Why You Keep Having Same Dream?

On April 11, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln sat down with his friend and bodyguard, Ward Hill Lamon, feeling somber. He confided in Lamon about a troubling dream he had recently. In the dream, he saw a corpse lying on a catafalque in the East Room of the White House, surrounded by mourning individuals. When he inquired about the identity of the deceased, a soldier informed him that it was the President, killed by an assassin. Tragically, a few days later, while attending the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's theater, Lincoln was shot by an assassin and passed away the following day.

Today, we delve into the enigmatic realm of dream interpretation, an ancient puzzle we aim to decipher. Let us start with real-life instances of recurring dreams, with a particular focus on Lincoln, who held a fascination for his dream experiences. He openly shared one recurring dream during the Civil War, wherein he found himself on a swift-moving, indistinct vessel heading towards a dark shore. This dream seemed to precede significant events during the war, including major Union victories like Gettysburg and Antietam. While Lincoln perceived it as a sign of impending change, modern psychologists might disagree.

In the 1860s, dreams held a significant allure for people, with many believing that dreams held the potential to unlock glimpses of the future or divine messages. Lincoln, despite his intellectual standing, wasn't hesitant to share his dreams, even if some considered it superstitious. He diligently recorded his dreams upon waking, a practice we will later understand to be wise.

Lincoln wasn't alone in seeing dreams as visions of the future. Alexander Hamilton Stephens, the Confederate Vice President during the Civil War, had recurring dreams during his imprisonment, which he interpreted as portents of things to come. His dreams seemed to hold special significance to him, possibly suggesting a divine connection.

Dreams, as we know, are a natural part of human experience, with most individuals having four to six dreams per night during the REM stage. These dreams can feel vivid and lengthy, though they usually last only ten to twenty minutes. However, we tend to forget them throughout the day due to neurochemical factors, although some impactful dreams can stay with us for a lifetime.

Interpreting dreams has a long history, dating back to ancient times, where they were seen as prophetic messages or expressions of divine will. Modern psychologists, such as Freud and Jung, have offered varying perspectives on dreams, with Freud attributing dreams to repressed desires and unconscious conflicts, while Jung saw them as vehicles for exploring archetypes and universal themes.

Recurring dreams are a common phenomenon, with many people experiencing them. Studies have shown that between 60% and 75% of American adults have recurring dreams, with common themes like teeth falling out, being chased, falling, flying, being naked in public, and being unprepared for important events.

The symbolism of recurring dreams, such as teeth falling out, can hold deeper meanings related to anxieties and feelings of powerlessness. Freud associated such dreams with sexual insecurity, while Jung believed they might indicate a quest for personal growth.

Dreams appear to be connected to our limbic system, which processes emotions and memories, and the amygdala, which handles fear and anxiety. During REM sleep, the prefrontal cortex, responsible for logical thinking, is less active, leading to the often illogical and fantastical nature of dreams.

Recent research on substances like DMT and psilocybin has shown that they can induce waking dreams, offering profound insights and therapeutic benefits. These experiences, akin to dreams, suggest that our dreams may serve as a mechanism for processing and exploring our emotions, anxieties, and hidden memories.

Ultimately, dreams remain a mysterious and powerful aspect of human experience. They might not offer visions of the future or messages from the divine, but they provide us with glimpses into our inner worlds and subconscious minds. Understanding dreams can help us navigate challenges, heal from emotional wounds, and gain deeper insights into ourselves. So, perhaps our dreams are not ethereal, but they still offer a profound avenue for exploration and growth.