Dreams

Oh no, a giant, smelly monster is chasing you! Suddenly you wake up and you are back in your own bed. Phew, it was only a dream. Most people don't realize it, but dreaming is a very important part of our lives. If we don't dream, we could end up with protein deficiency or a personality disorder. Dreams have even helped make medical discoveries throughout history. Everyone has dreams every night even if they don't realize it. In this essay, you will learn about the history of dreams, what they mean, different kinds of dreams, and Rapid Eye Movement.

Did you know there have been dream books found from about 1350 B.C? That is more than 3,000 years old! Chester Beatty Papyrus was the first dream book found. It was discovered in Egypt. It is named after the man who donated it to the British Museum. The book has more than 200 dreams and an interpretation for each one. The dreams in this book are separated by good dreams and bad dreams. In ancient Egypt when someone was sick or troubled they would do something called incubation to that person. Incubation was when the sick or troubled person would take a special medicine that stimulated dreaming. The person would sleep in a temple. The dream they had was supposed to solve his or her problem. There are even dreams in the bible. The most famous one is Jacob's dream of the ladder reaching up to heaven.

There are all kinds of different dreams with different meanings. Some dreams are easier to interpret than others are. For example if you dream about sawing wood, your enemy may die. However, Dreams about losing teeth can mean someone in your family may die. It can also mean you are feeling self-conscious about your appearance. Kings and queens usually represent parents or other people who have authority. Small animals often represent children. If you dream of crossing a river, it means an important change may be coming up. However, if you fail to cross the river it means you will not cope well with the change. A bridge can represent getting over an obstacle. If the bridge is successfully crossed, it could mean a fresh start. If you have a stomachache, you will most likely dream of the pinchers of a crab. A house often stands for the dreamer's body. The upper and lower floors of the house stand for the conscious and subconscious. The basement stands for the hidden fears, knowledge, and needs.

There are eight different types of dreams. First, there are daydreams. Daydreams happen while we are still awake. Our minds drift off and we let our imaginations soar. We usually daydream about 70-120 minutes a day. Second, there are nightmares. Nightmares usually cause us to wake up anxious and scared.