Everyone dreams regularly. Even if we don’t always remember our dreams, they do occur. Sometimes a person can have a dream that they feel is weird, different or significant. If you have ever had strange dreams, which you likely have, you may wonder, what do dreams mean? There is more than one answer to this question, which we will delve into further.
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When do we dream?
According to All About Psychology, we spend between 1 and 2 hours each night dreaming. Dreams occur while we are in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, lasting up to 2 hours each night. Some dreams can last only 5 or 10 minutes shortly after falling asleep. Later on during the night, however, dreams can sometimes last for as long as 45 minutes. When we enter REM sleep, our eyes flash rapidly behind the lids, and when we begin dreaming, it’s as if we’re watching a movie.
What do Dreams Mean? Unable to remember dreams?
You aren’t alone if you believe you don’t dream each night because you don’t remember your dreams. Many people forget their dreams shortly after waking. There is no definite explanation for why we sometimes forget our dreams. Still, dream researchers have theorized that some people are unable to remember their dreams because they are embarrassed about the particular dream. Another theory is that the dream is suppressed for some reason, which is likely because the dream was too terrifying.
According to the Lucidity Institute, there are methods for increasing the likelihood of remembering your dreams. One method is to ensure that you get an adequate amount of sleep each night. Another way to increase your chances of remembering all your dreams is to write down your dreams immediately upon waking. Even if you only remember bits and pieces, write down whatever you can remember. Institute experts state that remaining in the same position immediately after waking is important. This makes it imperative to have a pen and paper within easy reach so you won’t have to change positions to retrieve your writing materials.
What do Dreams Mean? What does it mean to dream about someone?
People regularly dream about their families, friends, co-workers and enemies. You might wonder: what does it mean when you dream about someone? Well, according to experts, dreaming about a person doesn’t necessarily mean that the dream means that you have any particular feelings about that person. Dreams are symbolic, so you could dream about a celebrity you admire to learn certain aspects about yourself. To analyze a dream that you’ve had about someone, you need to look at the dream as a whole as opposed to focusing on the particular person in the dream.
What do Dreams Mean? Dreaming about an ex
What does it mean when you dream about your ex? People ask this popular question to figure out the meaning behind their dreams. There are many possible causes of dreaming about your ex. For instance, if you have just entered into a new relationship with another person, dreaming about your ex could be your subconscious mind’s way of comparing the two mates. Another possible explanation for dreaming about your ex could be that you have unfinished business with them. Does dreaming about an ex signify that you still have feelings for them? Well, not necessarily. If you analyze your dream, you can more easily determine this. If you felt hatred towards your ex in your dream, then your feelings may not be romantic about your ex. However, positive and loving feelings in the dream could mean that you may still be in love with your ex.
What do Dreams Mean? Recurring dreams
If you have been having the same dream repeatedly, then there could be an underlying cause of this. You may be wondering: what does my dream mean? Have you experienced a terrifying event? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that is often a result of experiencing trauma. Traumatic events include but aren’t limited to rape, severe abuse, post-war, or experiencing a near-death incident. Symptoms of PTSD vary depending on the individual and can consist of:
- Easy startling
- Avoidance of specific situations
- Flashbacks of the traumatic event
- And recurring dreams, in addition to other symptoms
Some researchers believe that recurring dreams are the body’s way of sending an important message. However, not everyone remembers their dreams. Due to the confusing nature of dreams, even if a person can remember them, it’s often difficult to determine their meanings. If a recurring dream is particularly disturbing, then the assistance of a psychologist might be a good idea. A psychologist can assist you with getting to the root cause of your dream, hopefully preventing the dream from recurring in the future.
If your recurring dreams are vivid and you easily remember them, you will have a better chance of ending them. For instance, if you are in a bad relationship or experiencing another major stressor in your life, you need to rectify those situations before you can stop the dreams from recurring.
What do Dreams Mean? Dreaming about snakes
You might also wonder: what does it mean when you dream about snakes? Like when you dream about specific people, dreaming about a snake often has more of a symbolic meaning. You could be facing a challenging situation in your life. Perhaps you have a very difficult and potentially life-changing decision to make, or maybe you’re experiencing a situation causing you to feel extremely stressed out.
Sigmund Freud’s interpretation of dreaming about snakes is somewhat different. He felt snakes represent a phallic symbol, meaning that the dream is centred around a man.
There could be other possible explanations for dreaming about snakes, which are as follows:
- Dreaming about snakes could signify that you’re in the process of resolving some deeply disturbing issues.
- You could be experiencing a major transition in your life, such as getting married, beginning college, etc.
- Many feel that snakes or serpents often symbolize the subconscious. This could indicate that your subconscious is attempting to send you a message.
What do Dreams Mean? What do my dreams mean that involves being chased?
It doesn’t usually mean that you are in imminent danger if you have dreamed about being chased in a dream. It could mean that you’re feeling anxious or conflicted about something in your life. Perhaps you’re experiencing great jealousy because your ex is getting married, or you’re feeling angry because you were passed over for a promotion at work. Being chased in a dream could signify that you’re “running away” from those negative and undesirable emotions to deal with those feelings in real life.
If, on the other hand, you are the one chasing someone or something else in your dream, then it could signify your desire to pursue an opportunity in your life. You might need to sit down and fully analyze your dream to understand it better.
What do Dreams Mean? Dreaming about flying
Another common dream involves a person having the ability to fly. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have that ability for real? However, flying in a dream often has nothing to do with actually performing this act. Dreaming that you can fly is often related to real-life feelings of freedom to do as you please. Being free is often symbolized by a flying bird, which can come and go as it pleases. Dreaming about flying can also signify your fear of flying on an aeroplane. Experts explain that there are ways to analyze your dreams about flying to interpret them properly. For instance, you need to note in which direction you were flying, whether or not you were flying alone, etc., which can bring you some understanding.
So as you can see, dreams can be very interesting, and although we often wonder what dreams mean, they don’t always have an exact meaning. We might dream about something that has been on our minds for a while or something we talked about just before bed. Dream meanings can sometimes be a bit more mysterious and meaningful. However, in most cases, dreams are totally harmless and simply our body’s way of dealing with everyday life.
