Our dreams can provide some insight into our psyches, helping us solve problems and giving us direction. They are where our subconscious comes out to play. Many of our dreams are simply the result of the brain “downloading” and interpreting all the information we picked up during the day, but they can also offer clues about things for us to examine that we might not be seeing while we are awake. In fact, in ancient Egypt, dreams were recognized as a way to “wake up” to things we need to pay attention to in our daily lives. The ancient Egyptian word for dream is rswt, which means “an awakening.” We often experience emotions in dreams that we need to express in our daily lives: A dream is a kind of dress rehearsal for how we might do that.
Do you know how to interpret your dreams? Learn more about the “movies” in your #sleep. #BSCSleepTips
We experience our most dramatic dreams during the rapid eye movement (REM) period of sleep. Research from Harvard Medical School in Boston found that REM sleep not only helps us to consolidate learning and memories, it prepares the brain to be awake.
Because the brain doesn’t easily hold memories made during sleep, if we want to remember our dreams, it helps to write them down. (It’s interesting that we tend to remember bad dreams more often because they tend to wake us up more abruptly.) To help you recall your dreams, as soon as you wake up – and with as little movement as possible – grab a pen and paper and write down everything you can remember.
Dream interpretation can be fun, even insightful, and it’s interesting because the symbols we encounter in our dreams are not always what they seem to be. Here are some common dream themes you might have experienced – and the possible meanings behind them:
Remember that your mattress is the foundation of a good night’s sleep. If you’re tossing and turning or having nightmares about your bed, check it for signs of wear and tear. If you have slept on your mattress for more than five to seven years, it probably needs to be replaced.
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