Dream Analysis

Dream Analysis

Dream Analysis

Do dreams have meaning or are they simply jumbles of random imagery without theme or purpose? This issue has sparked significant debate. However, most people perceive their own dreams as meaningful.

The Purpose of Dream Analysis

People choose to analyze their dreams for a variety of reasons. Dreams may give access to suppressed emotions or indicate areas of life where changes need to be made. Some people believe that their dreams can give them insight and guidance. Others derive generative ideas and creative inspiration from their dreams(Leonard, 2007). In some cases, people engage in dream analysis simply because it is interesting.

Dream Recall

People forget approximately 50% of dream content within just five minutes of waking, and nearly all of it within 10. Thus, to improve dream recall, you need to keep either a pen and paper or a means of recording audio next to your bed and record everything you remember immediately upon waking.

There are a number of substances that can decrease dream recall, including alcohol, marijuana and sedatives. There are also supplements that some people claim improve dream recall, including B vitamins, Ginkgo, Zinc and Choline.

Recurring Dreams

Many people have recurring dreams, which usually represent subconscious attempts to resolve longstanding issues or solve problems that the dreamer faces in his or her waking life(Leonard, 2007). Such dreams may point to an area of life that requires conscious attention and perhaps the implementation of changes. A recurring nightmare may represent an area of life that causes significant anxiety in the waking world.

Why People Dream

The origins of the word “dream” are rooted in several languages. Words from which “dream” is likely derived, including “draugmas” (illusion, deception or phantasm), “druh” (to harm or injure) and “druz” (to lie or deceive), indicate the perceptions our ancestors held of dreaming. The original Middle English “dreme” meant joy, mirth or music(Leonard, 2007). There is no definitive answer to the question of why dreams occur, but there are many compelling theories.

Psychological Release

Nightmares are thought to be a means of dealing with fears and releasing psychological pressures. In line with this theory, some believe that dreaming keeps people sane because sleep deprivation causes symptoms of insanity. However, psychotic behaviors may be the result of general sleep deprivation rather than a lack of opportunities to dream.

Spiritual Guidance

Some believe that dreams can provide spiritual guidance because they tap into the subconscious mind's higher wisdom. As such, dreams may be analyzed from ...