Dreams

By: Taylor Rasmussen and Sarah Newsom

What is a dream?

A dream is a combination of sensations, images, and thoughts that pass through the mind of someone who is asleep.

A dreamer in a dream can be compared to a passenger on a moving train. The passenger is unable to control where the train goes and or the actions of the train. Dreams are similar, in that most of the time you can not control what occurs in your dream or what images are projected to you. Sometimes a dream can server as an outlet for repressed thoughts or impulses you may not act upon during your regular day. http://www.asdreams.org/

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Types of Dreams Daydreams Daydreaming is classified as a level of consciousness between sleep and wakefulness.  Studies show

that you have the tendency to daydream an average of 70-120 minutes a day. It occurs during  waking hours when you let your imagination carry you away. As your mind begins to wander and your level of awareness decreases, you lose yourself in your imagined scenario and fantasy. 

False Awakening Dreams Have you ever thought you have waken up and gone about your daily morning routine: getting up,

brushing your teeth, eating breakfast and going to work, only to wake up "again" and realize that what just happened is just a dream. That sensation is referred to as a false awakening.    

Lucid Dreams Lucid dreams occur when you realize you are dreaming. "Wait a second. This is only a dream!" Most

dreamers wake themselves up once they realize that they are dreaming. Other dreamers have cultivated the skill to remain in the lucid state of dreaming. They become an active participant in their own dreams, making decisions in their dreams and influencing the dream's outcome without awakening. 

Nightmares A nightmare is a disturbing dream that causes you to wake up feeling anxious and frightened.

Nightmares may be a response to real life trauma and situations. These type of nightmares fall under a special category called Post-traumatic Stress Nightmare (PSN). Nightmares may also occur because you have ignored or refused to accept a particular life situation. Research shows that most people who have regular nightmares have a family history of psychiatric problems, are involved in a rocky relationship or have had bad drug experiences. These people may have also contemplated suicide.  Nightmares are an indication of a fear that needs to be acknowledged and confronted. It is a way for the subconscious to wake up and take notice. "Pay attention!"  

http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes/

Types of Dreams (Cont’d) Recurring Dreams Recurring dreams repeat themselves with little variation in story or theme. 

These dreams may be positive, but most often they are nightmarish in content.  Dreams may recur because a conflict depicted in the dream remains unresolved or  ignored. Once you find a resolution to the problem, your recurring dreams will cease.  

Healing Dreams Healing dreams serve as messages for the dreamer in regards to their

health. The Ancient Greeks called these dreams "prodromic". Many dream experts believe that dreams can help in avoiding potential health problems and healing when you are ill or when you are grieving. Research shows that asthma and migraine sufferers have certain types of dreams before an attack. Your bodies are able to communicate to your mind through dreams. The dreams can "tell" you that something is not quite right with your bodies even before any physical symptoms show up. Dreams of this nature may be telling the dreamer that he or she needs to go to the dentist or doctor. If you can understand the language of dreams, your dreams will serve as an invaluable early warning system. They can help inform, advise and heal.

http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes/

Types of Dreams (Cont’d) Prophetic Dreams Prophetic dreams, also referred to as precognitive or psychic dreams,

are dreams that seemingly foretell the future.  One rational theory to explain this phenomenon is that your dreaming mind is able to piece together bits of information and observation that you may normally overlook or that you do not seriously consider. In other words, your unconscious mind knows what is coming before you consciously piece together the same information.  

Signal Dreams Signal dreams help you how to solve problems or make decisions in

your waking life.   Epic Dreams Epic dreams (also referred to as Great Dreams, Cosmic Dreams or

Numinous Dreams) are so huge, so compelling, and so vivid that you cannot ignore them. The details of such dreams remain with you for years, as if you just dreamt it last night. These dreams possess much beauty and contain many archetypal symbology.  When you wake up from such a dream, you feel that you have discovered something profound or amazing about yourself or about the world. It feels like a life-changing experience.    

http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes/

Types of Dreams (Cont’d)Progressive Dreams Progressive dreams occur when you have a sequence of dreams

that continue over a period of nights. The dream continues where you left off the previous night. Such dreams are problem-solving dreams and help to explore different options and various approaches to a problem, situation or relationship.   

Mutual Dreams Mutual dreams are described as such when two people have the

same dream. Mutual dreams may be planned, meaning that two people actively work toward achieving one dream scenario or goal. It is a way to improve communication and build trust. Mutual dreams can also be spontaneous. You find out that a friend, a significant other, faraway relative, or someone has had the same dream on the same night as you. Not much study has gone into the phenomenon of mutual dreams, but there is a very strong bond that exist between these two people.  

Interesting factsIn a lot of cases artists, musicians, and even authors

have credited their inspiration for a piece from a dream.

Solutions to our daily problems are also possible through dreams because sometimes they allow you to experience different things from another perspective.

Rapid Eye MovementWhen you are asleep you experience a stage called Rapid

Eye Movement (REM). Studies show that is when most people experience the most vivid dreams. REM can occur every 90-100 minutes and anywhere from three to four times a night.

http://www.asdreams.org/subidxeduq_and_a.htm

Interesting Facts (Cont’d)Most dreams appear to be in color. If in your daily

life you notice color more often, the colors you see in a dream will appear to be more vivid to you.

If someone experienced a dream during the Roman Era people believed it to be some sort of message from the Gods.

Blind people also have an ability to dream. If someone became blind after birth they see projections. If someone who has been blind there whole life has a dream they do not see anything, but have equally vivid dreams through smells, emotions, and the way things feel.

http://www.asdreams.org/subidxeduq_and_a.htmhttp://www.boredpanda.com/15-interesting-facts-about-dreams-dreaming/

Interesting Facts (Cont’d)While in a dream you only see faces of people

you know. If you do not recognize a face in a dream your mind is not inventing the person, you have just merely forgotten them. Remember, you see hundreds of faces of people you do not know each day.

A dreamer can experience a wide range of emotions during a dream, though the most common emotion is anxiety. Dreams tend to lean towards negative feelings over positive ones.

http://www.boredpanda.com/15-interesting-facts-about-dreams-dreaming/

Popular Books on DreamingDreaming By: Deirdre BarrettLucid Dreaming - The Power of Being Awake & Aware in

Your Dreams by Stephen LaBerge, published 1985 Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming by Stephen

LaBerge, published 1990 Conscious Dreaming: A Spiritual Path for Everyday Life

by Robert Moss, published 1996 Advanced Lucid Dreaming - The Power of Supplements

by Thomas Yuschak, published 2006 Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self by Robert

Waggoner, published 2008 Our Dreaming Mind by Robert L. Van De Castle,

published 1994

http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/dreaming

Works Citedhttp://www.asdreams.org/subidxeduq_and_a.htmhttp://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/

dreamtypes/

http://www.asdreams.org/subidxeduq_and_a.htmhttp://www.asdreams.org/subidxeduq_and_a.htmhttp://www.boredpanda.com/15-interesting-facts

-about-dreams-dreaming/

http://www.boredpanda.com/15-interesting-facts-about-dreams-dreaming/

http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/dreaming