what do dreams actually mean? do we need to have them?

Answer 1

It's just a way for your mind to unwind and dump the garbage of the day

Answer 2

Dreaming is an altered state of consciousness, much like drug use and psychosis, though occuring harmlessly and naturally.

The meaning of dreams is hotly debated, though it's really unique to every person. Dreams are really just a brain activity occuring when you sleep, and it activates the visual cortex, short memory area and certain other areas of the brain to give you images and thoughts in your head that look and feel tangible without your eyes actually looking at anything or your body even moving (you are semi paralyized in REM sleep!)

Why you dream isn't known. Why you dream what you dream isn't either. What it all means could possibly be answered if the first two questions had one, too. Since most dreaming is the random neurophysiolgical firings of brain chemicals, I would assume most dreams mean nothing in particular, like the one I had about people falling out of planes onto trampolines! Of course, I've had dreams about what I would say to my ex-girlfriend that seemed much more coherent.

All in all, I can only suspect what *some* of my dreams imply about my unconsciousness and can bet that dreams are necessary, or else we wouldn't have them....

The funny thing is, we don't appear the be supposed to remember them, as the short term memory of the brain activated during dreams isn't made to store the information, and the memory molecules serotonin and norephrinephrin being tied up in other areas of the brain while dreaming, we have an almost organic amnesia when waking.

Answer 3

Dreams are our subconscious 'speaking' to us, and, yes, dreams have significant meaning and impact. We dream when we are in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.

It's estimated that about 88% of our psyche revloves around our subconscious selves and only 12% reveolves around our conscious selves!

To illustrate the importance of dreams, some groups (e.g. certain African tribes) believe that it's actually our dream lives that are 'real' and that our conscious lives are the 'unreal' realities.

Scientists still struggle to determine exactly why we dream and what (in totality) happens to the brain & body while we dream.

Fact: EVERYBODY dreams, even if they cannot remember their dreams. Another interesting thing is to know that you can actually die from sleep deprivation. The body can survive longer without food than it can without sleep.

All in all, dreams are a hugely untapped knowledge resource for understanding ourselves better. It's a good idea to keep a dream journal where you write down your different dreams the moment you wake up. Recurring dreams might be your brain's way of trying to resolve a specific matter. It's a good idea to see someone professional about dream analysis - you'd be surprised at what you can find out from your unconscious!

Answer 4

Dreams are kind of monolog of your own self.Your body sleeps but brain still works.Your superego talks to you when you sleep(not a deep sleep,we dream usually early in the morning before we get up that's why so many dreams are being cut by an alarm clock or us just waking up).
Dreams show you your current situation in your life,what you think about people,about your actions etc.They are very honest to you.Everything can be translated to symbols-there are archetypes which exist in everyone's dreams like fire,water,mother,food,animals etc...which always existed in the whole history of mankind,other symbols are just yours from your mind,I mean your friends,your pets,TV,computer...-but most of them contain archetypes as well.
Like I said they are honest and true to you,contain sometimes terrible scenes which all can be explained- everything physical as pain,killing,work...translates to something mental-death means something is dead for you,it's over,being shot could be explained that something crazy and unexpectable just hit your mind(love,idea...).People you see in dreams usually picture your own self,you see them how they really are to you.the way you act in your dream is the way you would really act in your life.
If we need dreams?Yes,the brain needs some chance to give you it's own oppinion on your life,dreams can tell you really a lot if you know to right way of expaining them.Brain just doesn't know any other language but a language of symbols.

Answer 5

I believe that when we dream, we are actually experiencing a certain out of body experience that occurs inside you mind, not your brain, your mind. Jeez this leads more to mind and brain relationships......to put it simply, a dream unifies the body, mind, and spirit. It provides you with insight into ourselves and a means for self-exploration. If you want to know more then I suggest looking for Sigmund Freud, that guy knew everything.

Answer 6

It means your subconscious mind is trying to tell your something..

Either a play back from your daily experience or your inner personality such as fear, worries,.

It is not matter whether you need.. it is just there, like your nose, eyes, ears

Answer 7

Dreams are thoughts which remain incomplete due to activities and come back to us through our sub-conscience mind once we are asleep.