Sleep inertia causes vivid dreams after morning naps

Medical expert dr. Decsa Medika Hertanto explains that returning to sleep for a short period, such as 30 minutes after waking up, can lead to intense, absurd, or even frightening dreams that feel remarkably real.

This phenomenon is attributed to "sleep inertia," a condition where the brain does not become fully active immediately upon waking. Dr. Decsa compares the human brain to an office with various departments that do not all start their work hours at the same time, causing a staggered transition into alertness.