Is it normal that almost every night i have nightmares (and cry in my sleep)?

I'v always had nightmares my entire life, meaning around 90% of the times I've had dreams. My first dream I had (which I had before I understood the concept of dreaming, which made it all the more terrifying) when I was about 4 years old, contained me being forcibly dragged out of my bed by a unidentified flying creature, whom dropped me out of a window causing me to fall to my death. Ever since then I was always afraid of going to sleep, as each time was a gamble if I'd have to "die" again. Only a couple years ago did they become less frequent and I started just not dreaming, or so I thought until I read that "you always dream, you just don't remember them", which makes me believe I'm merely not remembering the nightmares anymore, and it is partially supported by the fact that I often wake up to tears all over my face or in my eyes. What is causing this, how can I solve it, and how what effects will it have on my future?