Recurring Nightmares

I feel like I've looked a lot into dreaming itself, but not as much into nightmares as I would've hoped. Like I reckon I've got a good understanding, but need a tiny bit more to get the ball rolling for more ideas for my experimental animation.

I like the idea of the tidal wave. This is due to the fact that I imagine my animation to be at sea with a lighthouse making loops. The tidal wave can end the animation by 'waking the user up'.


References:
http://sleep.lovetoknow.com/reccurring-nightmare-meanings#kYDliZZiMrOfhQYm.97