dream

dream - nocturnal images, sometimes beautiful, sometimes chaotic, sometimes frightening.

Many sleep and dream research experts believe that dreams reflect experiences from people's everyday lives. Because things that are important to one also occur in the dream - both the bad and the good.

However, those who frequently have bad dreams can develop symptoms that should be combated with relaxation exercises or professional help.

What is dreaming

Dreams can be experienced in all phases of sleep (falling asleep, waking up, REM sleep, NREM sleep). A dream is thus a psychological activity that our brain carries out when we sleep. It is often associated with vivid images and triggers intense emotions. After awakening the dreaming can often not or only partially remember his dream.

Dreams that induce fear or fright are nightmares. The concept of the nightmare comes from Germanic mythology. There albums (elves) were responsible for bad dreams. One imagined the albums mostly on the sleeping person's chest, which caused an uncomfortable feeling of pressure.

If fantasy images and ideas are experienced while awake, that is, in the full state of consciousness, they are called daydreams. In contrast to nightly dreaming, they can often be controlled consciously or even brought about by the respective person.

The attention specifically slides away from the external stimuli of the environment towards an inner fantasy world. Daydreaming is thus a form of trance that people can put themselves into.

The act of a dream in reality is often impossible (such as flying) or at least unlikely (such as meeting a celebrity). But real things or events can also be processed in dreams - for example dreaming about their favorite food while the person is on a diet.

The frequency of dreaming is probably about the same for all people, but the ability to remember it varies greatly from person to person. If you want to remember your dreams in a targeted manner, you can, for example, increase the intensity of the dream and expand your memory through meditation before sleep and keeping a dream diary.

People who are often plagued by nightmares and want to suppress dreaming can take certain psychotropic drugs that ensure a dreamless sleep.

Function & task

It is still not known exactly why one dreams. There are various theories and hypotheses that differ depending on the scientific background. For example, brain research sees dreams as a physiological response to special neuronal processes.

In contrast, depth psychology regards dreams as a reflection of the subconscious. What is certain, however, is that during sleep the brain processes what one has experienced and learned during the day.

Some scientists therefore suspect that the brain mixes new information with the old and then stores it. Therefore, it should also help, for example, to combine a short break with a 20 to 30-minute sleep after studying. In sleep, topics are thus processed that occupy the dreaming. Sometimes solutions for current problems can be found in this way, which the dreaming would not have come across in the waking state.

A similar theory is about preparing in dreams for future situations in life. Small children, for example, dream very intensely in REM sleep. REM sleep is the deepest phase of sleep in which one dreams the most. It makes up about 20 percent of total sleep.

REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement, as the eyes move back and forth behind the closed lids. This is when the brain works most actively. Small children use it to process muscle movements or grasping reflexes, for example, that they still need in later life.

Another assumption made by scientists is that people should learn in dreams to deal with fearful situations and, if necessary, to overcome fear.

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Illnesses & ailments

However, those who dream badly for a long time can also develop illnesses and ailments. This is especially the case when one is burdened by recurring nightmares. If the dream can no longer get out of your head and you are therefore sad or afraid the next day, or you are always thinking about it, or even fear of the next night and the next bad dream, professional help is advisable.

Stress is by far the most common trigger for nightmares. But films and TV series or strokes of fate can also lead to such anxiety dreams. Fear or feelings of guilt are processed further in the dream.

Traumatic experiences, mistreatment, rape or accidents can cause post-traumatic stress disorder and cause nightmares. Those affected react unusually violently to these dreams, they often develop symptoms such as palpitations and restlessness. If these recurring nightmares are left untreated, they can last a lifetime.

As a measure that can be carried out without professional help, a relief from everyday life has proven itself. Relaxation exercises ensure a more peaceful sleep and positive feelings. To increase the effect, professional relaxation methods can also be added. Yoga or meditation as well as progressive muscle relaxation also help to slow down everyday life.