What psychological state can often accompany nightmares?

Nightmares are vivid and disturbing dreams that can lead to feelings of intense fear or anxiety upon waking. The emotional response to nightmares often includes a heightened sense of anxiety, which can linger even after the individual has woken up. This anxiety can stem from the themes or scenarios experienced within the nightmare, which may tap into the individual's fears or stressors.

In contrast, happiness, contentment, and calmness are generally not associated with the experience of nightmares. These emotions are more related to positive dream experiences or ensures a state of psychological comfort, which nightmares disrupt. The distress and fear following a nightmare often leads to increased anxiety, making it the prominent psychological state accompanying such experiences.