Dream Therapy: Reaching Into the Subconscious!
Some of mankind's greatest creations, ideas and inventions have all been attributed to the attempts of interpreting and understanding dreams. Visions of symbols, words, objects and people whom appear during sleep cycles can give us many messages. In any particular culture, the meaning of dreams can vary in their vision and interpretation. One book, "Oneirocritia" , was written by Artemidorus- a Roman philosopher in the 2nd century A.D., has served as the foundation of many other dream interpretation books. Psychologist Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud, who have both embrassed the important significance of dream interpretation, have given credit to Artemidorus' work. Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, interpreted people's dreams in order to help them unearth hidden feelings. Jung, a Swiss psychologist, who initially followed in Freud's footsteps, developed theories of Anima (women) and Animus (men) involving the feminine and masculine principles and the collective unconscious symbols known as Archetypes. Archtypes such as falling, flying, colors and numbers all take on a universal meaning, as well as, specific significance to cultures and the individual dreamer. With the advancement of science in the 1950's, many studies and theories were summarized on the physiological aspect of dreams. The discoveries of REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non rapid eye movement), which are the brain's electrical activities during sleep, became apparent. REM cycles four to five times a night during sleep and lasts less than 30 minutes per cycle for the first cycle but increases in length as each cycle progresses. This is the period when dreams occur. The other sleep cycles are spent in NREM sleep without dreaming. Through extensive research, it was also discovered that birds and nearly all mammals, including newborn babies, experience REM sleep. People with emotional disturbances, those who have suffered trauma, and highly stressed individuals, seem to increase their dream time. Dream Research and PET Scans There has been a lot of research done on dreams and dreaming. The research I focused on was the work done with the PET scan. (1) The Positron Emissions Tornography have been used to measure various rates of blood flow through the brain. There is basically two major Phases in Sleep. NREM - non rapid eye movement and REM - rapid eye movement. NREM sleep is the beginning of the sleep cycle. In NREM, the average brain activity decreases - proportionately the rate of blood flow decreases. So areas such as the Reticular Activating System which is the area involved in arousal and wakening, shuts down. Areas involved in muscle movement shut down. But, regions involved in the consolidation and retrieval of memory did not decrease in blood flow, but the pathways that bring information to and from this region did shut down, therefore isolating them metabolically. About 90 minutes into our sleep pattern we experience REM sleep. REM sleep is produced by the excretion of Acetylcholine in the Pons. (2) Suddenly, the Brain Stem begins firing electrical impulses through the brain. Heightening breath, heart rate and sexual arousal and sends impulses through the cortical and subcortical regions. Some regions of the brain's metabolic rates wind up being higher than when we are awake. An area of gray matter, located at the Occipito-Temporo- Parital junction is activated. This is where the brain performs the highest level of processing of perceptual information. Our emotional brain - The Limbic System increases with blood flow and our memory and sensory processes connected to simple vision and hearing in the Diencephelon and Medulla increase but the Primary Visual Cortex region in the Occipital Lobe did not show much of an increase in blood flow. Normally, an increase in activity in the lower areas cannot occur without an increase in the Primary Visual Cortex. But, in REM sleep, the brain will activate the lower areas and begin integration of visual patterns. This is what is speculated to be the make-up of imagery and symbols in our dreams. (3) The Prefrontal Cortex, which is divided into four regions, plays a central role in our self-discipline, gratification restrainment and controlling one's impulses. This region is typically inactive during REM sleep. except for one of the four regions. This is the deep white matter of the frontal lobe with large fiber pathways which transmit the chemical Neurotransmitter Dopamine from the Mid Brain to the Frontal Cortex. So with the Limbic emotional brain extremely active and the self- disciplinary Prefrontal Cortex mostly inactive, it is believed to be the reason why we have such disinhibiting dreams (4) such as flying, falling and fantasies. Dream Journals Dream Journals are a book or record of your past dreams. They can be used for writing down dreams you have experienced during sleep or often people will even write down there day dreams too! These journals are good places to record your information so that you can go back and look at this information later. It can allow you to look at that information for interpretation and dream analysis. TIPS FOR DREAM JOURNALING 1. Upon waking, pick up your dream journal and write down the first thing that comes into your head. 2. It is a good idea to write out the dream in the symbols you saw for easier interpreting later. 3. After you have written down as many symbols as you can recall, try to fill in the information between the symbols. 4. Jot down significant words, objects or people that were in your dream. 5. What is the association with these objects, words or people. Explain in your journal. 6. Take as much room as you like in your book. It is a creative work in process. 7. If there were colors, write them down. Was it day or night? Did it take place in a familiar place or some place you have never been? 8. If you can't recall all the details, that is ok. You can always come back to the journal later. 9. Be sure and write the time and day on the top of the dream page. 10. Have sweet dreams! Group [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]@yahoogroups.comWelcome To dimpill's gang! This is the Best Place to Hang around.We Give u the Best in Latest News, Jokes, Funny Pictures,Wallpapers,Latest Buzz and Much More! 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