Why Do We Dream
By: Micheal BergerTotal Views: 217, Word Count: 517,
Why do we dream is one of the most fascinating questions that have ever puzzled mankind. Many people find it interesting as they feel curious to know the meaning and interpretations of why we dream.
For many years, scientists, psychologists and philosophers situated across the world have tried to explain the meaning and causes of dreams. They have proposed several theories that describe the unconscious state of human mind, aspects of memory and desires. Sigmund Freud’s theory on ‘The Interpretation of Dreams’ explains the meaning, need and interpretations of dreams. Considered as the father of modern psychology, Freud was the first person to point out the significance of dreams which is widely acknowledged across the world.
Dreams are a mere manifestation of our daily behavior and feelings. Basically, it is very natural and healthy for humans to have dreams in their routine life. When a person doesn’t get a dream, it means that there could be a probable change in his/her everyday conduct, restlessness or difficulties in concentration.
What are Dreams?
To understand the meaning of dreams, it is very essential to know the different stages of sleep. Scientists bifurcate sleep into two stages, viz- Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and Non Rapid Eye Movement (NREM). They believe that dreams occur during rapid eye movements.
There are four types of dreams which include nightmares, precognitive dreams, intuitive dream and recurring dreams. Whenever a person visualizes a dream, certain hormones get released in the brain that help to de-stress and achieve relaxation. During the process, the connections between certain regions of his/her brain get strengthened.
Why do People Dream?
There are numerous theories on the occurrences of dreams that have been set out by several scientists and psychologists. These theories aptly explain why it’s not possible to control dreams and how they play an important role in memory enrichment. Since there is no consensus on any particular theory, it depends upon an individual to believe and follow the theory as per his/her perception.
There are a variety of causes that lead people to dream. When the reminiscences of a dream are friendly, people describe them as good and when a dream contributes terror and emotions of anxiety, it is proclaimed as a bad dream.
What are the Causes of Bad Dreams?
1. Emotional state of an individual
2. Mental stress and pressures
3. Traumatic incidents and dilemma
4. Due to ill-effects of certain medicines
5. Physical factors like illnesses and fever
Many times, a dream teaches lots of things that people are usually unaware about themselves. Whatever is the reason, dreams usually focus on thoughts and emotions. Many people wonder about dreams and assume that they deal with our daily routine activities. For example, any kind of unfinished task that people fail to finish during the course of the day.
A variety of researchers says that dreams serve no real purpose. Yet there are many who believe that dreams are essential for mental, emotional and physical well-being of an individual. Hence, the question why do we dream remains a matter of curiosity for people as they find it fascinating.
About the Author
Dr Micheal Berger is a General Physician
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