I am having trouble sleeping lately. I have no idea why. But when I do I have really vivid dreams. Naturally I have done a bit of research into dream analysis and the tldr version is the following:
Dreams are experienced whilst sleeping, and can be
images,
sounds and
feelings. Sometimes dreams are so real that it’s possible to ‘smell’ the environment.
Dreams are most commonly a weird mix of the ordinary and humdrum
events of the day that are often unnoticed.
Theories suggest that dreams are unconscious
wishes – or
desires that go unnoticed.
Others believe that dreams are a ‘clean-up’ of the brain – that it’s getting rid of all the
unwanted thoughts collected throughout the day.
I also found a lot of information on dream analysis by Sigmund Freud, taking me back to the days I studied Psychology at A Level. Back then I thought he was an absolutely raving lunatic (has anyone else heard of the
oedipus or
electra complex?) However, although the following is a bit long, it's interesting if you stick with it:
"Considered the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) revolutionizes the study of dreams with his work The Interpretation Of Dreams. Freud begins to analyze dreams in order to understand aspects of personality as they relate to pathology. He believes that nothing you do occurs by chance; every action and thought is motivated by your unconscious at some level. In order to live in a civilized society, you have a tendency to hold back our urges and repress our impulses. However, these urges and impulses must be released in some way; they have a way of coming to the surface in disguised forms.
One way these urges and impulses are released is through your dreams. Because the content of the unconscious may be extremely disturbing or harmful, Freud believes that the unconscious expresses itself in a symbolic language.
Freud categorizes aspects of the mind into three parts:
Id - centered around primal impulses, pleasures, desires, unchecked urges and wish fulfillment.
Ego - concerned with the conscious, the rational, the moral and the self-aware aspect of the mind.
Superego - the censor for the id, which is also responsible for enforcing the moral codes of the ego.
When you are awake, the impulses and desires of the id are suppressed by the superego. Through dreams, you are able to get a glimpse into your unconscious or the id. Because your guards are down during the dream state, your unconscious has the opportunity to act out and express the hidden desires of the id. However, the desires of the id can, at times, be so disturbing and even psychologically harmful that a "censor" comes into play and translates the id's disturbing content into a more acceptable symbolic form. This helps to preserve sleep and prevent you from waking up shocked at the images. As a result, confusing and cryptic dream images occur.
According to Freud, the reason you struggle to remember your dreams, is because the superego is at work. It is doing its job by protecting the conscious mind from the disturbing images and desires conjured by the unconscious."
I think Freud isn't too far off. I believe it's true that everyone represses their deepest thoughts, urges and impulses in order to live in a civilized society.
I daren't confess what my dreams are about. But they always seem to centre around the same people at late. On a lighter note, I managed to dig out this old quote I knew I had written down somewhere (and apparently it is true too). Hope you are all having sweet dreams.
"Did you know that when people appear in your dreams, it's because that person wants to see you."
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