Dreams

June 6th, 2016

Every night, people all over the world go to sleep. Sleep is meant to help our bodies rest and our brains process the experiences and data we were exposed to each day. For some, sleep is difficult. They try to fall asleep but their mind is too active, they are unable to settle. For others, falling asleep happens easily but they are unable to stay asleep. They may wake up during the night and feel fully awake.

People who have experienced trauma often struggle with sleep. Night time is when they are faced with their worst memories and they do not feel safe. The flashbacks create anticipatory anxiety in the evening as they prepare for bed. Parents often become sleep deprived when their infants wake up often throughout the night. Sleep deprivation is linked to a variety of symptoms from poor concentration and irritability to hallucinations.

Some people don't remember their dreams. This is a shame because our dreams have important messages for us. There are entire dictionaries devoted to dream analysis. Dreamers are encouraged to perceive every character in their dream as an aspect of themselves. What is important is the emotion that is experiences during the dream. Therefore, if the dreamer feels afraid of a character, the question to ask is "What aspect of yourself are you afraid to express?".

Symbolism plays a huge role in dream interpretation. This is similar to my work as an art therapist. Clients can have strong emotional reactions to imagery in their art. Anything is possible in both art and dreams. When you are faced with a challenging situation, it is helpful to write about it before going to bed and asking for an answer to present itself. You can wake up with a solution the next morning as your mind has had the time to work on it overnight.

Dream analysis was an important tool psychoanalysis. It is still a valuable self-help tool. All you need to do is keep a pen and notebook next to your bed. Relax before bed and be clear about your intention to remember your dream. You can even ask a question in your notebook before you go to sleep. As soon as you wake up, write anything you remember in your notebook including storyline, characters, emotions and setting. Are you always in the same environment? Is there a recurring theme? You may recognize loved ones in your dreams and think this is about your relationship with them. However, ask yourself what that loved one represents to you and what emotions your dream interaction triggers in you. This may help you understand your feelings about a suppressed aspect of yourself. The longer you pay attention to your dreams, the more information will be packed into your dreams. If you are willing to document your dreams and do some soul searching, you may be surprised by how valuable this experience can be on your journey into personal growth.

Sweet dreams!

Anne Walsh
www.artnsoul.org