- 1. We dream to fulfill our desires
- 2. We dream to remember
- 3. We dream to forget
- 4. We dream to keep the brain working
- 5. We dream to train our instincts
- 6. We dream to heal the mind
- What Dreams Mean
Over the years, there have been several studies and investigations about the brain, but much about its functioning is still a great mystery, and there is no consensus among the various types of scientists and researchers.
One of these great mysteries is related to the reason why we dream. Although most agree that dreams are a collection of images that we see during the day, there is no unanimous explanation as to why this happens.
Thus, there are 6 main theories that try to explain why dreams:
1. We dream to fulfill our desires
Everything we remember from dreams is a representation of our most unconscious and primitive thoughts, wants and desires. In this way, the conscious mind is able to have direct contact with what we really desire, allowing to achieve personal fulfillment more easily.
By knowing what we want most deeply, we are able to take more concrete measures during our day-to-day to achieve our dreams.
2. We dream to remember
In 2010, a group of scientists came to the conclusion that there is a higher success rate for solving a maze when you sleep and dream about that maze. Thus, people who tried to leave the maze a second time and had dreamed, had a success rate 10 times higher than those who tried a second time without dreaming about the maze.
This may mean that some memory processes only happen while we sleep, so our dreams may be just a sign that these processes are happening during sleep.
3. We dream to forget
Our brain contains more than 10, 000 trillion neuronal connections that are created whenever we think or do something new.
In 1983, a study of the brain suggested that while we sleep, mainly during the REM sleep phase, the brain's neocortex reviews all the connections and eliminates the unnecessary ones, resulting in dreams.
4. We dream to keep the brain working
According to this theory, dreams result from the brain's constant need to create and consolidate memories. Therefore, when there is no activity that stimulates the brain, such as when we sleep, the brain activates an automatic process that generates images through memories, just to keep busy.
In this way, dreams would be compared to a screen saver, as in cell phones or laptops, which prevents the brain from being completely turned off.
5. We dream to train our instincts
Dreams with dangerous situations are generally considered to be nightmares and therefore are not the kind of dreams we want to remember.
However, according to this theory, nightmares can be very beneficial. That's because they serve to train our basic flight or fight instincts, if they are needed one day.
6. We dream to heal the mind
The neurotransmitters responsible for stress are much less active during sleep, even when we dream of traumatic experiences. For this reason, some researchers believe that one of the main goals of dreams is to take the negative charge out of these painful experiences, to allow psychological healing.
Thus, the theory supports the idea that, during sleep, we can review our negative memories with less effect of stress, which can end up helping us to overcome our problems with greater clarity and in a psychologically healthier way.
What Dreams Mean
According to popular belief, when you dream about a certain object, idea or symbol, it means that something will happen in your life. Some of the most popular beliefs include dreaming about:
- Snake: seeing a snake or being bitten by one indicates that there are hidden fears or concerns; Dog: this dream represents values such as loyalty, generosity and protection and, therefore, it can mean that the person has strong values and good intentions; Falling teeth: usually indicates lack of self-confidence or shame; Mouse: may indicate that the person is spending too much time on minor problems; Money: money means trust, success and value, so it can indicate that there is prosperity within the reach of the person; Spiders: seeing a spider may mean that the person feels like a stranger in a given situation, or it may indicate the need to keep a distance from some situation; Being pregnant: it usually indicates that there is an aspect in the personal life of the person who is growing and developing; Babies: seeing a baby in the dream indicates innocence and new beginnings. Babies usually symbolize purity and vulnerability; Hair: dreaming about hair indicates virality, seduction and sensuality; Death: dreaming about someone's death means that we miss the quality that makes that person special in our life.
These meanings are not proven by science, but they often manage to represent the periods that the person is going through and, for this reason, they are often considered to be true.
