Dream Interpretation Essay Example For Students

Dream Interpretation Essay December 7, 1999It Was Only a DreamShe awakens in the night, the visions from her mind still vivid. The dream was amazingly realistic. A long hallway stretched before her. Several doors lined the hallway, each with a padlock. A ring full of keys weighed heavily in her hand. What did it all mean? Did this hallway symbolize her life? The doors could have meant many things, possibly the choices she faces daily. As she drifts back to sleep, thoughts of the dream cloud her mind. She hopes to remember it in the morning and search for answers. The description of this woman could match any number of people. Years of research have produced findings that everyone dreams. While not everyone may remember his or her dreams, sleep studies have shown that each person does dream as he or she progresses through the stages of sleep. Whether or not these dreams contain any significant meaning for the dreamer is a source of arguments today, as well as in years past. An in depth study of dream interpreta tion will reveal the benefits of exploring the meanings behind dreams. To begin this study, it is helpful to first understand the different aspects of sleep. In Atkinsons Introduction to Psychology book, she states that sleep contains five stages, including four depths of sleep and a fifth stage, known as rapid eye movement (REM) (193). In various sleep studies, most adults go through all stages during their normal sleeping hours. While they drift from one stage of sleep to another, activity in the brain increases and decreases. However, this study is interested mostly in the fifth stage, REM sleep. Individuals incur a great amount of details during the course of any given day, including dates, places, times and people. During REM sleep, the brain creates a story line that allows this large volume of events to be stored and remembered in a coherent form, albeit at an unconscious level (Chopra 107). REM occurs at different times throughout an individuals time asleep, and consumes from thirty minutes up to two hours of an individuals non-waking moments. E very individual is subject to REM sleep, and some suffer from REM Sleep Disorder. The disorder involves a severe attachment to a persons dreams. Dotto reports that while sufferers consist mostly of men over fifty years of age, it can affect anyone. She also states that research has discovered that 60% of the disorder is due to aging, while 40% can be blamed on neurological problems (119). This disorder is no laughing matter. One case in England resulted in a man shooting his new bride to death while he was dreaming of being pursued by gangsters (Maas 161). The severity of this problem is treatable with medication; but sufferers are encouraged to sleep in protected surroundings, with no sharp objects in the room, and no open windows. With a better understanding of REM sleep, progression can be made toward the history of dreams and the study of their meanings. In Restful Sleep, Chopra relates that dreams were first believed to tell the future of entire communities (102). The Bible als o gives evidence of the importance to dreams. Joseph was told about Mary carrying the Christ child during a dream. At the beginning of recorded history, and for the millennia thereafter, dreams were considered divine messages in virtually every religious culture (Maguire 2). Thus, the importance of dreams to a vast array of cultures was made quite evident from a very early time. However, not everyone believes in the importance of dreams. Some scientists today attach almost no importance to dreams. They are only random thoughts drifting into our minds during sleep, no serious relationship to our waking life (Kavey 33). While some of the arguments presented may have validity, the benefits of dream study and interpretation far outweigh the possible conflicts these studies uncover. For instance, the Journal of Mental Health Counseling published a study concerning ways dream interpretation could benefit individuals with mental health disturbances. The elements of a dream should be examin ed in detail for two reasons. First, the dream is a symbolic depiction of something in the clients inner world. The second reason for exploration is that the dreamer often does not remember all of the dreams elements at its first telling (Barrineau). By delving into the contents and meanings of these dreams, the mental health professional may be able to better understand the patients underlying problem, thus allowing more appropriate and effective treatment. Additionally, exploring childrens dreams can be very beneficial when a child begins having problems in his or her daily life. Childrens dreams often hold clues to the same anxieties and insecurities that plague their parents (MacGregor 69). Children can gain approval of dream sharing when encouraged to do so by the adults they live with. In The Everything Dreams Book, MacGregor states If they live in households where dream sharing is simply a part of the family routine, theyll be more apt to remember and relate their dreams (69) . Therefore, parental encouragement is key to helping unlock the mysteries contained in a childs dream. Dream study can also give the counselor or parent a handle on what type of dreams the child is experiencing. For example, nightmares make up one element of dreams. A person suffering from a nightmare may wake up scared, experiencing heavy breathing and a racing heart. Chopra states this person will recall the dream in its entirety with a lot of detail. He also writes that themes are frequent in nightmares (109). Often, nightmare sufferers experience the feeling of pursuit, of falling, or of dying. Perhaps a person exposed to frequent nightmares will find a study in dream interpretation especially helpful as a start toward a smoother nights sleep. A person tormented with repeated nightmares may wish to end them because nightmares can influence how you feel and how you behave the following day (103). Thus, putting an end to the torment would be essential to that individuals well bei ng, both personally and professionally. Nightmare sufferers could benefit from the knowledge of how to begin exploring those dreams. History of Culinary Arts EssayLike the moon reflecting the sun, our dreams reflect our daylight life, but they also have an independent existence (Maguire 1). A persons dreams can reveal as little or as much as he or she would like, depending on how open that person is to exploring the subject matter contained in his or her dreams. Dream journals are an excellent beginning, even if detailed dream interpretation is not the desired goal. Participants of journalizing will be amazed at the themes and topics discovered after several nights. Learning what dreams mean is a daunting task, but well worth the effort for those interested in finding answers to questions raised by such dreams. Works CitedAtkinson, Rita et al. Hilgards Introduction to Psychology. Orlando: Harcourt Brace Company, 1996. Barrineau, Phil. A Re-examination of the Role of Dreams. Journal of Mental Health Counseling. 18 Oct 1999. http://search.inspire-indiana.net:8008/WebZ/FetchChopra, Deepak. M.D. Restful Sleep. New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1994. Dream Basics. 15 Oct 1999. http://www.sleeps.com/basics.html Dotto, Lydia. Losing Sleep. New York: William Morrow Company, 1990. Johansen, Erin. CD-Rom Helps People Interpret Their Own Dreams. Business Journal (Phoenix). 24 April 1998. http://search.inspire-indiana.net:8008/webz/FETCHKavey, Neil B.M.D. 50 Ways to Sleep Better. Lincolnwood: Publications International, Ltd., 1995. Maas, Dr. James B. Power Sleep. New York: Villard Books, 1998. MacGregor, Trish and Rob MacGregor. The Everything Dreams Book. Holbrook: Adams Media Corporation, 1998. Maguire, Jack. Night and Day. New York: Roundtable Press, 1989. Moss, Robert. Conscious Dreaming. New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1996. Parker, Julia and Derek Parker. Complete Book of Dreams. New York: Dorling Kindersly Publishing, 1995. Your Life. Are Dreams Trying To Tell Us Something? USA Today Magazine. 18 Oct 1999. http://search.inspire-indiana.net:8008/WebZ/Fetch Annotated BibliographyAtkinson, Rita et al. Hilgards Introduction to Psychology. Orlando: Harcourt Brace Company, 1996. The twelfth edition of a book originated by Ernest Hilgard, this text covers a multitude of topics on a preliminary level with a purpose to scratch the surface of several psychological issues. Barrineau, Phil. A Re-examination of the Role of Dreams. Journal of Mental Health Counseling. 18 Oct 1999. http://search.inspire-indiana.net:8008/WebZ/Fetch Phil Barrineau explores the benefits of dream interpretation for use in the mental health field. Chopra, Deepak. M.D. Restful Sleep. New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1994. In this book, Dr. Deepak details a new program created to help readers get a good nights sleep. Dotto, Lydia. Losing Sleep. New York: William Morrow Company, 1990. Lydia Dotto describes the various benefits of sleep, as well as the problems that can occur with sleep deprivation. Johansen, Erin. CD-Rom Helps People Interpret Their Own Dreams. Business Journal (Phoenix). 24 April 1998. http://search.inspire-indiana.net:8008/webz/FETCH This site offers information about a CD-Rom available to anyone interested in trying to interpret his or her own dreams. Kavey, Neil B.M.D. 50 Ways to Sleep Better. Lincolnwood: Publications International, Ltd., 1995. Dr. Kavey outlines multiple tips on how to prevent sleep problems. He further explains how to cope with problems, should they arise. Maas, Dr. James B. Power Sleep. New York: Villard Books, 1998. In his book, Dr. Maas shares various ways to gain a sufficient amount of sleep. MacGregor, Trish and Rob. The Everything Dreams Book. Holbrook: Adams Media Corporation, 1998. Trish and Rob MacGregor present a comprehensive guide on how to incubate, recall and interpret dreams. Additionally, this book provides a glossary of symbols and common dream topics and themes. Maguire, Jack. Night and Day. New York: Roundtable Press, 1989. Author Jack MaguirePresents a complete program concerning how to use dreams to reach designated goalsand results. Moss, Robert. Conscious Dreaming. New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1996. The author reveals a nine-step plan to understanding dreams, including ways to shape the dreamers future. He also details the use of a dream journal to tap into unknown resources. Parker, Julia. Derek. Complete Book of Dreams. New York: Dorling Kindersly Publishing, 1995. As the title describes, this book covers a broad spectrum of dream themes, including sample dreams. It also contains a dictionary of common dream symbols and their meanings. Your Life. Are Dreams Trying To Tell Us Something? USA Today Magazine. 18 Oct 1999. http://search.inspire-indiana.net:8008/WebZ/Fetch This magazine article gives a quick, surface-level guide to dream interpretation. Words/ Pages : 2,559 / 24