Why do we dream?
Technically speaking, dreams are hallucinations that occur during certain stages of sleep. They are strongest during REM or rapid eye movement sleep, when you may be less likely to recall your dream. Much is known about the role of sleep in regulating metabolism, blood pressure, brain function and other aspects of health. But the most difficult part for researchers is to explain the role of dreams.
Although there is no definitive proof, dreams are usually autobiographical thoughts based on your recent activities, conversations, or other issues in your life. However, there are some popular theories about the role of dreams...
<strong>The role of dreams</strong>
Researchers still do not fully agree on the purpose of dreams. There are, however, some widely held beliefs and theories.
<strong>Dreams as "healers"</strong>
Your dreams can be ways of dealing with emotional dramas in your life. And because your brain operates on a much more emotional level than it does when you're awake, your brain can make connections about your emotions that your conscious self wouldn't.
<strong>Dreams as a survival instinct</strong>
One of the areas of the brain that is most active during dreaming is the amygdala. The amygdala is the part of the brain associated with the survival instinct and the fight or flight response.
<strong>Dreams as... a source of inspiration!</strong>
One theory of why we dream is that it helps facilitate our creative tendencies. Artists of all kinds believe that dreams inspire some of their most creative works. You may have woken up at some point in your life with a great idea for a movie or a song, too.
<strong>Dreams as memory aids</strong>
A widely held theory about the purpose of dreams is that they help you store important memories and things you've learned, get rid of unimportant memories, and sort through complicated thoughts and feelings.
How dreams affect memory storage and recall is not yet clear. But dreams may help the brain store important information more efficiently while blocking out stimuli that could affect memory and learning.
<h2><strong>Why do we have nightmares?</strong></h2>
Dreams that help you deal productively with emotions, memories and other information can seem very helpful. The occasional nightmare is considered a dream that is simply more frightening or disturbing. Nightmares tend to be triggered by stress, anxiety, or sometimes as a reaction to certain medications.
Also, many people experience occasional nightmares during their lives. However, the American Sleep Association estimates that only about 5% of the population experiences persistent nightmares as a sleep disorder.
<h2><strong>What affects dreams?</strong></h2>
Certain factors that affect us when we are awake can also affect our dreams.
<ul><li>
<li><strong>Health conditions</strong></li>
</ul>
One of the biggest influences on dreams is how much or how little you sleep. Depriving yourself of sleep for a night or two (or more) can make parts of your brain much more active when you finally enter REM sleep. You're likely to have more vivid dreams if you've had some restless nights. You are also more likely to remember these dreams.
Pregnancy is also a catalyst for vivid dreams. Increased hormone production affects the way your brain processes thoughts and emotions. This often leads to some vivid dreams.
<ul><li>
<li><strong>Nutrition</strong></li>
</ul>
There is no conclusive evidence that certain <a href="https://www.orionas.eu/el/news/diatrofi-kai-poiothta-ypnou/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>dietary options </strong></a> lead to better dreams or... nightmares! But it's clear that certain foods can set the stage for better dream recall.
Foods high in carbohydrates, for example, can give you quick energy. But after a while, they can leave you feeling down. Anything that affects your waking mood is likely to affect your unconscious mood as well. So if a sugar crash has you scrambling during the day, those feelings could carry over into your sleep.
<ul><li>
<li><strong>Daily activities</strong></li>
</ul>
Just as little or interrupted sleep often leads to more vivid dreams, a good night's sleep will reduce the vivid dreams you'll remember.
A small study found that a good way to sleep more soundly is to exercise in the morning. A good run or other cardio workout before noon helps set your clock so that you're more likely to fall asleep faster and spend more time in deep sleep than if you didn't exercise or exercised late at night.
Runners and other serious fitness enthusiasts tend to spend less time in REM dream sleep, which is one of the lightest stages of sleep.
<em>The scientific material of the article has been edited by </em><a href="https://www.healthline.com/reviewers/debra-sullivan-phd-msn-rn-cne-coi"><em> Debra</em><em> </em><em>Sullivan</em></a><em>, </em><em>Ph</em><em>.</em><em >D</em><em>., </em><em>MSN</em><em>, </em><em>R</em><em>.</em><em> N</em><em>., </em><em>CNE</em><em>, </em><em>COI</em><em>. He has specialized in cardiology, psoriasis/dermatology, pediatrics and alternative medicine.</em>
Although there is no definitive proof, dreams are usually autobiographical thoughts based on your recent activities, conversations, or other issues in your life. However, there are some popular theories about the role of dreams...
<strong>The role of dreams</strong>
Researchers still do not fully agree on the purpose of dreams. There are, however, some widely held beliefs and theories.
<strong>Dreams as "healers"</strong>
Your dreams can be ways of dealing with emotional dramas in your life. And because your brain operates on a much more emotional level than it does when you're awake, your brain can make connections about your emotions that your conscious self wouldn't.
<strong>Dreams as a survival instinct</strong>
One of the areas of the brain that is most active during dreaming is the amygdala. The amygdala is the part of the brain associated with the survival instinct and the fight or flight response.
<strong>Dreams as... a source of inspiration!</strong>
One theory of why we dream is that it helps facilitate our creative tendencies. Artists of all kinds believe that dreams inspire some of their most creative works. You may have woken up at some point in your life with a great idea for a movie or a song, too.
<strong>Dreams as memory aids</strong>
A widely held theory about the purpose of dreams is that they help you store important memories and things you've learned, get rid of unimportant memories, and sort through complicated thoughts and feelings.
How dreams affect memory storage and recall is not yet clear. But dreams may help the brain store important information more efficiently while blocking out stimuli that could affect memory and learning.
<h2><strong>Why do we have nightmares?</strong></h2>
Dreams that help you deal productively with emotions, memories and other information can seem very helpful. The occasional nightmare is considered a dream that is simply more frightening or disturbing. Nightmares tend to be triggered by stress, anxiety, or sometimes as a reaction to certain medications.
Also, many people experience occasional nightmares during their lives. However, the American Sleep Association estimates that only about 5% of the population experiences persistent nightmares as a sleep disorder.
<h2><strong>What affects dreams?</strong></h2>
Certain factors that affect us when we are awake can also affect our dreams.
<ul><li>
<li><strong>Health conditions</strong></li>
</ul>
One of the biggest influences on dreams is how much or how little you sleep. Depriving yourself of sleep for a night or two (or more) can make parts of your brain much more active when you finally enter REM sleep. You're likely to have more vivid dreams if you've had some restless nights. You are also more likely to remember these dreams.
Pregnancy is also a catalyst for vivid dreams. Increased hormone production affects the way your brain processes thoughts and emotions. This often leads to some vivid dreams.
<ul><li>
<li><strong>Nutrition</strong></li>
</ul>
There is no conclusive evidence that certain <a href="https://www.orionas.eu/el/news/diatrofi-kai-poiothta-ypnou/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>dietary options </strong></a> lead to better dreams or... nightmares! But it's clear that certain foods can set the stage for better dream recall.
Foods high in carbohydrates, for example, can give you quick energy. But after a while, they can leave you feeling down. Anything that affects your waking mood is likely to affect your unconscious mood as well. So if a sugar crash has you scrambling during the day, those feelings could carry over into your sleep.
<ul><li>
<li><strong>Daily activities</strong></li>
</ul>
Just as little or interrupted sleep often leads to more vivid dreams, a good night's sleep will reduce the vivid dreams you'll remember.
A small study found that a good way to sleep more soundly is to exercise in the morning. A good run or other cardio workout before noon helps set your clock so that you're more likely to fall asleep faster and spend more time in deep sleep than if you didn't exercise or exercised late at night.
Runners and other serious fitness enthusiasts tend to spend less time in REM dream sleep, which is one of the lightest stages of sleep.
<em>The scientific material of the article has been edited by </em><a href="https://www.healthline.com/reviewers/debra-sullivan-phd-msn-rn-cne-coi"><em> Debra</em><em> </em><em>Sullivan</em></a><em>, </em><em>Ph</em><em>.</em><em >D</em><em>., </em><em>MSN</em><em>, </em><em>R</em><em>.</em><em> N</em><em>., </em><em>CNE</em><em>, </em><em>COI</em><em>. He has specialized in cardiology, psoriasis/dermatology, pediatrics and alternative medicine.</em>
