"Dreams offer a wonderful opportunity to get to know ourselves better," says psychotherapist Meg Pringle-Adamson. "They bypass our conscious mind and let us know how we really feel about what's going on in our lives. Dreams are the only time we tell the truth to ourselves 100%".
Dreams have fascinated many different cultures throughout history. More than four thousand years ago the Ancient Egyptians were studying dreams and wrote books on their interpretation of different dream symbols. There are also many instances of people being helped to solve problems or given a creative boost through their dreams. For example, Robert Louis Stevenson dreamt the plot of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and both Gaugin and Stravinsky dreamt significant parts of their work. We all dream, regardless of whether we remember them or not, and the average person will have 300,000 dreams in their lifetime.
But why do some people not remember their dreams, whilst others can recall them vividly? "The brain can exist in two different states, awake and asleep," explains Dr Peter Venn, Clinical Director of the Sleep Studies Unit at The Queen Victoria Hospital, Sussex, UK. "However, sleep divides into two different types - REM, or rapid-eye-movement sleep, and non-REM. When you first fall asleep, you will experience non-REM, then change to REM and will alternate between these two states throughout the night. REM becomes more prominent as the night goes on. If you look at the brainwaves of people when they are asleep, the non-REM shows reduced brain activity. However, during REM sleep, the brainwaves look similar to awake brainwaves. This means that the cortex, the thinking part of the brain, is working in REM sleep and this is what is known as dreaming. If you are woken during REM sleep, then you will be able to recall what you were dreaming about. We know that everyone dreams and there is no difference in brain activity between people who can remember their dreams and those who don't. It might be a difference between individuals and how much of their dreams go into their memory. However these dream memories do not seem to last very long, so if you want to remember your dreams it is helpful to write them down as soon as possible." Joan Hangar, an Australian dream therapist suggests the following technique if you have difficulty remembering your dreams. "When you to go bed, programme yourself saying, 'I am ready to discover my vision via my dreams.' Then imagine that you are at the theatre waiting to see a play and that the curtain is just about to be pulled back".
"You can use your dreams to improve your life by letting them show you how you really feel about a situation," says Meg Pringle-Adamson. "If you've got a decision to make, programme your dreams a few nights ahead by saying, 'I will have a dream that will tell me what to do'. For example, if you're trying to decide whether to take a new job and you dream of being on a yacht on a calm sea, then your subconscious is telling you that it senses it's going to be plain sailing. If on the other hand the sea is rough, then that choice might represent stormy times. And don't be frightened of your nightmares. See them as messages telling you that there's a situation you need to change. Everything in your dreams represents a part of you. So if you're being chased in a nightmare, it is your own fear chasing you. Ask yourself - what am I afraid of in everyday life? Is it the tax man, or possibly the prospect of leaving a relationship? The nightmare is telling you to be more honest with those around you. If you take steps to deal with the issues it raises, the nightmare will eventually leave you."
Children's dreams and nightmares
Children dream more than a 60 or 70 year old and they are often exceptionally vivid. Children can find nightmares very upsetting, so always be willing to listen and comfort them. Joan Hangar suggests using dreams as a starting point for finding out what your child might be worried about in everyday life. "Maybe they're unhappy at school, and talking about it together will help ease the situation. If your child is on any sort of medication, then do mention the nightmares to their doctor."
"Reassure them that the monsters in their nightmares are not real and that you would never let anything bad happen to them," says Meg Pringle-Adamson. "Explain that it's like watching a monster cartoon on the TV and that it can't really harm you. Ask them what they might like to say to the monster, and help them to imagine changing the dream. Encourage them to draw the new ending, maybe drawing the monster in a box with a padlock on it, or showing the monster becoming happy and harmless." "Children often enjoy talking about their dreams, so why not encourage them to start a dream diary," suggests Joan Hangar. "Maybe you could then analyse them together. This can be a fun way for parents and children to communicate."
The best way to get a good night's sleep and have sweet dreams
"Programme your mind earlier in the day about what a wonderful night's sleep you're going to have," advises Meg Pringle-Adamson. "At about 4pm imagine sliding in to the most comfortable bed ever, covered in the most amazing bed linen costing thousands of pounds from Switzerland. Practised over time, this visualisation can really help with insomnia."
Tips for a good night's sleep
• Take regular exercise to reduce tension.
• "Get into a regular routine for going to bed," says Joan Hangar. "Let your body unwind beforehand and don't do chores or watch television up until the last minute."
• Create a relaxing environment in your bedroom. Don't let it be invaded by the TV or paperwork. "Your bedroom should be the best decorated room in the house" says Meg Pringle-Adamson. "It is the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night. The experience of waking up has a profound effect on your mind and how you view the day ahead."
• A few drops of Lavender essential oil on your pillow can help you relax.
• Snoring can disrupt restful sleep for both sufferers and their partners. "Losing weight, cutting down on alcohol, stopping smoking and sleeping on your side can all help," says Dr Venn. It's a good idea to go to your GP and be referred to an Ear Nose and Throat specialist if the problem persists. Be extremely wary of private clinics offering operations to reduce snoring. The procedure is very unpleasant and the success rate is very low. No one should embark on surgery without having an independent sleep study carried out by a specialist first."
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol. "Alcohol is a sedative drug," says Dr Venn. "But although it might seem to help you sleep the quality is much poorer so the next morning you won't feel as rested."
• If your bedroom is stuffy, leave a window open to let the air circulate.
• Or try an old fashioned remedy. "A warm, milky drink can give a feeling of satisfaction and relaxation, and help people get to sleep," says Dr Venn.
Dream symbols
When it comes to interpreting your dreams, your own intuition is the best guide. However, studying some common meanings of dream symbols can provide interesting prompts.
Flying - A willingness to have a new experience and to gain a new perspective on your life.
Being naked in public - This can be linked to a sense that other people can 'see through you'. If you feel confident about being naked it indicates that you can accept yourself and feel you have got nothing to hide.
Teeth falling out - This is a common anxiety dream, often linked to fears about money or old age. Or it could be a reminder that it's time to visit the dentist!
Being chased by a monster - This could be a part of yourself - maybe an emotion you're avoiding in everyday life, such as fear or guilt. It could symbolise an unpleasant situation you don't want to face up to.
Water - Water can represent your emotions. A stormy sea suggests turbulence, whilst a calm lake indicates you're feeling serene.
Falling - This can be linked to feelings of insecurity, or of breaking away from social norms.