often a respite from reality.

For many people, specific dreams and nightmares are recurring experiences.

Determining what’s causing your troublesome dream is only half the battle.

Woman distressed after waking up from a nightmare

If you frequently dream about suffocating, the explanation may be simpler than you think.

This is because your subconscious is latching onto the stressful emotion and is projecting images mirroring this feeling.

Dreams about suffocating are a prime example of this phenomenon taking place.

Woman laying in bed covering her face with a pillow

According to Sleep Culture, suffocation dreams typically stem from a feeling of restriction.

The more anxious you feel, the harder it is to fall asleep and stay asleep each night.

Thankfully, there are ways to combat this issue that help you prevent these dreams of suffocating from occurring.

Woman covering her face while lying in bed

WebMDsuggests making certain behavioral changes as well to prevent nightmares from occurring repeatedly.

Transform your bedroom into a calm, relaxing environment so you look forward to falling asleep each night.

Play some peaceful music, read a book, or complete some word puzzles.