Falling through a chess board, being eaten by a giant cockroach and being nanny to Jordan's children are just a few of the terrifying nightmares experienced by over a million* unfortunate Brits every night.
The sleep study by budget hotel chain Travelodge also revealed a wide range of daunting dream themes. Some of the more unusual examples include being covered in insects and snakes, finding yourself in a haunted house, being squashed in a sausage machine and being naked in a public place.
However, the most common nightmare themes reported by Brits are:
1. Being chased (32%)
2. Drowning (7%)
3. Being trapped (7%)
4. Partner leaving them (6%)
5. Being injured (6%)
Over seven percent of Brits also reported nightmares featuring celebrities. Dot Cotton, Vanessa Feltz, John Major and Vinnie Jones were just some of the stars that evoked a harrowing night's sleep.
Leigh McCarron, Travelodge Director of Sleep, said; "As usual there are a few off the wall scenarios that our research has thrown up such as being eaten by a giant cockroach. However there are common themes evident."
"Dreams about being chased tend to be a reaction to stress in life, the attacker in the dream often represents emotions like fear and anxiety. The second most common dream according to our research concerns drowning - this is said to reflect concerns about unresolved issues or a current crisis."
Some nightmare sufferers point to computer games and eating curry or chocolate as possible causes of nightmares. However a great chunk of respondents (40%) believe the leading reason for their scary snooze is stress:
1. Stress (40%)
2. Watching scary films (8%)
3. The recent bad weather (7%)
4. Having worries at work (6%)
5. Eating cheese (5%)
Leigh McCarron concluded: "It's important to relax before bed to resolve any potential issues that could lead to a nightmare. There are some simple steps any of us can take to create the right mood and environment for a better night's sleep."
- Write down anything that's worrying you before you go to bed in order to clear your mind.
- Make sure your bedroom is the right temperature - experts recommend 18 degrees
- Have a warm bath before bed to help you relax
- Avoid consuming caffeine after 7pm
- Avoid eating after 7pm
- Make sure the lighting in your bedroom is subtle, spending time in a dimly lit room before you go to sleep can induce sleep
---ends---
For more information, please contact:
Shula Gillam, Travelodge PR Executive
01844 358 703 | 07824 491 224
Statistics:
Research conducted by One Poll in July 2007 with 2000 UK adults
Statistics calculated on the basis of 48,611,900 adults over the age of 18 in the UK (23,533,100 men and 25,078,700 women)
*3% of Brits experience a nightmare every night (1,458,357 UK adults)
**23% of Brits have experienced a nightmare in the last week (11,180,737 UK adults)
42% of Brits experience a nightmare at least once a month (20,416,998 UK adults)
More people in the following regions have experienced nightmares in the last week:
- Aberdeen - 9%
- Belfast - 43%
- Birmingham - 23%
- Brighton Hove - 20%
- Bristol - 18%
- Cambridge - 18%
- Cardiff - 38%
- Coventry - 29%
- Edinburgh - 36%
- Glasgow - 27%
- Leeds - 18%
- Leicester - 15%
- Liverpool - 9%
- London - 25%
- Manchester - 20%
- Newcastle - 12%
- Norwich - 36%
- Plymouth - 38%
- Sheffield - 33%
- Southampton - 31%
- Swansea - 38%
The most common dreams according to region:
- Aberdeen - Falling 18%
- Belfast - Being chased 57%
- Birmingham - Being chased 32%
- Bristol - Being chased 41%
- Brighton - Being injured 20%
- Cambridge - Being chased 23%
- Cardiff - Being chased 12%
- Coventry - Being trapped 21%
- Edinburgh - Being chased 36%
- Glasgow - Being chased 20%
- Leeds - Being chased 41%
- Leicester - Being chased 31%
- Liverpool - Being chased 40%
- London - Being chased 30%
- Manchester - Being chased 40%
- Newcastle - Being chased 24%
- Norwich - Being chased 21%
- Plymouth - Being chased 35%
- Sheffield - Being chased 33%
- Southampton - Being chased 23%
- Swansea - Being chased 23%
About Travelodge
Travelodge became the first budget hotel company to launch in the UK when it opened the Barton-under-Needwood Travelodge in Staffordshire in 1985. Travelodge currently has 320 hotels (over 20,000 rooms) - nine in Ireland, three in Spain and rest in the UK. Hotels are conveniently located in city centres, near attractions, airports and at the roadside. The chain plans to have 1000 hotels in the UK by 2020 and be the biggest hotel company in London by the 2012 Olympics. New Travelodges opening this year include: Heathrow Terminal 4 5, London Euston, London City Road, Eastbourne, Holyhead, Blackpool and Windsor.
Six and a half million people stayed with Travelodge in 2006 and 83% of reservations are made online at travelodge.co.uk, where room rates start from just £15 per room, per night. Travelodge offers double, disabled-access or family rooms (catering for 2 adults and 2 children under the age of 16). All rooms are en-suite, with luxury king size beds, colour TV and free tea and coffee-making facilities.