Dreaming is an art of being alive in a different world or in the same world but a different time and space. A dream can take us to places we have seen or completely create a new world for us. However, no one has fully understood why our brain creates dreams when it can witness reality. Is it a sign trying to tell us about the future or a warning that we are going down the wrong path, raising questions about our existence? I am not entirely sure about the neurological aspects of dreams (I am not a neuroscientist), but I will try to provide a brief introduction to the biological reasons behind dreaming.
One of the reasons why we dream is because it can help in consolidating and processing memories. During REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the brain sorts through the information gathered during the day, strengthening important memories and discarding unimportant ones. (Source: Stickgold, Robert. “Memory, Sleep, and Dreaming: Experiencing Consolidation.”)
On average, each human being is conscious (by conscious, I mean not sleeping) for 12–14 hours a day. During this time, we experience a multitude of emotions and encounter numerous situations. We often desire to take actions but are unable to do so due to fear or a lack of knowledge. These emotions and unfulfilled desires get deeply embedded in our memory. For instance, when scrolling through social media, we might come across a post about a woman being sexually assaulted. Deep down, we feel a strong urge to take action and punish the offender, but external factors like the law, public opinion, and concerns for our personal well-being prevent us from doing so. Consequently, our mind creates a mental space where we become the saviour, catching the offender, delivering justice, and acting as a vigilante for society. Our brain records these thoughts and, when we are unconscious (as in, sleeping), it recreates them through dreams. These dreams often use abstract symbols — for example, being hunted by snakes or walking in a desert only to find a river of flowing blood. These symbols represent the mental anguish we have experienced. Some dreams can abruptly wake us up, signalling a fear or a lack of understanding about how to handle the situation. Our brain can only create dreams using the information and experiences stored within it; it cannot conjure scenarios beyond our capabilities. By examining these dreams, we can gain insight into our deepest fears and desires, as well as the unresolved issues that linger in our subconscious. Dreams serve as a powerful reflection of our inner world, providing a unique perspective on our thoughts and emotions.
Dreams can help regulate emotions by providing a safe space to process emotional experiences. This might be why we often dream about stressful or significant events. (Source: Walker, Matthew. Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams).
Any species in the world will encounter problems, but apart from humans, no other species possesses the cognitive abilities to solve them in the same way. Animals might try to address issues and then abandon them if unsuccessful. Humans, however, have the capacity to withstand and overcome these situations, a quality we call bravery and courage. Courage is the decision to stand up against the odds, while bravery is the will to uphold that decision. Though they have similar meanings, their significance changes over time. The act of attempting something others cannot is courage; maintaining that effort is bravery. Many people give up after a few days or weeks, but only a few persist and achieve their goals. The histories we read about are filled with such individuals. When we study history, meet courageous people, learn new things, and make decisions, our brain’s first response is to send warning signals. Its primary job is to protect us and keep us in our comfort zone. Whenever we try something different, the brain struggles to process new information and decisions. For instance, sleeping in an unfamiliar place takes time because our brain hasn’t yet established trust in the new environment, triggering a protective response and making it harder to fall asleep.
Solving daily problems creates patterns in the brain. Sometimes, we doubt our ability to achieve our goals, causing the brain to enter a cautious state, which manifests in dreams. The stress we experience is either cleared out or projected into upcoming events. For example, we might dream of running through a maze, unsure of the way out, only to fall into a hole and wake up abruptly. Or we might dream of sailing in an ocean, with whales and sharks guiding us to the coast, only to encounter strange creatures and wake up. These dreams signify that we are on the path to success, but our brain, unsure of what comes next, creates scenarios filled with unknown creatures. Dreams serve as a reflection of our inner thoughts and fears, providing insights into our subconscious mind.
Some theories suggest that dreaming aids in problem-solving and creativity. During dreams, the brain can make novel connections that are not possible during wakefulness. (Source: Maquet, Pierre, et al. “Sleep, Dreams and Memory.”).
We often encounter situations where someone threatens or humiliates us in front of others. In those moments, we want to respond but find ourselves unable to do so. There can be many reasons for this. For example, most of us have had a crush at some point in our lives. We may struggle to express our feelings or even to get their attention. Our brain urges us to talk to them or do something to divert their attention towards us. In such cases, we might fail, get humiliated, or fear losing them. All these emotions create stimulations in our brain and can sometimes help us evolve. These questions and feelings lead us to contemplate, “Who am I?” Not everyone finds the answer, and even those who do may not be able to hold onto it for long.
Dreams can simulate threatening events and practice dealing with them, which might have evolutionary advantages. This theory is known as the Threat Simulation Theory. (Source: Revonsuo, Antti. Inner Presence: Consciousness as a Biological Phenomenon).
Dreams can help solve psychological problems. If we dream about the same thing every day, it allows our brain to process and think about it. There’s no point in worrying about something, as nothing is more precious than living. Human life itself has no guarantee, so worrying about things beyond our control is futile. Dreams can help us reflect on these matters, especially if we dream about the same thing repeatedly. Sometimes, dreams can help us relax. When we desire something we cannot attain, the resulting stress can accumulate. Dreams might help alleviate this stress. For example, if we want to buy a house but are unable to due to external factors, the fear of not owning a home builds up. Eventually, our brain might create a dream where we are sleeping on a luxurious bed, waking up to see people partying outside our window. We walk downstairs to find ourselves in a new home, with people congratulating us. Suddenly, a fire breaks out, and we wake up. The fire could symbolise the fear of the unknown, but the dream also reflects our deep desire to buy a house. Our brain can only create within its cognitive limits. Once it reaches these limits, it triggers us to wake up.
Will dreams are just dreams or dreams come true?
The question of dreams is closely related to our situations and circumstances. The dreams we consciously create are often estimations of what we aspire to be one day, shaped by our inspiration, consistency, and discipline. However, the dreams our brain generates without our interference are even more intriguing. These dreams reflect parts of life that are unknown to us, making it difficult to determine if they are real or could become real. For instance, we might dream about death, such as the death of someone close to us or even our own. These dreams often cause us to wake up suddenly. There are many theories about why this happens. One theory is that these dreams help reduce the stress we carry about ourselves or our loved ones. Think of it like inflammation in the body; the heat generated by our body when a foreign object enters is released through inflammation. Similarly, the stress we experience is released through these dreams, which can help us grow and adapt to changes in relationships or life events. Therefore, there’s no need to worry if we dream about such things.
In some cases, these dreams might come true, but we must understand that birth and death are beyond our control. They are determined by natural processes or, as some believe, by a higher power. The best we can do is to think positively and accept that what is meant to happen will happen. The same applies to unfamiliar dreams, such as meeting an unknown person. This doesn’t necessarily mean we are going to meet someone new, but it could signify that something negative, like stress or a disease, is leaving us. Alternatively, it could mean that something good is about to enter our lives, represented by the unknown person who might bring us what we’ve been working towards.
Ultimately, dreams reflect our state of mind and the thoughts we are experiencing. The key thing to understand is that we cannot change the past or alter the future. However, dreams can provide us with a glimpse of what could happen — they serve as a visa to the future, but they do not guarantee citizenship there. Our response to these dreams determines their impact on our lives. We may have our plans, but nature often has a different course for us. The best approach is to stay free and not try to control everything. Enjoy the present moment and focus on the here and now. By doing so, bad dreams will occur less frequently because we will stop filling our minds with unfamiliar fears and negative thoughts.
