Do you dream with your eyes closed or open?

Do you dream? If yes, when do you dream the most? When you’re asleep, or when you’re awake? I’ve always liked words with multiple dimensions. The type of words that harbour complexity, that make you wonder if they’re used in a metaphorical or literal way. On that note, the word “dreams” is truly multidimensional, since it has a double meaning. On one hand, there are the dreams one has during sleep, along with their meanings. On the other hand, we always hear people talk about dreams as aspirations we set in our everyday reality.

Approximately, 80% of people are confident that they remember the dreams they see during their sleeping hours. Research conducted by Aserinsky and Kleitman (1953) revealed that dreams occur during the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) phase of the sleep cycle, and that they are particularly useful in ensuring one’s good mental health. In fact, to back up this claim, many studies have proved that people who woke up during the REM phase (under experimental conditions) were showing symptoms of confusion faster than people who missed out on a different sleep cycle. Based on the above, Rycroft (1979) argued that we sleep in order to dream, and therefore, to maintain good mental health.

Freudian and post-Freudian viewpoints deviate from the above neuropsychological theory regarding the function of dreams. Freud stated that “dreaming is the (disguised) fulfilment of a (repressed, pent-up) desire” (1900:157). In short, he asserted that dreams are related to the unconscious mind, in which, without our notice, desires are “stored” that we aren’t even aware of. Furthermore, the “Freudian symbol” had a prominent place in his theory. More specifically, according to him, dreams had a universal, interpretative nature, since basic biological phenomena like birth, death, and sexuality manifest through common symbolism that we, as people, all possess.

Although many researchers have established objections towards the above arguments, it seems that Freud’s viewpoint is probably the one closer to the metaphorical rendition we have assigned to the word “dreams”. As children we began to “dream with eyes wide open”, to set goals, big or small, tough or easy. It doesn’t matter. The value is seen in our individual need for anticipation. When we try to put forth all of our efforts, in order to see something for which we long happen. What a wonderful ability we possess at times; to be able to “direct” our own lives inside our heads! And what a magical moment it is when we see these directed moments unfold, like a movie, right in front of our eyes.

Really, have you ever felt it? This paradox of needing to pinch yourself in order to see if you’re dreaming? It occurs in moments of happiness and emotional fulfillment. Only for this reason, it is worth it to try your hardest after all; both to find a dream and to have the courage and strength to work hard to conquer it. And if you lose your faith at times, and all this seems like a fairytale to you, reflect on the fact that if a good dream makes you feel happy in your sleep, then surely a dream that takes place in real life will make you feel the same! In fact, I will reinforce this claim with the following thought:

I’ve read somewhere that the Greek word for “dream” (“oneiro”) comes from the greek noun “ον”(=being) and the verb “είρω”(=to connect, piece together). Without knowing the exact etymology of the word, a rough translation of “dreams” could be, in my opinion: “dreams”= the ones that connect, that piece together the fabric of our being; and ultimately, in free association: “dreams”= the ones that connect, that piece together the fragments of our own happiness.

Works cited: Bateman, A., & Holmes, J. (1995). Introduction to psychoanalysis: Contemporary theory and practice. Psychology Press.

Photography by Simeon Maniatis (@simos_maniatis)

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