Dreams
What is a dream? A succession of images, thoughts, or emotions passing through the mind during sleep
The Science of Dreaming http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb7hqzc2p2y
Stages of sleep
Brain waves during sleep
When do dreams occur? Stage V - Rapid Eye Movement Duration of REM period increases into the night 15 minutes (early in the evening) to 45 minutes (late at night) Last dream is most likely to be the longest and the one people remember when they wake up You can usually only recall the last 15 minutes of your dreams if we can remember them at all Cultures that highly value dreams and talk about them frequently usually remember them each morning
Types of dreams Repetitive relevant to some current problem or preoccupation Predictive often we think of dreams as displaying the future Nightmares dreams with frightening or emotional content Daydreams fleeting and wandering thoughts while semi-awake Lucid controlling your own dreams, take them where you want
Repetitive Dreams Usually due to some problem, weakness, issue, or fear you face Once the issue is confronted in real life, the dream will disappear Example You were scared by a dog as a small child Dogs appear in your dreams Dog dreams reoccur when you are feeling insecure or vulnerable
Predictive dreams Usually occur as part of conscious preoccupation as well Reflection of the waking mind and playing out a scenario presently facing in life Example: About to go on a flight Dream the plane crashes Simply mirroring the tensions that we all have about flying
Daydreams Allowing your imagination to run away from you Accessing the right side of the brain creativity Not just silly fantasies or wishful thinking but worrying can be too Visualize unwanted or negative outcomes Daydreams are healthy escape from reality allows us to visualize proper steps we should take in life
Because of frightening nature, you are more likely to remember vivid details Sensitive, intuitive, creative, or imaginative are more prone Perhaps because they are more empathetic and in tune to their emotions and surroundings Perhaps linked to something that is troubling you from your unconscious Nightmares
Lucid Dreaming Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Planning and predicting outcomes Utilize these dreams to improve aspects of self Help you to visualize and rehearse an event in your mind beforehand Application only limited by your imagination With practice, lucid dreaming can be learned and achieved at will
The Science of Lucid Dreaming http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lysx51xbkos
Freud s approach to dreams Analyze dreams in order to understand aspects of personality Every action and thought is motivated by your unconscious at some level Society forces us to hold back urges and impulses that get released in our dreams In order to keep us from being shocked by our unconscious urges, our brains translate these into symbols when we dream
Freud s approach to dreams Manifest contentwhat dream seems to say on the surface often bizarre and nonsensical Latent contentwhat the dream is really trying to say the look into our unconscious
Freud s approach to dreams Motivating force of a dream is wish fulfillment. Power, lack of control or unsatisfactory love may manifest into solutions in dreams Thoughts repressed during day get fulfilled in dreams Believed every imagery and symbol had sexual connotation anxiety dreams were sign of repressed sexual impulses
Jung s approach to dreams Student of Freud Also believed in unconscious Jung and Freud split because of differing beliefs in dreams Did not see it as animalistic, instinctual, or sexual saw it as more spiritual
Jung s approach to dreams Dreams are not attempts to conceal your true feelings from the waking mind but rather a window to your unconscious They serve to guide the waking self to achieve wholeness and offer solutions to problems you face in waking life Guide personal growth and help achieve full potential
Symbolism Indicates you need a temporary change to daily routine take time off from daily grind. Also instability and insecurity. Overindulgent behavior perhaps you need to exercise more self control
Symbolism Comfort and ease may be trying to bring you back to a time where things are much simpler Power and ability to exert it may indicate you need to take leadership role. Also female sexuality, aggression and seduction
Symbolism Refers to your solid character and leadership ability may be telling you to be truthful or come clean about something Freshness, beauty, innocence, simplicity, friendliness and cleanliness. Plucking petals denotes purity of love. Walking in field good luck.
www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionary 5,800 keywords and 20,000 meanings
Common Dreams and Interpretations It is not only fascinating, but yet another mysterious facet of dreams, where people of diverse backgrounds, of varying experiences, and of different ages can dream these same common themes. The human mind has the ability to generate and conjure up a myriad of images, yet we still share such similar themes in our dreams. These ideas may serve to remind us that perhaps we are not all that different. Perhaps these similar dream experiences serve to connect us as a human race as we share the same common concepts of concern, hope, fear and conflict. -Someone not so famous
Falling dreams You will not die if you don t wake up before the end Indication of insecurities, instabilities, failure, inferiority and anxiety You have lost your foothold Loss of control may parallel a situation in waking life
Falling dreams Usually occur during first stage of sleep Often accompanied by muscles spasms of arms and legs known as myoclonic jerks
Naked in public dreams Very common Nudity can symbolize a variety of things Reflects vulnerability or feelings of shamefulness Perhaps hiding something that afraid others can see Metaphorically, clothes are a means of concealment
Chase Dreams Flee and flight is instinctive response to a physical threat Parallel how we may respond to pressure and cope with fears or stress Tells us that we are running away or avoiding an issue in waking life that needs to be confronted
Flying dreams Usually a lucid dream Exhilarating, joyful and liberating Suggests you are on top of a situation, you have risen above. Perhaps a new or different perspective Representative of own personal sense of power
Teeth dreams Teeth are important feature of attractiveness Reflect anxieties about your appearance May also stem from fear of rejection, sexual impotence, or even fear of getting old During menopause, women often report teeth dreams
Failure dreams Being put to the test or scrutinized in some way Usually have to do with selfesteem and confidence Believe the worst about yourself and overly worried Unprepared for some challenge worried about being judged
Benefits of REM Dreams Get to try out experiences that we normally couldn t safely do in real life There are no consequences in our own heads!!! Explore emotions that our waking brain could not Regulate traffic between experiences, emotions and memories
Could we record our dreams? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgxjhploffu