Dreams can be exciting, scary, or just plain strange. We all dream, even if we don’t remember it the next day. But why? And what do our dreams mean, anyway?
What Are Dreams?
Dreams are basically stories and images your mind creates while you sleep. They can make you feel happy, sad, or scared. They may seem confusing or perfectly rational. Sometimes, they can feel so real that you may question whether you’re dreaming or not.
Some experts say we dream at least four to six times a night. You can dream at any stage of sleep, but the most vivid dreams occur during a phase called REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. During this cycle of deep sleep, your brain is most active.
Dream lag
What you dream about may be linked to what’s going on in your waking life. But it might not happen right away. Some experts have found what they call the “dream lag effect.” Studies have found that it could take up to six days for a person’s experience to show up in their dreams.
Why Do We Dream?
Many theories exist about why we dream, but no one knows for sure. Some researchers say dreams have no purpose or meaning, while others believe we need dreams for our mental, emotional, and physical health.
According to some experts, human beings have three basic needs to fulfill during our waking hours:
- Autonomy: We want to be able to make our own decisions.
- Competence: We want to feel effective as we move about our day.
- Relatedness: We crave connection with others.
When those needs aren’t met, our frustrations may play out in our dreams.
Many studies have looked into the importance of dreams for our health and well-being. In one study, researchers woke people just as they were going into REM sleep. They found that those who weren’t allowed to dream had:
- More tension
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Difficulty focusing
- Lack of coordination
- Weight gain
- A tendency to hallucinate (see things that aren’t really there)
Dreams could also exist to:
- Help us solve problems in our lives
- Store away important memories
- Process emotions
If you go to bed with a troubling thought, you may wake up with a solution or at least feel better about the situation.
Some dreams may also help our brains organize our thoughts and events of the day. Others may simply result from normal brain activity and mean very little, if anything. Researchers are still trying to learn more.
- Related:Do You Get Good Sleep?
Types of Dreams
Experts have so far been able to identify several types of dreams. Among them are:
Lucid dreams
In this type, you know you’re dreaming. Research shows that lucid dreaming comes with a boost of activity in parts of the brain that are usually restful during sleep. You can think of it as a brain state between REM sleep and being awake.
Some lucid dreamers are able to control some things that happen in their dreams, changing the story, so to speak. While this tactic may help sometimes, especially during a nightmare, many dream experts say it’s better to let your dreams flow naturally.
Nightmares
A nightmare is a bad dream. It’s common in both kids and adults. You can have a nightmare for several reasons, including:
- Stress
- A recent conflict in your life
- Fear
- A traumatic event
- Medications you’re taking
- Recreational drug use
- A health issue, such as untreated sleep apnea
If you keep getting a certain nightmare repeatedly, your subconscious mind (the brain activity that happens without you being aware of it) may be trying to tell you something. Listen to it. If you can’t figure out why you’re having bad dreams, talk to a mental health expert. They may be able to help you figure out what’s causing your nightmares and give you tips to put you at ease.
