Our beloved city of Bakersfield was voted the number one city for nightmares. Nightmares or bad dreams cause one to wake up in fear or distress. Some remember their dreams while others only remember how it made them feel. And some claim not to dream at all.

Nightmares are often caused by stress, anxiety, trauma, or sleep deprivation. Other factors include substance withdrawals, consuming scary and violent media, medications, or simply eating too much before bed. Common side effects include irregular sleep, increased fear and anxiety, and in some cases suicidal thoughts.

Bakersfield is home to several haunted locations such as the Padre Hotel, The Nile Theatre, and the Downtown post office. Over two thousand fatal car accidents, frequent mental distress, a plethora of venomous spiders and snakes, and a high risk of natural disasters may be some factors that play into people’s nightmares.

In an anonymous survey conducted by The Renegade Rip, locals were asked about their experience with nightmares, what they dreamed of, their fears, and if they’d ever experienced something paranormal. Their answers were varied, but two stood out among the rest.

One person said they have nightmares almost every night and they often involve dying in a gruesome manner or a doomsday. They claimed to be afraid of dying alone. They experienced a paranormal event when they were younger in which they were hit with a toy while they were alone in a room. No one was around. They also claimed to experience déjà vu on multiple occasions.

The last person interviewed claimed to have nightmares a few times a year and they involve being chased, falling from high places, or being murdered. They claimed to be afraid of heights, clowns, and the dark. In terms of paranormal experiences, they have experienced seeing shadows and hearing voices. They also recall experiencing sleep paralysis despite not having a nightmare.

These experiences were very interesting to research. The participants’ experiences were unique. One thing that seems to connect them all was the fear of dying or of the world ending.