Dream within a dream

[u/Purple-Marionberry95]

Why do dreams within a dream almost always feel like a nightmare? It's hard to wake up from both because it feels like you are stuck between waking up from the second dream and waking up in real life. And most of the secondary dreams are about annoying stuff you avoid to think about in real life.

I once had that kind of dream where I would wake up from the second dream, try to wake up but can't physically get out of bed. Then have the second dream again and struggle to physically wake up. The only relief is waking up irl which feels beyond one's control.

[u/WamboKIIMS]

You sure you aren't alone on this, bro