Dream demon

A dream demon is a mythical or fictional creature often depicted as an entity that appears in dreams, sometimes causing fear, distress, or nightmares. In various cultural stories and literature, these figures symbolize subconscious fears or negative emotions. They are not real but serve as archetypes or metaphorical representations of inner turmoil. In psychology, overwhelming negative dreams might be interpreted as the mind processing unresolved issues, with the "dream demon" acting as a symbolic figure rather than an actual entity. Overall, the concept functions as a narrative tool to explore and understand emotional experiences during sleep.