What Are Dreams?
Dreams are basically stories and
images our mind creates while we sleep. Dreams can be vivid. They can make
you feel happy, sad, or scared. And they may seem confusing or perfectly
rational. Dreams can occur anytime during sleep.
But most vivid dreams occur during deep, REM (rapid eye movement) sleep,
when the brain is
most active. Some experts say we dream at least four to six times per night.
Why Do We Dream?
There are many theories about why we
dream, but no one knows for sure. Some researchers say dreams have no purpose
or meaning and are nonsensical activities of the sleeping brain.
Others say dreams are necessary for mental, emotional, and physical health. Studies
have shown the importance of dreams to our health and well-being. In one study,
researchers woke subjects just as they were drifting off into REM sleep. They
found that those who were not allowed to dream experienced:
- Increased tension
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Lack of coordination
- Weight gain
- Tendency to hallucinate
- Help solve problems in our lives
- Incorporate memories
- Process emotions
- Unconscious desires
- Thoughts
- Motivations
- Stress, conflict, and fear
- Trauma
- Emotional problems
- Medication or drug use
- Illness
- Coincidence
- Faulty memory
- An unconscious tying together of known information
Many experts say that dreams exist
to:
If you go to bed with a troubling
thought, you may wake with a solution, or at least feel better about the
situation.
Sigmund Freud believed dreams are a
window into our subconscious. He believed they reveal a person's:
Freud thought dreams were a way for
people to satisfy urges and desires that were unacceptable to society. Perhaps
there is merit with all these theories. Some dreams may help our brains process
our thoughts and the events of the day. Others may just be the result of
normal brain activity
and mean very little, if anything. Researchers are still trying to figure out
exactly why we dream.
What Do Dreams Mean?
Just as there are varying opinions
as to why we dream, there are also different views as to what dreams mean. Some
experts say dreams have no connection to our real emotions or thoughts. They
are just strange stories that don't relate to normal life. Others say our dreams
may reflect our own underlying thoughts and feelings, our deepest desires,
fears, and concerns, especially recurring dreams. By interpreting our dreams,
we may be able to gain insight into our lives and ourselves. Many people say
they have come up with their best ideas while dreaming, so dreams may be a
conduit of creativity. Often people report having similar dreams, they are
being chased, fall off a cliff, or appear in public naked. These types of
dreams are likely caused by a hidden stress or anxiety.
While the dreams may be similar, experts say the meaning behind the dream is
unique to each person. Therefore, many experts say not to rely on books or
"dream dictionaries," which give a specific meaning for a specific
dream image or symbol. The particular reason behind your dream is unique to
you. Although scientists can't say for sure what dreams mean and why we dream,
many people find meaning in their dreams.
Why Do Nightmares Occur?
Nightmares, or bad dreams, are common in children and adults. Often
nightmares are caused by:
If you have a recurring nightmare,
your subconscious may be trying to tell you something. Listen to it. If you
can't figure out why you are having bad dreams, and you continue to have them,
talk to a qualified mental
health care
provider. They may be able to help you figure out what is causing your
nightmares and provide tips to put you at ease. Keep in mind that no matter how
scary a nightmare is, it is not real and most likely will not happen to you in
real life.
What Are Lucid Dreams?
Have you ever had a dream where you
knew you were dreaming during your dream? This is called a lucid dream.
Research has shown that lucid dreaming is accompanied by an increased
activation of parts of the brain that are normally suppressed
during sleep. Lucid dreaming represents a brain state between REM sleep and
being awake. Some people who are lucid dreamers are able to influence the
direction of their dream, changing the story so to speak. While this may be a
good tactic to take, especially during a nightmare, many dream experts say it
is better to let your dreams occur naturally.
Can Dreams Predict the Future?
There are many examples of
situations where a dream came true or was telling of a future event. When you
have a dream that then plays out in real life, experts say it is most likely
due to:
However, sometimes dreams can
motivate you to act a certain way, thus changing the future.
Why Are Dreams Hard to Remember?
Researchers don't know for sure why
dreams are easily forgotten. Maybe we are designed to forget our dreams because
if we remembered all our dreams, we might not be able to distinguish dreams
from real memories. Also, it may be harder to remember dreams because during
REM sleep our body may shut down systems in our brain responsible for creating
memories. We may only remember dreams that occur just before we wake, when
certain brain activities have been turned back on. Some say our minds don't
actually forget dreams, we just don't know how to access them. Dreams may be
stored in our memory, waiting to be recalled. This notion may explain why you
may suddenly remember a dream later in the day -- something may have happened
to trigger the memory.
Tips for Dream Recall
If you are a sound sleeper and don't
wake up until the morning, you are less likely to remember your dreams compared
to people who wake up several times in the night. But here are some tips that
may influence your ability to remember your dreams. Wake up without an
alarm. You are more likely to remember your dreams if you wake up
naturally than with an alarm. Once the alarm goes off, your brain focuses on
the annoying sound and turning it off and not your dream. Remind yourself to
remember. If you want to remember your dreams and make a conscious
decision to do so, you are more likely to remember your dreams in the morning.
Before you go to sleep, remind yourself that you want to remember your dream. Dream
playback. If you think about the dream right after waking, it may be
easier to remember it later.
If
you are intrigued by your dreams or want to sort out the meaning behind them,
consider keeping a dream diary or journal. Here are some tips:
Write
it down. Keep a notebook or
journal and pen next to your bed and record your dream first thing every morning,
while the memory is still fresh. Write down anything you recall from the dream
and how it made you feel, even if you can only remember random pieces of
information.
Journal
without judgment. Dreams are
sometimes odd and may go against societal norms. Try not to judge yourself
based on your dreams.
Give
each dream a title. This may help
if you want to refer back to a dream. Sometimes the title you create can
provide insight on why you had the dream or the meaning behind it.
Dreams
have fascinated humanity since the beginning of time and will likely continue
to mystify us. And although science has allowed us to learn much about the
human brain, we may never know for sure the meaning behind our dreams.
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