Why do we dream?

My theory, based upon what goes on in my little dream world - is that its a collaboration of events that have happened that day; turned negative or turned into worries. Almost, like its been put together in a completely different context from the one in which i received it.

For instance, two days ago i booked a holiday. Last night i dreamt that a plane exploded and embedded itself into a random building. The night before, i had a dream about attending a "what to do if your plane crashes" course - which involved a simulator, that part was fun ....

Also, why do we remember some dreams and dont remember others? I used to think that was based upon whether you woke up immediately after the dream... but the other night i slept like a baby and still remembered my simulator experience....

Research suggests that we dream every night - anything up to fifteen times.

This really isnt a question...hmmm... thoughts??

Nightmares are made of this.. haha.

Sub-conscious thoughts, fears that turn into ie) running and running, hiding being chased... Can be the cause of debts that you can't jump over at present.

Kittens playful, can be a man using his "worse" intentions on your desires and to be wary therefore.

A hunk of a man at the end of your bed, but you don't see anything happen, your trying real hard to get him over to you but it doesn't happen, all because you are in a relationship and don't believe in cheating, is the dream of a woman lusting for intimacy and not getting it.

Your dog at the bottom of the pool, you see it and without any panic what so ever, dive down and bring her up to the top, noting her front paws reaching for you as she does, she is not panicing either and you bring her to saftey followed by another dog the same, but one you have never seen, you do the same thing.

Now, if I could work out what that one means I will be very happy

You can remember them by placing a book by your bed and a pen and learning to write things down immediately, train yourself but within seconds, that dream can be completely forgotten and you can't regain what it was you were dreaming about.

That sucks if it is a man at the end of your bed.

CW

Hmm.. dream interpretation is the easy part

So, is it fair to say that dreams are caused by certain physical stimuli from our dream 'environment'? For instance, a dog barking or the sounds of a doorbell - will this be translated into part of the content of our dreams? Or if we tie ourselves up in the sheets (i do this often) will that cause us to feel trapped, or will the dream of being trapped cause us to tie ourselves up?

Do certain foods / drinks have an effect on dreams?

You freak me out! Not long ago, i had the exact (ish) same dream - just replace pool with river and you have my dream. Drowning / swimming symbolises intense emotion, coming up out of water indicates a fresh start - whether that includes with a dog under your arm, i dont know.... . Going down into water indicates a need to renew ones strength, or trying to find the parts of ourselves that have been suppressed.... interesting...

Now, my brain hurts...

The only dreams I have that concern me are really vivid ones where I actually feel and smell everything thats going on around me! I remember the first dream I had like that and it scared the out of me that much that the whole next day I was suspicious of everyone, paranoid and actually scared for my life haha silly me but yes the dream was

I was in college, walked out of my classroom onto a big sand pit type of thing with graves in it and about a mile in front of me was Canary Warf (London)
Just after I'd walked onto the sand pit a bomb dropped from an airplane flying overhead and blew up Canary Warf then up came a mushroom of smoke and the after shock rings (the only way I can describe them? looked like heat waves off of a car) came towards me and the people standing with me were ripped apart layer by layer...To this day I still remember the heat!! I told my friend the next day, she laughed and called me a bloody weirdo Friends eh?

Then 2 weeks later, to the day, London was in fact bombed!!
It didn't dawn on me until a couple of days afterwards why I felt strangely odd about the whole thing



I had another vivid bomb dream a few days ago but this time it was the town where I live Hope I havn't jinxed us

I didn't say that i was ready for any heavy parts haha.

Wow, well I guess now I know why i dreamed what i did, i love my dog so maybe i just add in "love" past and future, as the other dog i don't know ....

I believe that caffine / alcohol take on a different state when you dream than if you did not have either, more angrier dreams, or nightmare style dreams, than you would have.

A dog barking just before you sleep? Yes, I have therefore had dogs in my dreams that I recall and acknowledge that is what i had heard prior to going to sleep, or it rains and i am dead to the world but when I wake, i recall my dream having rain in it.

shweedart:- You did but have yourself a Premonition.

Ugh, I'm a genius next stop, VEGAS BABY!

It's quite interesting to keep a dream log, write down everything you remember (when you remember it, else you'll forget). It makes great reading a year down the line. To better your chances of lucid dreaming (being able to affect your dreams conciously), if you feel yourself in a dream, don't tell yourself you're dreaming, as that snaps you out of it. Try to be a passive observer, once you can do that, try changing things... It's very difficult to do without waking up. Also, set an alarm (that isn't too horrible) to wake you up every 30 minutes or so, this stimulates dreams and increases your chance of remembering them.