But talking about dreams, particularly when you first wake up, can make them easier to remember. It's those initial moments as you're waking up where the dream still feels accessible, lingering in the synapses waiting to be solidified into your conscious mind. Talking about your dreams—or writing them down—helps.
The more we integrate our dreams into our days, the more easily we remember them. And the act of discussing dreams can bring people together; just as dreams open up conversations on sensitive or embarrassing issues in a therapeutic setting, they can also facilitate intimate conversations among friends.
Dreams never lie
Dreams tell you what you really know about something, what you really feel. They point you toward what you need for growth, integration, expression, and the health of your relationships to person, place, and thing. They can help you fine-tune your direction and show you your unfinished business.
Scientists and psychologists, old and new, tell us that dreams reveal critical aspects about ourselves. Dreams are a reflection of your recent state of mind, future possibilities, and changes that you have experienced. Related Blog: Do I Really Need 8 Hours of Sleep a Night?
If you experience especially intense or recurring nightmares, you may benefit by talking about it with a counselor or psychologist. Sometimes just talking through your nightmares can be enough to dispel them.
You could encounter a roadblock, lose your passion, or feel inspired to find a completely new calling. Then, all of the people you've told will know that you never went on to accomplish that big dream you were talking about. Disappointment happens sometimes, and you don't need the whole world to know about it.
At this time there is little scientific evidence suggesting that dreams can predict the future. Some research suggests that certain types of dreams may help predict the onset of illness or mental decline in the dream, however.
Indeed, studies suggest that nightmares are often linked to unmet psychological needs and/or frustration with life experiences. Yet those links aren't always easy to make—except in cases of trauma (discussed below), our nightmares tend to reflect our troubles through metaphor rather than literal representation.
So, why do my dreams sometimes feel so incredibly real? It comes down to how intensely stimulated parts of the brain become during REM sleep. Coupled with the powerful emotions we're experiencing within them at the same time – creating an illusion that feels more life-like than reality itself!
Dreams sometimes reflect our conscious desires -- we might dream of doing something we enjoy. Dreams also can be very random, and it is likely that alterations to the brain that occur in sleep lead to lack of binding and these random associations. Using dreams to unlock unconscious desires is not backed scientifically.
Vivid dreams are dreams that feel like they're happening IRL. They can be good dreams (even sex dreams!) or nightmares. Sometimes they just happen, but other times they're caused by stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, medications, or pregnancy.
If you dream about someone, it is much more likely a reflection of your own thoughts and subconscious feelings instead of an indication of how they are feeling or thinking about you. Dreams can provide insights into relationships and help you better understand your feelings.
Those who believe that shared dreams are genuine say it can happen spontaneously, or be planned. They're most common between people who are emotionally close such as couples, siblings, parent-child, or best friends. It's also said that twins may be especially prone to shared dreams.
Research shows that about 15% of dreams are shared – mainly with romantic partners, friends and relatives. And if you don't currently share your dreams, you might want to start thinking about it, as research also suggests that it can help to improve relationship intimacy.
Paying attention to your dreams can provide rich insights into the issues that are playing on your mind. Dreams are the brain's way of working on important issues, problems or emotions that are leftover from when we're awake.
REM sleep usually takes place in the later stages of the sleep cycle, so dreams that occur closer to waking up are more likely to be remembered. Anxiety levels: People are more likely to remember their dreams when they are anxious or depressed.
A soothsayer is someone who can foretell the future.
Most of us have had a dream about an ex-partner at some point, but it's not always clear what this means. Dreaming about your ex may be a sign that you're not over them, but it may also be a symptom of trauma, feeling lonely, or having a conflict with yourself.
Alan Eiser, a psychologist and a clinical lecturer at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, says dreams can be “highly meaningful,” because they “deal with the sort of personal conflicts and emotional struggles that people are experiencing in their daily lives.”
Why? Because when you decide to chase something, the object or goal or dream you decide to chase decides to run away. You could have all the tools, all the resources, all the knowledge and all the power, but none of that matters. Each time you get closer to grasping your goals, it just slips out of your hands.
Most everyone has strange dreams from time to time, Dimitriu says, and they are usually not a cause for concern. In fact, there a few strategies you can try for preventing weird dreams or calming yourself down after they occur: Reduce stress.
A nightmare usually involves replaying the traumatic event, feeling like they are right back there again. For veterans, this might mean re-witnessing horrific events or even deaths of people they witnessed while on combat missions.