1. Dreams Too much pizza or meaning?

2. The Basics • Dreams are most vivid during REM. • Vivid, clear imagery • Plots that make sense (even if unrealistic) • Dreams that are disorganized or made of fleeting images occur during NREM • Sounds and sensations while dreaming usually become incorporated into our dreams

3. The Basics • 50/50 – dreams in b/w vs. color • 70% of dreams about people we know • Reflect our lives (friends, fam., work, etc.) • Common to dream about worries, fears, feelings • Often forget b/c we have difficulty moving info from states of consciousness

4. Types of dreams • Daydream • 70-120 minutes per day • Between sleep and wakefulness • Imaginations carry us away • “wandering mind” – awareness decreases • Imagined scenarios and fantasy

5. Types of Dreams • Lucid Dream • Realization that you are dreaming within the dream • Most awaken when they realize they are dreaming • Some can learn to keep dreaming, enabling them to control the direction of the dream

6. Types of Dreams • Nightmares • Disturbing • Dreamer awakens anxious/scared • May be based on reality (PTSN) • Most who have regular nightmares have a family history of psychiatric probs • May indicate an underlying prob that needs to be addressed

7. Types of Dreams • Recurring Dreams • Repeating dreams w/ little variation • Can be positive, usually nightmares • Often circle around an unresolved problem in your life

8. Types of Dreams • Healing Dreams • May indicate a health prob • Can actually tell the dreamer what is ailing them

9. Types of Dreams • Prophetic Dreams • AKA precognitive dreams • Appear to foretell the future • May be that the unconscious pieces together information like a mystery before we do so consciously

10. Types of Dreams • Epic Dreams • Huge, compelling, vivid dreams • Impossible to ignore • Remember for years like it was yesterday

11. Dream Theories • Freudian (Psychodynamic): • Dreams reflect a person’s unconscious wishes and urges • Most of these wishes are unacceptable or painful • Symbolic dreams allow people to fantasize or deal with pain unconsciously

12. Dream Theories • Cognitive: • Dreams are connected to reality – no hidden content • Dreams express CURRENT wishes, desires, issues with which a person is dealing

13. Dream Theories • Biopsychological: • Dreams are biological, not psychological activity • Sleep neurons fire in parts of brain that control movement and vision • Neuron bursts are random – brain tries to make sense of them by creating a story (dream)

14. Top Ten Dreams • Kissing • Self = youthful energy of love • Others = you know too much about them • Water • Usually reflects emotion • (what is happening in/ around water) • May reflect feeling of renewal, new life, refreshment

15. Top Ten Dreams • Nudity • Shows you feel vulnerable • Money • How you value money • Controlled by the desire for it, lack of it, or the inability to control themselves w/ it

16. Top Ten Dreams • Losing a valuable object/person • Extension of our self awareness • Object – afraid of losing something new • Person – questions about commitment • Flying • Dreams transcend circumstances – safer perspective • Avoid danger or see it as unimportant

17. Top Ten Dreams • Colors • Different colors mean different things • Only significant if they really stand out • Running • Pressure in life • Usually running from something

18. Top Ten Dreams • Sex • Inappropriate – something forbidden is exciting to you • Own sexual frustrations • Someone has violated our boundaries • Teeth • Embarrassment or potentially embarrassing situations • May be physical (sensitive or grinding)

19. Analyzing a Dream • Write it down immediately • 50% gone after 5 minutes • 90% gone after 10 minutes • Determine Dream Theme or Concept • What is the main theme • What is the big picture • Take away details, names, things, places and leave only the action

20. Analyzing a Dream • Match the theme or concept to a specific area of your life • 90% of dreams are about you • What area of my life is this dream about? • Think about emotions • Relate this to theme

21. Analyzing a Dream • Look at the details to help you finish the picture • The symbols in the dream have meaning • Use a dream dictionary to give the most common definition of the item • Take a closer look at the personal symbols • Look at all the symbols and decide which are most meaningful to you

22. Analyzing a Dream • Decoding the Symbols • Associating: • Look at something and take note of the first thing that it reminds you of • Do this until you reach an “Ah-hah” • Amplification: • List what each symbol means to you

23. Tips to remember dreams • Get plenty of rest • Remind yourself before bed that you want to remember your dreams • Have a notebook and pen beside the bed • Make your 1st thought when you awaken “What did I dream?” • Don’t move • Replay dream – may need to work back

24. Tips to remember a dream • Record the dream as you recall it • If you can, write it during the night • At least write key points, themes, plots • Write out any dialogue • Alarm clock • REM about every 90 minutes • Set alarm for morning based on this