Turn on the TV, unlock your phone, or open a newspaper right now and you're almost guaranteed to be bombarded with information about one of two major events sweeping the country: the novel coronavirus pandemic, or nationwide protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.
These are troubling times for Americans, especially Black Americans, many of whom are exhausted, and traumatized by recent events, and the generations of racial violence that current news stirs up.
It's no wonder so many people are having trouble sleeping, as evidenced by some of the stories people are sharing on Twitter using the hashtag #CoronaDreams. One user dreamt she found out that a new symptom of the coronavirus was being haunted by ghosts. Another user tweeted she dreamed about being in a Japanese manga series combined with a Black Lives Matter protest.
If you're having trouble sleeping, you're definitely not alone. Crises tend to increase vivid and anxious dreams, according to Deirdre Barrett, an author and psychologist who teaches at Harvard Medical School.
"Dreams are more intense and likelier to be nightmares for those most involved: people of color, people in the neighborhoods where any of the violence during protests has happened, those out protesting — again especially where the protests were met with violence," Barrett, author of the book "Pandemic Dreams," and "The Committee of Sleep," told Business Insider.
Barrett specializes in dream research after traumatic events. She studied people's dreams in the wake of 9/11, the Arab Spring, and other events. Her most current project is studying people's dreams during the pandemic, using an online form. More than 3,000 people have responded, and a few clear themes have emerged.
"Bugs. Bugs seem to be a common stand in for the pandemic. I think that's because we use the term 'bug' as slang for an infection or virus," said Barrett, who added that many people are dreaming of cockroaches and worms. "I think it's because lots of little things that can add up and hurt you, that's a good metaphor for the virus."
Barrett also said she's seeing a lot of "invisible monsters," noting that people may be having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that they cannot see the danger they face, the virus.
Healthcare workers are having recurring nightmares, a potential symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition of persistent mental and emotional distress resulting from severe psychological shock, she said.
If you've been having trouble sleeping, Barrett and other sleep experts have a few key tips.