# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Dreams that leave you feeling apprehensive and worried can result from ongoing stressors, or they can come up unexpectedly. With the right tools, you can cope.

Have you ever fallen peacefully asleep, just to wake up hours later in a sweat? The cause was an unpleasant dream that made you experience the type of distress that lingers for a while: an anxiety dream.

These dreams are often uncomfortable and distressing experiences, but you may be able to prevent them with the right strategies.

Anxiety dreams can be considered a type of stress dream, which can often feel intrusive and uncomfortable.

These dreams can be considered reactions to something that's worrying you, says Arlene B. Englander, a licensed psychotherapist from North Palm Beach, Florida. "They're a wake-up call to the fact that a situation in our lives is causing us emotional pain and we need to deal with it more effectively," she says.

Anxiety and stress dreams aren't the same thing, though. Not all stress dreams cause a sense of apprehension and wariness. By definition, all anxiety dreams do.

Anxiety dreams can also commonly happen to people with certain mental health conditions, like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

A found that older adults living with GAD had significantly more bad dreams than those living without GAD. In the study, the frequency of bad dreams was also associated with co-occurring symptoms of depression, anxiety, worry, and a perception of poor quality of life.

Stress vs. anxiety

Events that make you feel you're out of resources to respond adequately can often be defined as sources of stress. That doesn't mean they are emotionally distressing.

Anxiety, on the other hand, is an emotional response that indicates persistent and abundant worry or fear. Anxiety dreams can lead you to experience these feelings.

For instance, a stress dream about a demanding project at work may not make you feel anxious. But an anxiety dream about that project could be accompanied by worry and dread.

Just as with anxiety, anxiety dreams can be about both real or perceived threats.

Dreaming that your partner was unfaithful might not be grounded in any facts, but it could still have you feeling worried or be a manifestation of a lack of trust in the relationship.

"Yes, anxiety and stress can cause nightmares and anxiety dreams," says Dr. Roberta Ballard, a clinical psychologist from Marietta, Georgia. "If you are under more stress than usual or there is a big change going on in your life, you might notice more themes of anxiety in your dreams."

Nightmares, particularly when frequent, can also be signs of mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

But not all anxiety dreams are considered nightmares. They may be "bad dreams," but they're not as intense.

Not all nightmares and anxiety dreams are caused by anxiety, either. For instance, a 2015 study of undergraduate students suggests what you eat may also affect your dream state.

But just because you have anxiety, it doesn't mean you'll have nightmares or anxiety dreams. You could have an anxiety disorder and rarely have nightmares.

Anxiety dreams and nightmares may be a part of how your brain aims to process and respond to situations that cause you fear and discomfort.

When it comes to nightmares, research in 2017 suggests adversity, particularly in childhood, may affect your ability to regulate your emotions and could contribute to these spontaneous and intense anxiety dreams.

More research is needed to understand the processes involved in dreaming and dream content.

Anxiety dreams can cause you to feel distressed for a long time after waking up.

Ballard says that in some cases, anxiety dreams may start to negatively affect your mental health, especially if you attach a lot of meaning to your dreams.

"If you focus on the content of a bad dream, worry about it, and fear that it means something significant in your real life, it's more likely to have a negative effect on your mood or anxiety level," she says.

Controlling the content of your dreams is rarely possible, unless you master lucid dreaming. But the following tips may help you reduce how often you have anxiety dreams.

1. Figuring out the source of your anxiety

Self-awareness and emotional regulation may help you process your emotional states when you're awake. This could reduce the chance of anxiety coming up when you're asleep.

Englander also says it's important to acknowledge there's a source of anxiety in your life. She explains that facing real-life challenges as effectively as you can may reduce the intensity and frequency of anxiety dreams.

2. Writing an alternative ending

Ballard says there's a journaling exercise she asks her clients to do when they're having anxiety dreams.

"I ask them to write an alternative ending to the bad dream," she says. "This exercise tends to be really effective at taking the steam out of a bad dream. If it's been a recurring dream, it stops or changes and becomes less scary."

In fact, reframing negative or anxious thoughts with positive ones seems to decrease anxiety in general. A 2016 study suggests that focusing on positive mental images or positive affirmations instead of anxious thoughts could help people living with anxiety to worry less.

3. Using relaxation techniques

For those times when you're feeling overwhelmed, relaxation methods may help reduce anxiety in the moment and prevent it from carrying on throughout the day.

If you're waking up from an anxiety dream, you can try using one of these relaxation techniques:

box breathing

progressive muscle relaxation

mindful meditation

For ongoing anxiety management, consider:

If anxiety dreams are negatively affecting your sleep quality or ability to function throughout your day, consider reaching out to a mental health professional.

They will be able to help you explore the possible sources of your distress, as well as provide you with tools and coping skills.

We all have bad dreams now and then, but not all bad dreams cause emotional distress. When they do, some experts call these anxiety dreams.

Anxiety dreams can be caused by unresolved distress in your life and when you're going through emotionally-charged experiences.

Some anxiety dreams - like persistent nightmares - may be signs of an underlying mental health condition like GAD or PTSD.

Figuring out what's causing anxiety in your life, facing challenges, and practicing relaxation methods may all help lower your chances of having anxiety dreams in the future.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Anxiety Dreams: Can Stress Cause Bad Dreams?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dreams that leave you feeling apprehensive and worried can result from ongoing stressors, or they can come up unexpectedly. With the right tools, you can cope. Have you ever fallen peacefully asleep, just to wake up hours later in a sweat?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Summary: Want to remember your dreams? Try taking vitamin B6. Researchers discovered people who take B6 supplements are better able to recall details of their dreams compared to those who were given a placebo.
Source: University of Adelaide.
New research from the University of Adelaide has found that taking vitamin B6 could help people to recall their dreams.
The study published online ahead of print in Perceptual and Motor Skills, included 100 participants from around Australia taking high-dose vitamin B6 supplements before going to bed for five consecutive days.

"Our results show that taking vitamin B6 improved people's ability to recall dreams compared to a placebo," says research author Dr Denholm Aspy, from the University's School of Psychology.

"Vitamin B6 did not affect the vividness, bizarreness or colour of their dreams, and did not affect other aspects of their sleep patterns.

"This is the first time that such a study into the effects of vitamin B6 and other B vitamins on dreams has been carried out on a large and diverse group of people," Dr Aspy says.

The randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study saw participants taking 240mg of vitamin B6 immediately before bed.

Prior to taking the supplements, many of the participants rarely remembered their dreams, but they reported improvements by the end of the study.

"It seems as time went on my dreams were clearer and clearer and easier to remember. I also did not lose fragments as the day went on," said one of the participants after completing the study.

According to another participant of the study, "My dreams were more real, I couldn't wait to go to bed and dream!"

Dr Aspy says: "The average person spends around six years of their lives dreaming. If we are able to become lucid and control our dreams, we can then use our dreaming time more productively.

"Lucid dreaming, where you know that you are dreaming while the dream is still happening, has many potential benefits. For example, it may be possible to use lucid dreaming for overcoming nightmares, treating phobias, creative problem solving, refining motor skills and even helping with rehabilitation from physical trauma.

"In order to have lucid dreams it is very important to first be able to recall dreams on a regular basis. This study suggests that vitamin B6 may be one way to help people have lucid dreams."

Vitamin B6 occurs naturally in various foods, including whole grain cereals, legumes, fruits (such as banana and avocado), vegetables (such as spinach and potato), milk, cheese, eggs, red meat, liver, and fish.

"Further research is needed to investigate whether the effects of vitamin B6 vary according to how much is obtained from the diet. If vitamin B6 is only effective for people with low dietary intake, its effects on dreaming may diminish with prolonged supplementation," says Dr Aspy.

About this neuroscience research article

Interested readers can find out more about Dr Aspy's work, including new lucid dreaming studies and workshops, via his website.

Source: Denholm Aspy - University of Adelaide
Publisher: Organized by NeuroscienceNews.com.
Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is in the public domain.
Original Research: Open access research for "Effects of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) and a B Complex Preparation on Dreaming and Sleep" by Denholm J. Aspy, Natasha A. Madden, and Paul Delfabbro in Perceptual and Motor Skills. Published April 17 2018.
doi: 10.1177/0031512518770326

Cite This NeuroscienceNews.com Article

[cbtabs][cbtab title="MLA"]University of Adelaide "Want to Remember Your Dreams? Try Taking Vitamin B6." NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 27 April 2018.
<https://neurosciencenews.com/b6-dreams-8894/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title="APA"]University of Adelaide (2018, April 27). Want to Remember Your Dreams? Try Taking Vitamin B6. NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved April 27, 2018 from https://neurosciencenews.com/b6-dreams-8894/[/cbtab][cbtab title="Chicago"]University of Adelaide "Want to Remember Your Dreams? Try Taking Vitamin B6." https://neurosciencenews.com/b6-dreams-8894/ (accessed April 27, 2018).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]
Abstract Effects of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) and a B Complex Preparation on Dreaming and Sleep
Anecdotal evidence indicates that supplementation with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) before bed can enhance dream vividness and recall. In a single pilot study, Ebben, Lequerica, and Spielman (2002) found that vitamin B6 had a dose-dependent effect of increasing scores on a composite measure of dream vividness, bizarreness, emotionality, and color. The present research replicated this study using a larger and more diverse sample of 100 participants from across Australia. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation of the effects on dreaming and sleep of ingesting 240 mg vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride) before bed for five consecutive days. We also included an exploratory condition involving a B complex preparation containing a range of B vitamins. We found that vitamin B6 significantly increased the amount of dream content participants recalled but did not significantly affect dream vividness, bizarreness, or color, nor did it significantly affect other sleep-related variables. In contrast, participants in the B complex group showed significantly lower self-rated sleep quality and significantly higher tiredness on waking. We discuss the potential for using vitamin B6 in research on lucid dreaming.

Feel free to share this Neuroscience News.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Want to Remember Your Dreams? Try Taking Vitamin B6

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Summary: Want to remember your dreams? Try taking vitamin B6. Researchers discovered people who take B6 supplements are better able to recall details of their dreams compared to those who were given a placebo. Source: University of Adelaide.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What you do while awake actually can influence your dreams and how you sleep.

Dreams often seem out of our control, like a movie we watch at night rather than something we direct.

However, newer research shows that some behaviors can actually affect your dreams in both good and bad ways. Learn what habits and daytime activities might be influencing your rest, and see how to hack your dreams.

9 Ways to Hack Your Dreams

Want to sleep better or have sweeter dreams? The nine following things have been found to alter dreams and may represent interesting ways to hack your sleep or at least rest better.

Change Your Sleep Position

The position you favor before falling asleep can have a significant impact on your dreams. Sleeping on your left side is most likely to result in nightmares, while sleeping on your right side is associated with more peaceful dreams. Stomach sleeping, on the other hand, has been linked with feeling smothered as well as more, ahem, erotic dreams.

Get Cheesy

Dairy may inadvertently hack your dreams, with links not only to whether you may suffer from lactose intolerance, but also to the very type of cheese you enjoy. Cheddar and Red Leicester are recommended by the British Cheese Board for pleasant sleep, while Stilton (blue cheese) and lactose intolerance might result in odd or more vivid dreams.

Don't Scare Yourself

Just like your mom said, watching scary movies or reading horror novels before bed can induce your brain to manufacturer it's own terrifying stories.

Actually, any activity immediately preceding sleep can influence dreams, so take a few minutes to relax and think happy thoughts before dozing off if you want to keep them positive. Try our watching our list of feel-good videos to indulge in some warm, fuzzy feelings before bed.

Watch Black & White TV

Chances are if you are under 55, you dream exclusively in color. However, people who watched primarily black and white television between the time they were 3-10 years old are more likely to experience their dreams in shades of gray than those who grew up with colored TV, according to a British researcher. The fact that TV color can affect dreams is odd, since everything in the real world was still in color.

Don't Go to Bed Hungry

Feeling hungry while you are asleep can decrease sleep quality and wake you up due to drops in blood sugar. You might even find yourself dreaming of a juicy burger or cupcake!

Try enjoying a light snack before bed like a banana, nuts or peanut butter and crackers to counter this effect. Skip fatty and spicy foods which may lead to indigestion.

Take Dream-Enhancing Supplements

Taking your vitamins is a good thing for most people; however Vitamin B6 supplements have been linked to an increase in Verified Source National Library of Medicine (NIH) World's largest medical library, making biomedical data and information more accessible. lucid dreams in several anecdotal accounts and in one study. View source

Other studies found that the herb calea zacatechichi heightens dream vividness during non-REM sleep and increases chances of lucid dreams, but also decreases deep-slow wave sleep.

Other supplements like vinpocetine, galantamine, and choline have also been reported to induce more vivid and lucid dreams, and some people actually use them specifically to affect dreams.

Cutting back or stopping them altogether can reduce the effects if it bothers you. (Remember, always talk with your doc before taking new supplements.)

Sleep With Soothing Smells & Sounds

When you're snoozing, strong smells like brewing coffee or breakfast may subconsciously creep into your dreams.

One study found that rose smells can induce positive dreams while sulphur smells induce negativity. Though you may not dream directly of flowers when smelling roses, your memory's association with a scent can have an influence.

Sounds that are loud enough to hear but not too loud to wake you can also become part of your dreams. For example, have you ever found that the sounds on the TV were happening in your dreams, or incorporated your alarm clock into a snooze?

Hack your dreams by surrounding yourself with pleasant aromas like lavender or lilac, and with pleasant sounds like ocean waves. Since environmental cues can affect dreams, a comfortable mattress and cool temperatures may also help.

Eat Caffeine & Spicy Foods

Caffeine can overstimulate you and spicy foods can contribute to indigestion, both reducing how deeply you sleep and increasing the number of times you wake during the night.

A side effect of this is that they may also make you more likely to remember your dreams. Whether experiencing a nightmare or other dream state, if you wake up within a five minute window following it you are more likely to remember the dream.

Deal With Daytime Stress

Trying to avoid something or someone during the day, or to suppress a thought? This can lead to dreams that focus on that problem during the night, according to both Sigmund Freud and studies from Verified Source National Library of Medicine (NIH) World's largest medical library, making biomedical data and information more accessible. Verified Source National Library of Medicine (NIH) World's largest medical library, making biomedical data and information more accessible. Australian German universities. View source View source and

Whether it is a job deadline, concerns over physical appearance or relationship issues, attempts at suppressing the issue often make it front and center during sleep. Tackle your issues during the day or consider journaling at night to clear your mind.

Sleep is a science that we are just beginning to understanding, and not much is known yet about why or even how dreams exist. These discoveries indicate that we may be more in control of dreams than we once thought, and if you are plagued by bad or frightening dreams, there are some things you can do.

Perhaps the best way to hack your dreams is to practice healthy sleep habits and surround yourself with positive, happy thoughts before bed for sweeter sleep.
Have you discovered interesting ways to hack your dreams or habits that influence your sleep? Do you strive to be able to control and impact your dreams?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dream Hacking: 9 Behaviors That Impact Your Dreams

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What you do while awake actually can influence your dreams and how you sleep. Dreams often seem out of our control, like a movie we watch at night rather than something we direct. However, newer research shows that some behaviors can actually affect your dreams in both good and bad ways.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Do We Dream? The Role of Dreams and Nightmares

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dreams mostly occur during REM sleep when they’re harder to recall. While we know the role of sleep in regulating our health, the purpose of dreams has been tougher to explain.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Unlike previously thought, the universal phenomenon of daydreaming is a normal part of our cognitive processes. Daydreaming is defined as "spontaneous, subjective experiences in a no-task, no stimulus, no-response situation...[and] includes unintended thoughts that intrude inadvertently into the execution of intended mental tasks... and undirected ideas in thought sampling during wakefulness" (1). Although a single daydream usually lasts only a few minutes, it is estimated that we spend one-third to one-half of our waking hours daydreaming, although that amount can vary significantly from person to person (2).

In contrast to what its name may suggest, daydreaming seems to be quite different from the dreams experienced during sleep. Another interesting fact about daydreaming is that "the seemingly continual stream of consciousness is discontinuous, consisting of a sequence of concatenated, psychophysiological building blocks ... that follow each other in fractions of seconds" (1).

Daydreaming is often looked down upon, as John McGrail, a Los Angeles clinical hypnotherapist, explains: "Daydreaming is looked upon negatively because it represents 'non-doing' in a society that emphasizes productivity.... We are under constant pressure to do, achieve, produce, and succeed" (3). Sigmund Freud even believed that fantasies were the creations of the unfulfilled, and that daydreaming and fantasy were early signs of mental illness (2).

Experts now agree, however, that daydreaming is a normal, and even beneficial, cognitive function-albeit one that is largely still not understood. An area of the brain called the "default network," which becomes more active as the level of external stimulus decreases, is often considered responsible for daydreaming. The default network mainly includes the medial prefrontal cortex (PFC), the posterior cingulated cortex/precuneus region, and the temporoparietal junction (4).

Neuroimaging studies have offered support for this hypothesis, though only indirectly. These studies demonstrated "correlations between reported frequency of task-unrelated thoughts and default network activation during conditions of low cognitive demand, as well as stronger default network activation during highly practiced compared with novel tasks in people with higher propensity for mind wandering." A different interpretation of these data, offered by Gilbert et al., argued that "instead of mind wandering, activations in the medial PFC part of the default network may reflect stimulus-related thought such as enhanced watchfulness toward the external environment that is also likely to occur during highly practiced tasks"(4).

A study by Christoff et al. using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) found that the executive system of the brain as well as the areas of the brain at the core of the default network, namely the medial PFC, the posterior cingulated/precuneus, and the posterior temporoparietal cortex, were, in fact, active during daydreaming. They also found that "brain recruitment associated with off-task thinking is most pronounced in the absence of meta-awareness," meaning when the person is not aware that he or she is daydreaming. The study also clarified: "Although our findings yield strong support to the notion that the medial PFC is involved in mind wandering, they do not specify whether it is involved in stimulus-independent or stimulus-oriented mind wandering, an important question that remains subject for further research." (4) An important finding of the study was the activation of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), the two main regions of the executive network of the brain, during mind wandering. The recruitment of the executive system of the brain during daydreaming may help explain why daydreaming "can undermine performance on demanding tasks." Christoff et al. proposed that this dual activation-of both the default and executive networks-suggested "the presence of conflict inherent to the content of mind wandering. This possibility would also be consistent with observations that the content of mind wandering is closely related to current personal concerns and unresolved matters" (4).

The study then suggested the possible implication of finding that both the executive and default networks of the brain are active during mind wandering. The activation of both the default and executive networks of the brain is similarly seen in both creative thought and "naturalistic film viewing," (4) suggesting that "mind wandering may be part of a larger class of mental phenomena that enable executive processes to occur without diminishing the potential contribution of the default network for creative thought and mental simulation. Although it may undermine our immediate goals, mind wandering may enable the parallel operation of diverse brain areas in the service of distal goals that extend beyond the current task." (4)

In another study, Sayette, Reichle-professors of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh-and Schooler-a professor of psychology at UC Santa Barbara-found interesting results of alcohol's effect on mind wandering. The study reported that "a moderate dose of alcohol simultaneously increases mind wandering while reducing the likelihood of noticing that one's mind has wandered." In this study, the consumption of alcohol doubled the incidence of daydreaming during a reading task. The study explained that "these findings represent the first demonstration that alcohol disrupts individuals' meta-awareness of the current contents of thought. Although novel, this conclusion is consistent with prior observations that alcohol inhibits processes related to meta-awareness." (5)

An article by M.F. Mason et al. published in Science proposed three possibilities on the reason the mind may wander at all. First, the authors suggested that perhaps stimulus independent thought (SIT) "enables individuals to maintain an optimal level of arousal, thereby facilitating performance on mundane tasks." Second, they suggested that perhaps SIT "lends a sense of coherence to one's past, present, and future experiences." Thirdly, they suggested that perhaps "the mind may generate SIT not to attain some extrinsic goal...but simply because it evolved a general ability to divide attention and to manage concurrent mental tasks. Although the thoughts the mind produces when wandering are at times useful, such instances do not prove that the mind wanders because these thoughts are adaptive; on the contrary the mind may wander simply because it can." (6)

Although daydreaming is still not fully understood, it is clear that during daydreaming the mind is very active. Marcus Raichle, a neurologist and radiologist at Washington University, sums it up: "When you don't use a muscle, that muscle really isn't doing much of anything.... But when your brain is supposedly doing nothing and daydreaming, it's really doing a tremendous amount. We call it 'resting state,' but the brain isn't resting at all."(7)
References
1. D. Vaitl et al., Psychobiology of altered states of consciousness. Psychological Bulletin. 131, 98-127 (2005).

2. Daydreaming (2001). Available at http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2699/is_0000/ai_2699000083/ (22 May 2010).

3. C. Frank, Why does daydreaming get such a bad rap? (2006). Available at http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/why-does-daydreaming-get-such-bad-rap (22 May 2010).

4. K. Christoff, A. M. Gordon, J. Smallwood, R. Smith, J. W. Schooler, Experience sampling during fMRI reveals default network and executive system contributions to mind wandering. PNAS. 106, 8719-8724 (2009).

5. M. A. Sayette, E. D. Reichle, J. W. Schooler, Lost in the sauce: the effects of alcohol on mind wandering. Psychological Science. 20, 747-752 (2009).

6. M. F. Mason et al. Wandering minds: the default network and stimulus-independent thought. Science. 315, 393-395 (2007).

7. J. Lehrer, Daydream achiever (2008). Available at http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/08/31/daydream_achiever (22 May 2010).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Unlike previously thought, the universal phenomenon of daydreaming is a normal part of our cognitive processes. Daydreaming is defined as "spontaneous, subjective experiences in a no-task, no stimulus, no-response situation...[and] includes unintended thoughts that intrude inadvertently into the execution of intended mental tasks... and undirected ideas in thought sampling during wakefulness" (1).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Salla. Salla Wonders, " Why do people daydream? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Salla!

Has this ever happened to you? You hear your name and you suddenly snap back to . The teacher is looking at you. She must have been the one who called your name. You wonder what she wants.

Then you realize what's going on. You're in class. She is expecting an answer from you. You have no clue what she just asked you. Why? You were daydreaming, of course!

All of us daydream from time to time. Unlike a dream you have while you're sleeping, a daydream occurs when you're awake. Like a regular dream, your mind might take you to a place far, far away from where you are.

During a daydream, your concentration is elsewhere. You're physically in school or at home or wherever you are. But your mind is far away from whatever is going on right in front of you. becomes blurry, replaced by a vision or fantasy taking place in your mind.

Daydreams often around pleasant or happy thoughts. You might daydream about your hopes and dreams. For example, you might daydream about scoring the winning goal in your next soccer match. Or maybe your daydream will be about that special someone asking you to go to the next school dance.

Sometimes daydreams are frowned upon. Like that earlier in which you were daydreaming in class and had no clue what the teacher asked you? That's not good. During school is not the time to daydream unless that's part of the lesson!

Employers also often frown upon daydreaming. When there's work to be done, your boss wants you to work, not daydream. Of course, some jobs require daydreams. For example, daydreaming can be helpful to an author or a scientist. It's also helpful for someone who creates new Wonders of the Day!

If you visit Wonderopolis regularly, you know how valuable daydreaming can be. Many of the cool things you read about came about as a result of our Wonder Friends daydreaming of new Wonders!

Daydreaming can also help you get into a positive state of mind. on your hopes and dreams can help you. Daydreams can also provide inspiration to do WONDERful things that you might not otherwise be brave enough to try!

CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.W.3, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Salla. Salla Wonders, " Why do people daydream? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Salla! Has this ever happened to you? You hear your name and you suddenly snap back to . The teacher is looking at you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In 2010, Leonardo DiCaprio and a few of his friends introduced many of us to the idea of lucid dreaming for the first time. The movie was "Inception," and the central character, Cobb, played by Dicaprio, uses lucid dreaming (and a little bit of fictional dream-sharing technology) to infiltrate the mind of his targets. More than a decade later, lucid dreaming is still piquing our interest - somewhere to the tune of 1.7 views (and counting) on TikTok. If you're one of the many trying to get your lucid dream on, here's a little more information.

What Is Lucid Dreaming?

In short, a lucid dream is a type of dream where the person is aware they are dreaming. The dreamer often has full memory of the event (s) and control over the dream narrative . Moreover, research has shown that lucid dreamers also have the ability to communicate in real-time with the awake world . But while lucid dreamers may have control over their dream, Daniel Love, aka The Lucid Guide , tells Sleepopolis "dream control itself is not a defining characteristic of lucid dreaming."

He explains that a dream can only be characterized as lucid when (and if) the dreamer

Knows they are dreaming

Understands what that knowledge means (that the entire world of dreams is an illusion)

Has mental faculties similar to that of an awake mind (such as critical, logical thinking)

According to Love, many people have spontaneous lucid dreams throughout their lives. He notes that it's a common occurrence in children and teens, and "the quality of lucidity can range from a vague sense that one is dreaming (which technically isn't a true lucid dream, but is related) all the way up to feeling as if one has "woken up" in an entirely different universe."

LucidEasily understood, clear, transparent.

Why Do People Lucid Dream?

The reasons people explore lucid dreaming vary. Love says that while many engage in the practice as a matter of "curiosity, self-discovery, philosophy, and spirituality, surprisingly few are drawn by escapism." Love suspects that fun is not usually a factor, as a lot of work goes into learning how to lucid dream, and that rarely aligns with the personality types that aim to use it as a distraction. Love adds that "learning how to lucid dream requires a closer relationship with one's mind and reality, so in many ways, it is the polar opposite of escapism."

Is Lucid Dreaming the Same As Shifting?

And while reality shifting can be confused with lucid dreaming, Love says unequivocally that lucid dreaming and shifting are "not at all" the same. "Lucid dreaming is a scientifically verified state of consciousness," says Love. "It is founded upon known and established scientific and psychological principles." Reality shifting, on the other hand, is a very recent new-age belief system that grew in popularity on TikTok and doesn't have scientific backing.

Is lucid dreaming the same as dream control? Though similar, lucid dreaming and dream control are different. Lucid dreaming is the awareness of dreaming, though it may involve little to no control over dream events and characters. Dream control may be practiced by rehearsing dreams while awake, and attempting to guide what occurs through conscious intention before dreaming begins.

What Causes Lucid Dreams

Though it may not be possible to understand exactly why lucid dreams occur, some research reveals that dreams of this type may be associated with times of stress and anxiety. Psychopathologies, such as depression and OCD , may also play a role. And although research on the subject is a bit dated, one study showed that people with a propensity for lucid dreaming might be more likely to score highly on self-assessments of creativity and to see themselves as capable of influencing events, also known as possessing an internal locus of control.

The Science Behind Lucid Dreaming

It's been four decades since Hearne's pioneering research, and while science has helped us decode a few more mysteries about lucid dreaming, much of what we know on the subject still stands.

Later studies showed that lucid dreaming often occurs during moments of particularly high arousal or change in brain wave activity in the outer layer of the brain. Recognition of may occur specifically in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, where working memory, planning, and abstract reasoning occur.

Lucid Dreaming And Sleep Quality

This type of brain activity during the REM sleep stage begs the question: How does lucid dreaming affect the dreamer's sleep quality?

The Difference Between False Awakenings and Lucid Dreaming

False awakening and lucid dreaming are often confused, but the two are different. A false awakening occurs when the dreamer believes they have woken up but is, in fact, still asleep. Typically, the dreamer will feel as though they are awake and going about their business, getting out of bed, brushing their teeth, etc. False awakenings typically occur in the transition out of REM sleep.

Lucid Dreaming As Therapy

There is some evidence to suggest that lucid dreaming may be beneficial as a type of therapy for nightmares , and new research shows that lucid dreaming can significantly decrease the symptoms of depression and anxiety .

In 2022, researchers out of Northwestern University's Department of Psychology ran a content analysis on posts from a public lucid dreaming internet forum in an attempt to offer some more definitive answers on the subject. Ultimately, researchers found that lucid dreaming could also be used for creative inspiration, personal growth, and alleviating insomnia symptoms .

Positive Effects of Lucid Dreaming

Negative Effects of Lucid Dreaming

Panic or anxiety in a lucid dream state

Reality confusion for people with certain mental health disorders

Unwanted lucid dreams

How To Have Lucid Dream

For anyone who wants to try lucid dreaming, Daniel Love walks us through the process.

Prioritize 7-9 Hours of Sleep Each Night

Become Familiar with Your Dreams

"Keeping a dream journal is an absolutely vital and non-optional step when learning how to lucid dream," says Love. He adds, "In essence, lucid dreaming is learning how to "spot the difference" between waking life and dreams, and of course, that's going to be nearly impossible if you do not become familiar with the 'personality' of your dream world."

Ideally, dreamers should record every single important detail, including elements of the dream, experiences, emotions, and thoughts.

Learn to Question the Nature of Your State

Love says, "Would-be lucid dreamers must learn to regularly question their state - seriously asking themselves 'Could this be a dream?'"

The dreamer should do this whenever waking life events resemble dreams, even if only slightly. This could mean questioning odd events, strong emotions, and coincidences. "By building this habit, eventually, it will transfer into the dream world. At some point, you'll ask the question within a dream and finally realize you're dreaming!"

Testing Your State

"When things occur that are dreamlike, you can (and should) also perform certain tests to establish if you are dreaming," says Love. "The easiest 'reality test' is to pinch your nose and attempt to breathe through it. During waking life, you'll obviously be unable to breathe. However, during a dream, you'll have the uncanny experience of breathing through a pinched nose. A sure sign you are dreaming!"

Be Consistent, Experimental, and Patient

"Lucid dreaming takes time and patience, so don't give up if you don't have a lucid dream the first night of trying," says Love. "Remember, this is a skill that takes roughly the same amount of time as learning a language. You'll get more proficient the more time and energy is invested." Love also recommends making sure you're learning from reputable sources.

Other Tips for Lucid Dreaming

Lucid Dreaming Techniques

"There are many techniques that aim to induce lucid dreams," says Love, "However, it is best not to assume that there is a 'right' or 'perfect' technique." Love compares choosing a lucid dreaming technique to choosing your clothing. "In much the same way that no one piece of clothing is 'perfect,' no one lucid dreaming technique is perfect," he says. "With clothing, one needs to dress according to the weather and events; lucid dreaming techniques are much like this; sleep is full of variables, and we must adapt the techniques we use to fit the circumstances."

Mnemonic Induction Lucid Dreaming (MILD)

The MILD technique is where the dreamer memorizes the dream they woke from, then imagines becoming lucidly aware within it. They fall back to sleep, telling themselves that in their next dream, they'll realize they are dreaming.

Reality Testing Method

The reality testing method "involves performing an action and observing if the results are consistent with results expected when awake," says Barrett. "By practicing these tests during waking life, one may eventually decide to perform such a test while dreaming, which may fail and let the dreamer realize they are dreaming. They must be ones that vary in waking life vs. dreams for that individual."

In "Inception," Cobb used a spinning top - if he was awake, the top would stop rotating at some point, whereas it continued to spin infinitely when he was dreaming. If a top doesn't do it for you, Barrett says that the following tests are common ones that work for many people:

Looking for text to read. Reading it, looking away, and looking back to read it again. Dream text is often blurred, nonsensical, or changes on the second reading.

Looking at a digital clock or watch. The dreamer should check to see if the numbers make sense as a time. Like reading, try looking away and looking back. The dream time will probably have changed randomly and radically at a second glance. (Analog watches do not usually change in , while digital watches have a great tendency to do so. A digital watch or clock may feature strange characters or numbers that are out of order.)

Flipping a light switch. Light levels rarely change as a result of a switch flipping in dreams.

Looking into a mirror. In dreams, reflections from a mirror often appear to be blurred, distorted, incorrect, or frightening.

Last Word from Sleepopolis

While lucid dreaming may sound like something only Hollywood or Stephen King could cook up, it's a very real experience for many, based on real science and psychology. Largely a mechanism of activity in the brain's prefrontal cortex, lucid dreaming occurs when the dreamer is aware they are dreaming while still in a dream state. While some people may experience spontaneous lucid dreaming, others can learn to do it; it just takes time, practice, and patience.

Subscribe Today!

Get the latest deals, discounts, reviews, and giveaways!

Sharon Brandwein

Sharon Brandwein is a Certified Sleep Science Coach and a freelance writer. She specializes in health and beauty, parenting, and of course, all things sleep. Sharon's work has also appeared on ABC News, USAToday, and Forbes. When she's not busy writing, you might find her somewhere curating a wardrobe for her puppy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lucid Dreams: What They Are and How to Experience Them | Sleepopolis

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In 2010, Leonardo DiCaprio and a few of his friends introduced many of us to the idea of lucid dreaming for the first time. The movie was "Inception," and the central character, Cobb, played by Dicaprio, uses lucid dreaming (and a little bit of fictional dream-sharing technology) to infiltrate the mind of his targets.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you'd really like to try to have a lucid dream, there are different suggested approaches. Dream recall is important. You may have heard of people keeping dream journals. As soon as you wake up from a dream, you record as many things as you can remember, even if you've woken up in the middle of the night. The idea is that by focusing on your dreams each day, you'll get into the habit of remembering them and start to see certain rhythms in how you dream -- once you're attuned to your process of dreaming, you'll become a better observer of your own dreams.

Mnemonic Induction of Lucid Dreaming (MILD) is one of LaBerge's techniques. When you wake up from a dream, try your best to remember it fully. When you go back to sleep, keep telling yourself that you're going to remember that you're dreaming during your next dream. The next step is to picture yourself back in the dream that you just had and look for a sign that the dream is a dream and not reality, like the fact that you're flying through the air with wings (LaBerge calls these dreamsigns). At this point, remind yourself that you're dreaming and continue the visualization. Keep doing this until you fall asleep.

Another method that might help involves napping. You wake up extra early, stay awake for a half hour or so, and then go back to sleep. Something about the interruption of sleep seems to blur the border between being asleep and being awake.

Reality testing, or reminding yourself throughout the day that you're conscious, is another approach. It also has connections to the Buddhist concept of mindfulness. This repeated acknowledgement of the state you're in is supposed to help you explore the other extreme -- the more you realize what consciousness is like and when you're conscious, the more likely you'll be to recognize when you're in a dream state. After all, how do you know you're conscious? Your actions have a logical reaction -- you flip on a light switch and the light turns on. When you flip the switch down, the light turns off. In dreams, actions don't tend to follow a logical pattern.

As far as gadgets go, the most notable might be the NovaDreamer, another Lucidity Institute innovation, which looks like a cross between a sleep mask and goggles. It's supposed to help you with lucid dreaming by letting you know when you're in REM sleep. Sensors track your eye movements and trigger a light that shines on your eyes. When you see the light in your dream, you'll know you're dreaming. LaBerge has also experimented with the use of galantamine, a drug sometimes used to treat Alzheimer's that's supposed to help the ability to think and remember.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you'd really like to try to have a lucid dream, there are different suggested approaches. Dream recall is important. You may have heard of people keeping dream journals. As soon as you wake up from a dream, you record as many things as you can remember, even if you've woken up in the middle of the night.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Control Your Dreams: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Controlling your dreams is one of the most captivating experiences a human being can have. Have you ever wanted to re-dream your most imaginative dreams, or simply be the king or queen of your sleeping subconscious? Buy or start using a…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Courtesy Paramount Pictures

You're falling. Your teeth fall out. You're constantly 10 minutes late to your big work presentation. We've all had those dreams that've made us wake up in a full panic, only to realize they're, well, just dreams. But what do they actually mean-and why do we still think about them after we wake up?

"For vivid dreamers, our body can often experience what is happening in the dream," says Eliza Boquin, a licensed psychotherapist, sex therapist, and owner of The Flow & Ease Healing Center. "As we begin to transition back into a state of alertness, it can take a few moments or even hours to get fully grounded into the present moment."

Turns out, dreams do matter. "Dreams are your subconscious thoughts. They're a continuation of your thoughts of your day," notes certified dream analyst and speaker Lauri Loewenberg. While you're sleeping, your brain is conjuring up around five dreams per night (yes, even if you don't remember them). That's a lot of subconscious thoughts to unpack. And although every dream is unique, but they do tend to follow certain symbolic patterns. We asked Boquin, Loewenberg, and psychologist Dr. William Braun to explain the deeper meanings behind these 14 common dreams. Find out what yours means below.

The Dream: You're going about your regular day.

The interpretation: A common dream that can be surprisingly puzzling? "Boring" real life events, such as going about your normal work day or picking the kids up from school. "Because our brains are limited to what we know, the way we work through stressors is by referencing how we live day to day. Perhaps you went to sleep thinking about everything you had to do the next day, maybe you have been arriving late to pick up your child and you're feeling guilt about it," says Boquin, who recommends exploring the emotions you felt in the dream. "What was the theme and is that a theme you're facing currently?"

Know that it's common to construct dreams using real-life thoughts and sights, as well-so there might not be some deeper meaning unless it feels like there is one. "This is a great example of 'Day Residue,'" explains Braun. "Often, what happened the day prior to dreaming is used in our dreams."

The Dream: You're back in school, taking a test.

The interpretation: Usually this dream is connected to work, says Loewenberg. "School was our first job ever," Loewenberg points out, adding that this dream is common when a work challenge is on the horizon. "Whether you're trying to get a new client, it's evaluation time, you're trying to get a promotion-anytime you're feeling tested and you've got to prove yourself." The takeaway? "How did you feel in the dream? Were you prepared? It's kind of like a mirror," says Loewenberg.

The Dream: You're hanging out with a celebrity-any celebrity.

The interpretation: If the celeb cameo feels random, there's still a reason they're hanging around your subconscious. Ultimately, there's something about that person-and it could be deep in their IMDb history-that's relevant to you right now. "Ask yourself what is it about this person that relates back to you," explains Loewenberg. "It could be a movie they're in, a song of theirs-the message will be in the title of that movie or the lyrics to that song."

The message could also be something related to that celebrity's persona. "If you're friends in the dream, whatever it is in that celebrity you like is something you like about yourself too," says Loewenberg. "It's something you want to be recognized for, too."

The Dream: Your partner cheated on you.

The interpretation: "If there's infidelity in your past, either in this relationship or a past relationship, this will keep cropping up because it's a bone of contention within yourself," says Loewenberg. Also important to remember? Dreams aren't prophecies. "If there aren't trust issues and this seems to be coming out of left field, then it doesn't mean your partner's cheating," explains Loewenberg. Instead, there may be another third wheel to blame. "There's something that's taking up too much time and attention away from you," she says. "It could be a job, golf, friends, a new baby... something is causing you to feel cheated out of that time and attention."

Ultimately, this dream can be a positive, so long as you don't wake up pissed off at your partner for something they did in your subconscious. "It's letting you know something needs to be corrected," advises Loewenberg. "You and your partner can start having date nights, or try to cut down on golf or whatever it may be."

The Dream: You cheated on your partner.

The interpretation: This one can be just as alarming-yet it's just as symbolic. "My experience with these types of dreams is there is often some doubt about the other person's loyalty or the safety of the relationship, most often emotional," says Boquin. "Betrayal can happen in many forms, so if you feel that your partner is prioritizing something or someone else before you, or that they're not being fully transparent, your subconscious may be trying to process what is happening. Dreams are a space where we can confront the taboo or issues we're unwilling to confront when we're awake."

The Dream: You're running late to something super important.

The interpretation: If you work in a deadline-oriented field, this one is pretty self-explanatory, says Loewenberg. If not, timelines are likely still to blame-but they're self-imposed. "Maybe you want to lose weight or you want to reach a level in your career by a certain date," Loewenberg posits.

The Dream: You're pregnant.

The interpretation: Even if you're not trying to have children, Loewenberg says this is a positive dream to have, as "it's reflective that something is growing and developing inside of you." It could be anything from a new idea to working toward a promotion, and in fact, "a lot of women get this when they're working on a degree, or even when they're on the verge of a new relationship."

The Dream: You're standing on a cliff, and suddenly you're falling into nothingness.

The interpretation: " Dreams of falling can be associated with feeling out of control or overwhelmed. They may also relate to feeling unsupported and insecure," says Braun.

If you dream of falling due to the floor coming out from under you, or a different variation, it can also be interpreted differently. "The devil is in the details. Even though there may be a general interpretation of falling, what is most important are the particulars for the person dreaming," adds Braun. He or she will have very different associations to the details of the dream. For a particular patient, falling may conjure up images of 9/11. Another may think of 'falling from grace.' In short, even though the dream of falling may be very common, the details are different in each case."

Dreams of falling can be associated with feeling out of control or overwhelmed. They may also relate to feeling unsupported and insecure.

The Dream: You've lost your voice and you're unable to call or shout for help.

The interpretation: "This may not just be a dream, but may be the result of sleep paralysis," explains Braun. "During REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the sleep cycle during in which we dream, our bodies experience REM atonia, a natural paralysis during the REM cycle. Physiologically, we are paralyzed during REM sleep to prevent our bodies from acting or moving while we dream. People who experience sleep paralysis usually wake up before the REM cycle is complete. This space between sleep and waking can be experienced as a dream. It can also be experienced in the waking state as being unable to move, talk, and, in some cases, breathe."

The Dream: You're naked, in public.

The interpretation: "These dreams are often accompanied by feelings of embarrassment and shame," says Braun. "They can also be related to feelings of vulnerability and exposure." But if you're in the nude and feel no shame, it could be the total opposite. "Perhaps this person wants to be seen, acknowledged, admired."

The Dream: Your teeth are suddenly falling out.

The interpretation: Are you an anxious person? It could be pent up anxiety coming through in the form of a dream. "We might think of this as being concerned about one's potency, competence, strength, power, ability to 'take a bite out' of the world," says Braun. This common dream can also be associated with times of change and transition.

The Dream: You're being chased.

The interpretation: It all depends on who is doing the chasing. "Often people are being chased by a monster. The monster may be a manifestation of an indiscretion, an addiction, or a debt," explains Braun. If you have the unfortunate dream (or nightmare) of being chased by someone you know, it could differ. "Your associations about the person chasing you are often more insightful than focusing on the actual person chasing you," says Braun. "Keep in mind, people in dreams can be substitutions for other people or even substitutions for aspects of ourselves."

Often people are being chased by a monster. The monster may be a manifestation of an indiscretion, an addiction, or a debt.

The Dream: You're in a position of power-a CEO, president, queen, or religious figure.

The interpretation: "On the surface, dreaming of being in a position of power seems to be grandiose," say Braun. "However, it can be argued that most people who dream of being in a position of power are in fact not in a position of power. Therefore, the dream turns the unpowerful dreamer, in the dream world, into the opposite. What looks like grandiosity is actually compensatory. The dream compensates (or covers up) for the feelings of being powerless."

The Dream: You're at an impossibly elegant dinner party or you're with a deceased family member, or other impossible (but positive) scenarios.

The interpretation: This kind of dream, along with other dreams of elaborated elegance, can represent a need to supplement reality with fantasy. "Dreaming of a banquet is an attempt to satisfy the hunger of the missed meal," explains Braun. "Dreaming of a dead loved one is a way to bring them back to life," he says.

"Dreams can also be healing. They can help us process difficult emotions we've experienced," adds Boquin. "Many believe that these are visits from their departed loved ones, and others simply take comfort in feeling like they were able to spend time with their loved one in the dream world."

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Is Your Dream Trying To Tell You? Experts Reveal The 14 Most Common Dream Meanings

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We've all had those dreams that have made us wake up in a full panic, only to realize they're, well, just dreams. But what do they actually mean? Certified dream analyst and speaker Lauri Loewenberg and psychologist William Braun explain.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Falling dreams are quite common and can be linked to anything that is subject to falling or going up and down - finances, stocks, status, relationships, expectations. Dreaming about falling tends to signify a loss of control over an important situation.

"It also indicates fear, terror, and anxiety that comes out of losing grip over significant things," says Dr. Nereida Gonzalez-Berrios, M.D., a certified psychiatrist. The feeling of falling may represent a sense of helplessness. However, you'll be able to interpret your dream more accurately if you take a few other clues into account, such as where you're falling from, why, and how it makes you feel.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Do Dreams About Falling Mean? | Sleep Matters Club

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Falling dreams are quite common and can be linked to anything that is subject to falling or going up and down - finances, stocks, status, relationships, expectations. Dreaming about falling tends to signify a loss of control over an important situation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How To Lucid Dream in Your Sleep In 3 Minutes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Do We Get Nightmares? | The Dr. Binocs Show | Best Learning Videos For Kids | Peekaboo Kidz

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Is Everyone Having Vivid Dreams Right Now?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
9 Common Dreams and What They Might Mean

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What do dreams mean? Learn more about nine common dream interpretations, what some of these common dream themes mean, and how to analyze your own dreams.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
While scientists have been studying dreams for years, the images that appear while we snooze are still incredibly misunderstood.

When asleep, our minds are active, creating stories and images that can be either vivid or fleeting; nonsensical or seemingly prophetic; terrifying or absolutely mundane.

Why do we dream? We may not have definitive answers, but there are several types of dreams and themes, and different factors that cause these dreams to occur.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, we typically dream about four to six times per night. There's no way, you might be thinking, but that's only because we forget more than 95 percent of all dreams.

Dreaming happens throughout the night, but our most vivid and often remembered dreams happen during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

A dream can be influenced by what we're thinking about before we go to sleep, or what we've experienced in our waking day. Dreams can also bring to light what we're avoiding thinking about or our anxieties.

According to research, 65 percent of the elements of dreams are associated with your experiences while awake.

If you've got job stress, your dreams might take place at work or involve your co-workers. If you just went on a date, your dream might be full of romance, or on the flip side, heartbreak, if you're having anxiety about dating someone new.

A "standard" dream will vary depending on the individual, but below are some features of dreams:

Most dreams are predominantly visual, meaning that images are at the forefront of dreams, rather than other senses like smell or touch.

While most people dream in color, some dreams are entirely in black and white.

The less stressed you are, the more pleasant your dreams may be.

Dreams can be very strange - and that's totally normal.

Your mood, events in the news, pain, violence, and religion may all influence your dream's subject.

Nightmares are dreams that are scary or disturbing. Almost everyone has nightmares from time to time and there's not always a good reason why.

Some potential causes of nightmares include:

watching or reading something scary

sleep deprivation

eating right before bed

medication side effects

having a fever or being ill

sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, nightmare disorder, or narcolepsy

People experiencing a lot of stress or who have mental health conditions like anxiety disorders may experience dreams that are more frightening. Up to of people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may experience nightmares, which can be recurring if not treated.

found that the three most common nightmare themes involved:

death or dying

physical violence

being chased or hunted

Night terrors are a type of sleep disorder that's more common in children than adults.

When someone has a night terror, they wake up terrified but may only have a vague idea of what they dreamed about. Most of the time, they don't remember dreams from the night terror.

In a night terror, a person can wake up:

screaming

kicking or moving violently, even jumping out of bed

sweating

breathing hard

with a racing heart rate

disoriented and unsure where they are or what's going on

Night terrors aren't technically a type of dream, but a sleep disorder.

What's the difference between a nightmare and night terror?

Night terrors most commonly happen during non-REM sleep, while nightmares typically happen during REM sleep.

Night terrors are much more common in children, who experience more non-REM sleep, while nightmares can affect those at any age.

Nightmares are often vividly recalled dreams while night terrors are easily forgotten.

Lucid dreaming means you're aware that you're dreaming while you're in the dream. Like most dreams, it often happens during REM sleep.

Most people don't have frequent lucid dreams, though some research reports that 55 percent of people experience it at least once in their lives.

Sometimes you can control a lucid dream if you have practice. This can help you control your dreams, especially if you tend to have recurring dreams or nightmares.

Daydreams

The main difference between a daydream and all other types of dreams is that you're awake during a daydream.

Daydreams occur consciously, but you may still feel like you're not fully awake or aware of your surroundings. If someone catches you daydreaming, they may say that you look " zoned out " or lost in thoughts.

Daydreams usually involve other people, whether real or imagined. Some research has shown that daydreaming about people you know predicts positive well-being while daydreaming about people you aren't close to can predict more loneliness and worse well-being.

Recurring dreams

Recurring dreams are dreams that repeat more than once. They often have themes such as confrontations, being chased, or falling.

You can have neutral recurring dreams or recurring nightmares. If you have recurring nightmares, it may be due to an underlying mental health condition, substance use, or certain medication.

Common themes in recurring dreams involve:

being attacked or chased

falling

being frozen with fear

False awakenings

False awakenings are a type of dream occurrence where a person believes they've woken up but actually haven't. If you've ever found yourself dreaming that you woke up, but it was actually a part of the dream, this is a false awakening.

False awakenings have been noted to occur alongside lucid dreams and sleep paralysis.

Healing dreams

While there's not a lot of scientific information on healing dreams, they've been described as dreams that:

bring you balance or harmony

give you a sense of connection, meaning, or purpose

bring about reconciliation

leaves you feeling joyful or at peace

Prophetic dreams

Prophetic dreams are thought to be dreams that have foretold a future event. If you dream of something happening and then it occurs later, you may feel you've had a prophetic dream.

Historically, dreams were considered to impart wisdom or even predict the future. In some cultures today, dreams are still considered to be a way of receiving messages from the spirit world.

There's no real way to tell if a dream is prophetic or not - it comes down to what you believe. Some believe that a prophetic dream is just your subconscious anticipating a particular outcome and having you dream it to prepare.

Vivid dreams

Vivid dreams are almost always associated with waking up during REM sleep when your dreams are most vivid and more easily remembered.

While we may consider any dream that we experience in REM sleep "vivid," with vivid dreaming, it's used to describe a particularly intense dream that felt very real. You may also remember your vivid dream a lot easier than a typical dream.

Anyone can have vivid dreams, but if you're pregnant or particularly stressed, it may contribute to having one.

Have you had a dream about your teeth falling out, flying through the sky, or being chased? These are common themes that many people dream about.

Some of the most common dream themes are about:

Dreaming about specific things like this could mean many things, or as some researchers believe, be completely nonsensical. Interpretations will vary depending on the individual and how they're doing in their day-to-day lives.

Dreams about falling or being chased may indicate experiencing anxiety or conflict, or even falling in love.

Dreams about teeth falling out have been interpreted as everything from stress and big life changes, to indicating dental health issues.

Losing teeth, being naked in public, and test taking may all fall under fear of embarrassment.

Just because we don't always remember our dreams doesn't mean we're not dreaming. Everyone is doing it. Even people who were born without sight dream - their dreams are reportedly just composed more of the other senses, like sound, touch, and smell.

While we're all dreaming while we sleep, there may be times when you're more likely to experience certain types of dreams or remember them more often.

In childhood. While children may not necessarily dream more than adults, they're more likely to experience certain types of dreams, like night terrors or nightmares, than adults.

During pregnancy. Sleep and hormone changes during pregnancy may be to blame for changes in dreaming. Those who are pregnant may experience more vivid or frequent dreams and even more nightmares. You may also be able to remember dreams better.

While grieving. Some research has found that dreams may be more vivid and feel more meaningful when you're mourning. This can be a part of going through the grieving process.

If you're experiencing extra stress or anxiety, have a mental health condition, or have experienced a traumatic event, you may also be more likely to have nightmares or vivid dreams.

Scientists don't have all the answers on why we dream or why we have the types of dreams we have, but there are some clues.

Whether you're having vivid dreams, nightmares, or lucid dreams, if your dreaming starts to interfere with getting enough sleep, or you believe there's an underlying cause for your dream type, speak to a healthcare professional.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Types of Dreams and What They May Indicate

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
While scientists have been studying dreams for years, the images that appear while we snooze are still incredibly misunderstood. When asleep, our minds are active, creating stories and images that can be either vivid or fleeting; nonsensical or seemingly prophetic; terrifying or absolutely mundane. Why do we dream?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Do you often find that things that are on your mind in the daytime end up in your dreams that night?

This almost makes sense to us, but how do we explain those random dreams where all sorts of strange things happen?

In fact science tells us there are actually 10 surprising things that can affect our dreams, as well as whether you will actually remember them or not.

1. SMELLS

One study found that the smell of flowers at a certain point in a person's sleep cycle can lead to happier dreams, while a sulphur scent gave them bad dreams. While this is unlikely to happen in real life, sometimes a sudden aroma can affect your dreams - such as the smell of breakfast cooking, or maybe even your partner's breath. Often these can infiltrate your dream rather than wake you up.

READ MORE:
* The seven most common sleep problems
* 32 solutions for when you can't sleep
* The science behind why we struggle to sleep in the heat
* Why I need to sleep naked, alone, and for as long as possible

2. SOUNDS

Just before a sound wakes you up there's a chance it can also infiltrate your dream.

That's why you might suddenly hear an alarm or a phone ringing in your dream and then wake to find that it is really going on.

It seems the sound needs to be loud enough for you to just hear it, but not so loud that it immediately wakes you up.

3. FOOD

Basically any food that can affect your digestion - a spicy curry, rich cheese, or a huge meal - can affect your dreams.

This is because you are more likely to experience an unsettled night's sleep, so you are more likely to remember your dream or nightmare. It's believed that you need to wake up within five minutes of your dream in order to remember it.

4. SLEEPING POSITION

If you are a stomach sleeper, there is a good chance that you are having more racy dreams than your back-sleeping friends.

It's thought that the breathing patterns are different to usual in this sleeping position. So feel free to try sleeping that way tonight!

5. VITAMIN B6

This is more anecdotal than scientific, but many people report that taking B6 supplements helps them to recall their dreams in vivid detail.

6. ANTIDEPRESSANTS

While drugs such as Prozac or Zoloft are meant to keep you calm, these particular drugs can actually be giving you nightmares.

This is because they can make the REM bursts more intense which is the stage we dream in. If it's an issue speak to your doctor as each type of antidepressant affects people differently.

7. QUITTING SMOKING

One unusual side effect of quitting cigarettes is more vivid dreams. Even a year after kicking the habit, many people still dream about smoking.

The nicotine withdrawal can enhance your brain activity, making you dream more. But don't worry, it will eventually calm down if you stick with it.

8. BLACK AND WHITE TV

This one is interesting - if you grew up pre-colour TV, you are more likely to remember your dreams in black and white rather than colour.

While this one has not been scientifically proven, have a think about your own dreams and see if it fits.

9. HUNGER

If you go to bed without dinner, or are on a reduced calorie diet, you might find that the low blood sugar gives you more dreams than usual.

Plus there's a good chance that food will play a starring role. Try having some warm milk and a banana before bed if you can't manage to throw together an evening meal - it could help you get a more restful night's sleep.

10. SCARY FILMS

Your mother was right - don't watch scary movies before bed or you will have nightmares. In fact it's not just scary films but anything that you do before bed that can affect your dreams. So think about what you're watching, reading, or listening to before you shut out the light.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 surprising things that affect your dreams

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Do you often find that things that are on your mind in the daytime end up in your dreams that night? This almost makes sense to us, but how do we explain those random dreams where all sorts of strange things happen?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Here are 10 remarkable dreams of scientists, writers, musicians, mathematicians and inventors who subsequently changed the course of human history.

Dreams have been responsible for some major creative and scientific discoveries in the course of human history.

No longer dismissed by psychologists as random neuron firings or meaningless fantasies, dreams are now considered an ongoing thought process that just happens to occur while we are asleep.

Here are 10 remarkable dreams of some of the world's most prominent scientists, writers, musicians, mathematicians and inventors whose moments of dream insight went down on record.

1. Mary Shelley: The World's First Sci-Fi Novel

In 1816, the story of Frankenstein, often cited as the world's first science fiction novel, was inspired by a vivid nightmare. At just 18 years old, Shelley visited Lord Byron by Lake Geneva in Switzerland. They were locked in a cold volcanic winter caused by the eruption of Mount Tambora the year prior, creating Europe's "year without a summer". Stuck indoors and huddled around a log fire, Byron suggested they each write a ghost story - but, night after night, Shelley was unable to think of anything suitable.

Then one evening, when discussion turned to the nature of life, Shelley suggested "perhaps a corpse could be re-animated" backed by the thought that "galvanism had given token of such things". Later that night after turning in, her imagination took hold and she experienced what she described as a vivid waking dream:

"I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life, and stir with an uneasy, half vital motion. Frightful must it be; for supremely frightful would be the effect of any human endeavour to mock the stupendous mechanism of the Creator of the world."

2. Paul McCartney: Music That Inspires Music

In 1965, Paul McCartney composed the entire melody for the hit acoustic song Yesterday in a dream.

It came back to him fully formed when he woke up and he quickly replicated the song on his piano, asking his friends and family if they'd ever heard it before. He was initially worried that he was simply replicating someone else's work (known as cryptomnesia).

"For about a month I went round to people in the music business and asked them whether they had ever heard it before. Eventually it became like handing something in to the police. I thought if no-one claimed it after a few weeks then I could have it."

Lennon and McCartney then wrote lyrics to the melody and the song was credited to Lennon-McCartney on their album

However, being a melancholy acoustic song, which involved a solo performance from McCartney himself and none of the other Beatles, the band members vetoed the release as a UK single that year. It was released in America, though, and Yesterday stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for four weeks.

It remains massively popular today with more than 2,200 cover versions by other artists including Aretha Franklin, Katy Perry, The Mamas and the Papas, Michael Bolton, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Billy Dean and others.

3. Niels Bohr: The Structure of The Atom

The father of quantum mechanics, Niels Bohr, often spoke of the inspirational dream that led to his discovery of the structure of the atom.

The son of academic parents, Bohr got his doctorate in 1911 and gained notoriety for deciphering complex problems in the world of physics that had left his colleagues stumped.

In time, he set upon understanding the structure of the atom, but none of his configurations would fit. One night he went to sleep and began dreaming about atoms. He saw the nucleus of the atom, with electrons spinning around it, much as planets spin around their sun.

Immediately on awakening, Bohr felt the vision was accurate. But as a scientist he knew the importance of validating his idea before announcing it to the world. He returned to his lab and searched for evidence to support his theory.

It held true - and Bohr's vision of atomic structure turned out to be one of the greatest breakthroughs of his day. Bohr was later awarded a Nobel Prize for Physics as a result of this leap in creative thinking while asleep.

Learn more about his historic scientific career in Suspended In Language: Niels Bohr's Life, Discoveries, And The Century He Shaped

.

4. Elias Howe: The Eye of The Needle

In 1845, Howe invented the sewing machine based on a famous dream that helped him understand the mechanical penetration of the needle. He was not the first to conceive the idea of a sewing machine, however Howe made significant refinements to the design and was awarded the first US patent for a sewing machine using a lockstitch design. According to family history records:

"He almost beggared himself before he discovered where the eye of the needle of the sewing machine should be located... he might have failed altogether if he had not dreamed he was building a sewing machine for a savage king in a strange country. Just as in his actual working experience, he was perplexed about the needle's eye. He thought the king gave him twenty-four hours in which to complete the machine and make it sew. If not finished in that time death was to be the punishment.

Howe worked and worked, and puzzled, and finally gave it up. Then he thought he was taken out to be executed. He noticed that the warriors carried spears that were pierced near the head. Instantly came the solution of the difficulty, and while the inventor was begging for time, he awoke.

It was 4 o'clock in the morning. He jumped out of bed, ran to his workshop, and by 9, a needle with an eye at the point had been rudely modeled. After that it was easy. That is the true story of an important incident in the invention of the sewing machine."

5. Albert Einstein: The Speed of Light

Einstein is famous for his genius insights into the nature of the universe - but what about his dreams?

As it happens, he came to the extraordinary scientific achievement - discovering the principle of relativity - after having a vivid dream.

As a young man, Einstein dreamed he was sledding down a steep mountainside, going so fast that eventually he approached the speed of light. As this moment, the stars in his dream changed their appearance in relation to him. He awoke and meditated on this idea, soon formulating what would become one of the most famous scientific theories in the history of mankind.

Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman is now a modern classic - a fictional collage of stories dreamed by Albert Einstein in 1905 on the brink of his breakthrough discoveries. In one, time is circular, so that people are fated to repeat their triumphs and failures over and over. In another, time stands still, where lovers cling together in eternity. In another yet, time is a nightingale, trapped by a bell jar.

6. Srinivasa Ramanujan: The Man Who Knew Infinity

The mathematical genius made substantial contributions to analytical theory of numbers, elliptical functions, continued fractions, and infinite series, and proved more than 3,000 mathematical theorems in his lifetime. Ramanujan stated that the insight for his work came to him in his dreams on many occasions.

Ramanujan said that, throughout his life, he repeatedly dreamed of a Hindu goddess known as Namakkal. She presented him with complex mathematical formulas over and over, which he could then test and verify upon waking. Once such example was the infinite series for Pi:

Describing one of his many insightful math dreams, Ramanujan said:

"While asleep I had an unusual experience. There was a red screen formed by flowing blood as it were. I was observing it. Suddenly a hand began to write on the screen. I became all attention. That hand wrote a number of results in elliptic integrals. They stuck to my mind. As soon as I woke up, I committed them to writing..."

There is a fascinating story behind the prolific dreamer. Learn more about the life of Ramanujan - a self-taught math prodigy from India - and how how he formed his brilliant theories.

From the temples and slums of Madras to the courts and chapels of Cambridge University, it's an unlikely story that saw Ramanujan rise from underprivileged obscurity to one of the greatest geniuses of the 20th century.

Check out Robert Kanigel's The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan.

7. Robert Louis Stevenson: A Fine Bogey Tale

In 1886, Stevenson dreamed up three key sequences from the infamous fantasy thriller novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

A sick man for most of his life, he wrote mainly to support his family. Until, that was, it came to the inception of Jekyll & Hyd e. Stevenson said:

"For two days I went about racking my brains for a plot of any sort; and on the second night I dreamed the scene at the window, and a scene afterward split in two, in which Hyde, pursued for some crime, took the powder and underwent the change in the presence of his pursuers."

While recovering in bed from a hemorrhage, Fanny Stevenson heard his screams resulting from an opium-induced nightmare. He promptly awoke and complained:

"Why did you wake me? I was dreaming a fine bogey tale."

Fanny later discovered she had woken him at the first transformation scene.

The next morning, Stevenson began scribbling furiously, and three days later he had written a 30,000-word draft. But when Fanny noted it was an allegory, contrary to his original intent, he threw it on the fire and started over.

For a further three days his family tip-toed around him while he sat in bed, writing, surrounded by torn up pages, until at last the final draft was ready. In all he wrote 64,000 words in six days - some kind of miracle in his time, without typewriters or computer power to speak of.

His stepson, Lloyd Osbourne, wrote of this amazing feat:

"I don't believe that there was ever such a literary feat before as the writing of Dr Jekyll. I remember the first disease of the world though it were yesterday. Louis came downstairs in a fever; read nearly half the book aloud; and then, while we were still gasping, he was away again, and busy writing. I doubt if the first draft took so long as three days."

The success of his book was phenomenal. To this day, the phrase Jekyll & Hyde is part of our language, an idiom referencing someone who has dual personalities and swings between good and evil behavior.

The story has also inspired modern day spin-offs, such as Bradley Cooper in , in which a would-be writer is transformed into a "perfect" version of himself.

8. Otto Loewi: Nerve Impulse Breakthrough

Otto Loewi was a German-born pharmacologist whose discovery of acetylcholine (ironically, a neurotransmitter which promotes dreaming) helped advance medical therapy. The discovery earned him a Nobel Prize 13 years later. However, he is almost as famous for the means by which he discovered it, as he is for the discovery itself.

In 1921, Loewi dreamed of an experiment that would prove once and for all that transmission of nerve impulses was chemical -- not electrical. He woke up, scribbled the experiment down, and went back to sleep. The next morning, he arose excited to try his experiment but was horrified to find he couldn't read his midnight ramblings. That day, he said, was the longest day of his life, as he tried but failed to recall his dream.

The following night, however, he had the same dream repeat itself and upon awakening went directly to his lab to prove the Noble Prize-winning theory of chemical transmission of the nervous impulse.

9. August Kekulé: The Ouroboros Benzene Dream

A prominent German organic chemist, August Kekulé insightfully dreamed of the structure of the Benzene molecule which, unlike other known organic compounds, had a circular structure rather than a linear one.

This new understanding of all aromatic compounds proved to be so important for both pure and applied chemistry after 1865 that the German Chemical Society organized an elaborate appreciation in Kekulé's honor, where he described the dream that inspired the breakthrough.

He said he discovered the ring shape of the Benzene molecule after having a reverie of a snake seizing its own tail - a common ancient symbol known as the ouroboros:

"I was sitting writing at my textbook but the work did not progress; my thoughts were elsewhere. I turned my chair to the fire and dozed.

Again the atoms were gambolling before my eyes. This time the smaller groups kept modestly in the background. My mental eye, rendered more acute by the repeated visions of the kind, could now distinguish larger structures of manifold confirmation: long rows, sometimes more closely fitted together all twining and twisting in snake like motion.

But look! What was that? One of the snakes had seized hold of its own tail, and the form whirled mockingly before my eyes. As if by a flash of lightning I awoke; and this time also I spent the rest of the night in working out the rest of the hypothesis."

10. Frederick Banting: Advances in Medicine

After his mother passed away from diabetes, Frederick Banting was motivated to find a cure. Eventually he found the next best thing: a treatment using insulin injections which, though not a true cure, could at least significantly extend the lifespan of sufferers. The discovery won him a Nobel Prize in Medicine at just 32 years old.

Although he lacked knowledge of diabetes and clinical research, his unique knowledge of surgery combined with his assistant's (Charles Best's) knowledge of diabetes made the ideal research team. While seeking to isolate the exact cause of diabetes, Banting had a dream telling him to surgically ligate (tie up) the pancreas of a diabetic dog in order to stop the flow of nourishment. He did - and discovered a disproportionate balance between sugar and insulin.

This breakthrough lead to another dream that revealed how to develop insulin as a drug to treat the condition.

Banting was named Canada's first Professor of Medical Research and by 1923, he was the most famous man in the country. He received letters and gifts from hundreds of grateful diabetics all over the world, and since then insulin has saved or transformed the lives of millions of people.

You probably just came here wondering about famous dreams and inventions...

But when you learn the art of dream control, anything is possible.

So give it a go - tap into your own hidden insights - and perhaps you'll come up with some inventions of your own...

About the author

Rebecca Turner is a science writer, illustrator, explorer of consciousness - and founder of World of Lucid Dreaming. She is currently studying for a biology degree in Auckland and blogging at her site Science Me.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dreams have been responsible for some major creative and scientific discoveries in the course of human history. No longer dismissed by psychologists as random neuron firings or meaningless fantasies, dreams are now considered an ongoing thought process that just happens to occur while we are asleep.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Dreams must meet several criteria to be classified as precognitive:

You must record or tell others about your dream before the dream scenario is fulfilled in real life.

The dream must have a significant number of unique details so that it is unlikely to be fulfilled by chance.

Any dreams that are self-fulfilling prophecies or that could be influenced by existing knowledge are not premonition dreams.

Dream telepathy, or communication with others via dreams, cannot influence the premonition dream.

At this time there is little scientific evidence suggesting that dreams can predict the future. Some research suggests that certain types of dreams may help predict the onset of illness or mental decline in the dream, however. For example, in people with Parkinson's disease, dreams containing negative emotions are correlated with .

Different stages of life and experiences can alter your dreams and cause nightmares. can lead to more or vivid dreams. Trauma can also impact your sleep, and both trauma and mental issues are associated with an increase in . In turn, nightmares may negatively affect your sleep overall.

In some circumstances, you might have a lucid dream. While lucid dreams do not predict the future, they give you an awareness that you are dreaming. You may even be able to control your dream while .

Some historical events were reportedly predicted through dreams. Because these events occurred in the past, there is no method for verifying that the dreams met the criteria for precognitive dreams.

Abraham Lincoln's Assassination

President Abraham Lincoln reportedly dreamed of his own . Lincoln's friend and law partner, Ward Hill Lamon, later described the dream as Lincoln recounted it to him.

Lincoln dreamed of people sobbing, and in his dream, he went to investigate. In the East Room of the White House, he found a corpse dressed for a funeral. Lincoln asked the figures in the dream what happened. One reported to him that the president was assassinated. In reporting this dream to Lamon, Lincoln appeared disturbed and frightened.

Later, Lincoln clarified the dream to Lamon. The president assassinated in his dream was not Lincoln himself, but some other president. This was the dream he had just nights before his assassination on April 14, 1865.

A different potentially predictive dream Lincoln frequently experienced was more positive. He saw Union ships pursuing a damaged enemy ship. He also saw Union soldiers with a higher ground, ready to take victory. Lincoln reportedly had this dream right before days of historical importance, such as the battles at Antietam and Gettysburg, and he interpreted it as a good omen.

Aberfan Landslide

In 1966, a landslide of waste from a coal mine slid into the South Wales village of Aberfan. The local school was destroyed by the landslide, killing 144 students and teachers.

A British psychiatrist, John Barker, came to the village shortly after the landslide. Barker was researching what happens to people when they believe they're about to die. He collected 76 accounts of premonitions of the Aberfan landslide, 60 of which he followed up on.

A notable premonition was submitted by the parents of Eryl Mai, a 10-year-old girl killed in the accident. The day before the accident, the child had reported to her mother a frightening dream. She had dreamed that her school was no longer there and that it had been covered by "something black."

Robert Kennedy's Assassination

Robert Kennedy's assassination was potentially predicted by a person's dream. Two of the people who submitted premonitions of the Aberfan landslide to British psychiatrist John Barker kept reporting accurate psychic dreams in the following years. They submitted these to a newspaper column, called the Premonitions Bureau.

In March of 1968, Kathleen Middleton reported her first premonition of an assassination of Robert Kennedy. She continued to dream of Kennedy's death for months. On June 4, 1968, she called the Premonitions Bureau three times, urgently concerned about Kennedy. He was shot just after midnight the next day, on June 5, 1968.

Researchers have proposed a number of possible explanations for precognitive dreams.

Selective Recall: People recall confirmed premonition dreams significantly more frequently than disconfirmed premonition dreams. In other words, if your dream predicts the future, you are much more likely to remember that dream than your dreams that did not accurately predict the future.

Tolerance for Ambiguity: Some dreamers interpret ambiguous dreams as positive or desirable. Researchers call this "tolerance for ambiguity." People with a high tolerance for ambiguity are more likely to experience premonition dreams.

Paranormal Beliefs: Researchers have found a significant relationship between belief in the paranormal, belief in precognitive dreams, and the ability to make associations among unrelated events. These results suggest that if you're inclined to find connections in the world, you're more likely to experience premonitions.

Coincidence: Some people who have precognitive dreams may not interpret them as predictive until a corresponding event occurs in real life. Factors such as selective recall, tolerance for ambiguity, and paranormal beliefs can contribute to you drawing connections between coincidences in your life and dreams you've experienced.

Subconscious Connections: Experts hypothesize we dream to process our . As a result, events that you experience during the day may stick with your subconscious. For example, you might dream of purchasing new furniture for your home. When you wake up, you see an advertisement for a couch you want to purchase. However, if you had been thinking about redecorating your home and researching furniture for a few days, your dream might simply reflect what was already coming up in your life.

The existence of predictive dreaming may never be proven or disproven by science. Instead, researchers can study larger samples of people who experience premonition dreams to get a bigger picture of who has them and how they are caused.

Learn more about our Editorial Team

References

1. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2019, August 13). Brain basics: Understanding sleep., Retrieved June 9, 2021, from
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-understanding-sleep

2. Lange, R., Schredl, M., & Houran, J. (2000). What precognitive dreams are made of: The nonlinear dynamics of tolerance of ambiguity, dream recall, and paranormal belief. Dynamic Psychology: An International Interdisciplinary Journal of Complex Mental Processes.
https://goertzel.org/dynapsyc/2000/Precog%20Dreams.htm

3. Valášek, M., Watt, C., Hutton, J., Neill, R., Nuttall, R., & Renwick, G. (2014). Testing the implicit processing hypothesis of precognitive dream experience. Consciousness and Cognition, 28, 113-125.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25062119/

4. Bugalho, P., Ladeira, F., Barbosa, R., Marto, J. P., Borbinha, C., Salavisa, M., Conceição, L., Saraiva, M., Fernandes, M., & Meira, B. (2020). Do dreams tell the future? Dream content as a predictor of cognitive deterioration in Parkinson's disease. Journal of Sleep Research, 30(3), e13163.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32776436/

5. Lara-Carrasco, J., Simard, V., Saint-Onge, K., Lamoureux-Tremblay, & Nielsen, T. (2014). Disturbed dreaming during the third trimester of pregnancy. Sleep Medicine, 15(6), 694-700.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24780135/

6. Rek, S., Sheaves, B., & Freeman, D. (2017). Nightmares in the general population: Identifying potential causal factors. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 52(9), 1123-1133.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28712041/

7. Baird, B., Mota-Rolim, S. A., & Dresler, M. (2019). The cognitive neuroscience of lucid dreaming. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 100, 305-323.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30880167/

8. Lamon, W. H. (1994). Recollections of Abraham Lincoln 1847-1865. Nebraska Press.

9. Knight, S. (2019, June 25). The psychiatrist who believed people could tell the future. The New Yorker., Retrieved June 11, 2021, from
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/03/04/the-psychiatrist-who-believed-people-could-tell-the-future

10. Watt, C., Ashley, N., Gillett, J., Halewood, M., & Hanson, R. (2014). Psychological factors in precognitive dream experiences: The role of paranormal belief, selective recall and propensity to find correspondences. International Journal of Dream Research, 7(1), 1-8.
https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/IJoDR/article/view/11218

11. Scarpelli, S., Bartolacci, C., D'Atri, A., Gorgoni, M., & De Gennaro, L. (2019). Mental sleep activity and disturbing dreams in the lifespan. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(19), 3658.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31569467/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Are Precognitive (Premonition) Dreams?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Wondering if your dreams can predict future events? Learn about premonition dreams and possible explanations for them.