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The Most Common Nightmares And What They Mean

Most of us have had at least one unsettling nightmare that sticks with us, causing us to wake up in a sweat in the middle of the night. Asides from pinching yourself to make sure it’s only a dream, there are ways of decoding your nightmares and reflecting on your current stresses in life. In fact, scientists are continuously finding more data that connects our nightmares to our subconscious. Specifically, they believe dreams serve as a “data dump” from our daily lives, and paying attention to them can ream positive effects.

While you might feel your nightmare was vivid and extremely personal, the reality is many people share similarities in their reoccurring nightmares. These are the four of the most common nightmares, and what they may mean.

You Are Endlessly Falling

According to a 2016 study by Amerisleep, falling was the most common anxiety-fueled nightmare that people had. Scientists believe it could be due to your nervous system turning off for the night while you sleep, making it feel like you are falling endlessly. The lack of stable footing that results in our falling can also be an indicator that you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and lacking control of your life.

Nightmares With All Your Teeth Falling Out

Sadly a majority of us have at some point have dreamt of losing all of their teeth, their mouth left with only gums. Whether immediate or gradual, this nightmare undoubtedly leaves you feeling shocked. Dream interpreters have come up with many different possible meanings for this dream, but most are related to feeling inferior, unattractive, or neglected in some way. It can also mean that you fear losing something or someone that is vital to your emotional and mental wellbeing.

You Are Being Chased

Whether you’re running from an attacker, animal, or monster, being chased can be absolutely terrifying. This is particularly true if you seem to be in slow motion or can’t move fast enough. Chasing dreams commonly are interpreted to mean you are avoiding something in real life, or even trying to escape your own bad habits.

Nightmares When You Or A Loved One Dies

woman holds a skull in front of her face while she stands on a dark forested road. Elements of nightmares.

Nightmares about death can send instant chills up your spine, given how real they feel. However, dreaming of death isn’t all grim. Sometimes it simply means a certain stage in your life is coming to a close and you’ll soon experience a new beginning. It could also mean that a romantic relationship is about to end. Regardless, with each of these dreams there is no set significance, as each person’s life situations are different.

Photos: Freepik, Pixabay

Petting Dogs And Cats Can Instantly Reduce Your Stress

At many universities and colleges nowadays, it’s common for the institutions to provide dogs and cats for a few hours for students to play with during finals and mid terms. Why? Typically this time of year is when students are immensely burdened with exams and final projects. Having a few minutes to escape the stress overload and pet some adorable fluffballs is thought to be a happy reprieve. Considering the amount of therapy animals that exist for this purpose, it would seem accurate. However, the benefits of petting animals was not proven to be true until a recently, with this study published in AERA Open.

A Study On Stress And Animals

In the study, Washington State University researchers Patricia Pendry and Jaymie Vandagriff discovered that students who went to pet dogs and cats at their university animal events had reduced levels of cortisol in their saliva compared to their peers who did not go. Cortisol is the body’s hormone that is in charge of stress, leading to the conclusion the students themselves were less stressed.

The Experimental Design

The experiment was performed by placing 249 university students into 4 groups. Group one got to play with dogs and cats for ten minutes. The second group was only allowed to watch. Group 3 was shown pictures of the animals, but never saw them in person. The Final group was told they were on a waitlist to play with the animals, but never were called to do so. Each student also had to provide saliva samples. One sample was from when they woke up in the morning, the second 15 minutes after the experiment, and the last sample from 25 minutes after the experiment.

The Final Furry Takeaway

happy man with no stress high-fiving a dog.

The final results of the study showed the students in the first group, who were able to pet and play with the animals, had significantly lower cortisol levels than the other groups. Although this study has a small sample size, it does seem to confirm that anxiety and stress can be eased with the help of a furry friend.

Photos: Freepik

Instagram Will Soon Hide Like Count From Public View

Have you ever regretted uploading a photo because it didn’t receive the number of likes you wanted? Do you constantly compare the like count of other friends’ photos, or take hours to nail the perfect shot for Instagram? You’re not alone, but all this constant pressure and worrying might soon come to a close. Instagram has decided to do a trial to hide like count in several countries, including Australia, Japan, and Brazil.

Design Of The Trial

In this trial, Instagram will hide the total number of people who have liked posts from public and friends’ views. All that will be seen is a user name “and others.” The only people who will be able to see the actual total like count is the individual who posted the photo.

Like Count Affects Mental Health

The reason for this trial is due to the fear that “social media may be fueling a mental health crisis.” A UK snapshot survey found that of all the social media apps available, Instagram was voted worst for self esteem and well-being for people aged 14-24.

Teen girl sad and anxious looking at her phone.

This hit to mental health comes from a variety of factors. Self comparisons to photos (often photoshopped), a competition for likes, and online bullying are just some of the many sources for anxiety and depression on Instagram. As a result, the company has felt immense pressure to improve the app for its users’ mental health.

Directors’ Goals For The Hidden Like Count Trial

According to Mia Garlick, Facebook director of policy in Australia and New Zealand, “We hope this test will remove the pressure of how many likes a post will receive, so you can focus on sharing the things you love.”

five beautiful young girls make selfie in the park

The trial originally began in Canada, to which the country’s Facebook director Adam Mosseri said they wanted to promote more connection between users. “We want people to worry a little bit less about how many likes they’re getting on Instagram and spend a bit more time connecting with the people that they care about.”

Positive And Negative Outcomes

The like count has often been equated to ones’s level of popularity and success. Consequently, erasing this tally is likely to improve the self-esteem of those who felt inadequate for their photos’ low like count. However, it may make those who typically had popular posts feel worse for having nothing to show of it.

Friends lying on ground, surrounded by social media icons, some happy and some sad.

For those who use Instagram for business purposes, the company said the trial would not affect the measurement tools.

Photos: Unsplash, Freepik

Chow Down On These Facts About Hot Dogs

Hot Dogs are considered the classic American Food and summer staple. Whether you top your link with ketchup and mustard or go for some crazy toppings like caramel popcorn or arugula pesto, this savory food is a sure crowd pleaser. Asides from the not-so-pleasant thought of the meat processing, there are a pretty interesting array of facts to chow down on!

hands holding a hot dog topped with ketchup and mustard.

There Is Still A Debate Over The Origin

Believe it or not, hot dogs have been around since the classic tale of Homer’s Odyssey, yet no one is certain about the exact origins. Many people claim to be the inventors, with the dispute rooted in the definition of a hot dog itself. Was the originator the person who first put the sausage on a roll? Or the first to name the short sausage after the dachshund dog? It’s an origin legend that will surely never be solved.

People In Los Angeles Consume The Most Hot Dogs Every Year

You might associate glamorous, fit celebrities with Los Angeles and Hollywood, but turns out this city buys the most hot dogs! In total, residents buy close to 34 million pounds a year. Meaning even one of the fittest cities in the world knows the importance of a cheat day that includes a juicy dog.

Black Hot Dogs Are The Rage In Japan

If the multitude of topping options wasn’t enough of a change-up from the typical reddish frank, Japan has popularized the black hot dog. These sausages get the black color from black charcoal ash, which purportedly doesn’t change the flavor, simply the appearance. Even large chains like Ikea have joined in selling the spooky creation. Dare you try it?

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Yes, There Is An Official Correct Way To Eat A Hot Dog

As shocking as it may seem, there exists both a) The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council and b) an official correct way to eat a hot dog. Avoid any “frank faux pas” by watching this video through. You’re sure to get a laugh, and maybe learn some etiquette you have been breaking all along!

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5 Scientifically Proven Health Benefits To Kissing

What’s a more natural way to express affection for another person, than by kissing? This sign of care isn’t limited to lovers and those in relationships, for we also kiss babies on the cheek and friends upon greeting. Yet did you know there are actually scientifically proven health benefits to kissing?

Kissing Releases Positive Hormones

When kissing another person, the brain releases several hormones that make us feel good. One of these is dopamine, the hormone that boosts and regulates our mood. Kissing also signals the brain to release ocytocin, the love hormone that helps us create bonds with partners and babies. Both are solid factors in keeping us positive and optimistic daily.

mom and dad kissing their daughter on the cheeks.

Locking Lips Heightens Your Alertness

Kissing stimulates a chemical response in the body, causing it to release adrenaline and noradrenaline. These chemicals are responsible for making you feel excited as well as making your body more alert as your heart rate increases. This means you are more perceptive to responding to any threats with the necessary actions.

Kissing Reduces Your Chances Of Cavities

Every time you kiss someone, your salivary glands produce more saliva. In addition to helping you swallow food, saliva is important in removing food particles caught between your teeth, which if not removed or cleaned can turn into cavities. A little smooch can go a long way!

woman at dentist office with a thumb up and smiling.

Smooches Reduces Stress

One study by the Western Journal of Communication found that physical forms of affection help to reduce the “physiological effects of stress.” Kisses are considered one of these top exchanges, and were found to inhibit the prime stress hormone cortisol. All the more reason to pucker up after a long work day!

A Natural Healing Remedy

Love and lust both help to promote physical and mental healing. By releasing feel-good hormones, kissing helps your body stay in top form, and reduces your body’s stress levels so that it can focus more on recovery. Therefore, your injuries and mental health can all be improved with a little help of a peck!

Photos: Freepik

Finally Fix Your Brain Freeze In Seconds

We all know the dreaded feeling. One minute you’re enjoying a tasty ice cream to cool off in the hot summer months, the next your brain feels a sharp icy tingling that makes you (almost) regret having dined on the delicacy in the first place. Have no fear, you don’t have to give up your beloved treat. We have the quick cure to fix your brain freeze in seconds.

What Causes A Brain Freeze?

As you might have guessed, the root cause of your brain freeze is from eating or drinking something cold. Specifically, when this cold drink or food touches the roof of your mouth in the upper palate, a quick rush of blood goes to your brain. This response is what causes the chilling headache.

A Tongue In (Mouth) Solution

A quick, easy solution to warm the upper palate and reduce the pain is by pushing your tongue against the roof of your mouth. By holding your most flexible muscle for 5-10 seconds in that zone, you will get quick relief as the cold and brain freeze starts to subside.

A Self-Made Mask

Boy covering mouth with hands to create a mask to prevent brain freeze.

Another way to warm up the area inside your mouth to reduce the blood rushing to the brain is by creating a small mask over your mouth with your hands. If you breathe in and out several times, you’ll feel the hot air re-enter your mouth, thus counteracting the chill of the food or drink.

Drink A Lukewarm Beverage

The first reaction to combat the cold might be to drink a beverage that is hot, but this can actually cause more damage and pain! The severe contrast of hot and cold can burn the inside of your mouth, creating a new problem far worse than the original. Rather, try drinking lukewarm water that can steadily and safely increase the temperature of the inside of your mouth.

Photos: Freepik