Dreams Part 1: Why Am I Having Weird Dreams?

This article is the first part of our exclusive series on dreaming.

We’ve all had that bizarre moment when we’ve awakened from sleep and realized that we were dreaming immediately before. Often the dream and its content are fresh in our mind. Within a short while, however, the dream fades and we later have difficulty remembering it at all.

What are dreams?

Although they can occur at any stage of sleep, the most memorable dreams happen during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. They are often a series of seemingly random images and events generated by our mind. Incredibly, the science and psychology of dreams are still not fully understood. Even today, they are a source of great debate and controversy.

There is, however, a widespread belief that we can interact and even control our dreams. This process, known as lucid dreaming, is a concept we’ll explore later.

As early as 1899, neurologist and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud published “The Interpretation of Dreams”, in which he interpreted both his own and his patients’ dreams. Freud theorized that dreams are a window to our unconscious, revealing hidden truths and wishes. Knowing this, it is possible that dreams are messages from the inner mind, skinned with people, places and things from our memories and our own creativity.

Why do dreams affect us?

There are other theories as well. Some believe that dreams are prophecies predicting the future. Others think they are instructional, telling you what to do. Still others state that a dream is nothing more than a series of hyperactive memories stitched together.

Have you been affected by a dream recently? There’s no doubt that dreams can be powerful, invoking emotional and physical responses. Because our senses can respond to a dream, it’s common to awaken out of breath, sweaty, relaxed, frightened or aroused.

Because of these very human reactions, we should take dreaming seriously. A bothersome dream or worse, a recurring nightmare, can have a dramatic impact on the quality of your daily life. While this stress can lead to anxiety or depression, long-term exposure to such trauma can result in mental health issues or other dire consequences.

Of course, the flip side to these concerns is that you might be having pleasant dreams and tend to wake up feeling refreshed each day. Regardless, many experts agree that understanding the content of dreams is vital to psychological well-being.

Do dreams mean anything?

The idea of lucid dreaming is one possible way to actively participate in a dream sequence. In learning how to do so, you may be able to consciously address the issues that arise in dreams and create environments which relax you or put you at peace. 

Do dreams allow us a good night’s sleep? Do they improve memory? Do they allow us to be more creative? Can they solve our problems or even help us survive the hazards of everyday life? Consider keeping an open mind. The answers might surprise you.

Explore and embrace an active dream life. By doing so, you are saying “yes” to the activity of your mind and validating what it might have to say. By taking the sometimes scary but always rewarding journey to understanding what dreams are and why you have them, you could find yourself healthier and happier.

Is it possible to accurately remember our dreams? Read Part Two of our dream series next!