Dead of night from the Ealing studio Remembering dreams is like being out in a thunder storm at night, the thought comes to you vividly for a fraction of a second and then disapears.

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We spend a third of our lives asleep and a quarter of that time dreaming. When we drop off to sleep we fall into what is known as 'slow wave' sleep, when the electrical activity of the brain slows down, together with our breathing and heart rate. After about 90minutes of slow wave sleep, Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep kicks in. Brainwaves speed up, heart rate and breathing increases, blood pressure rises and the eyes dart around behind closed lids. REM sleep is also thought to be where we have our most vivid dreams - or at least those we remember! We experience REM sleep at about 90 minute intervals four or five times in the night. Each phase of REM sleep becomes longer and more intense as the night continues. It can be from 15 minutes through to 45 minutes in that last phase before we wake up. It was once thought that dreams only occurred during REM but it is now suggested that dreams occur throughout the night during periods of slow wave patterns as well - although these dreams are less vivid and usually forgotten. When people are stirred in the lighter phases of sleep they are often groggy, confused and unable to remember what they have dreamed. In contrast, dreams during REM sleep have characters and story lines played out in a series of vivid images. Often we wake from REM sleep fully conscious and clearly aware of what we have just dreamed. Our bodies can respond to the different types of dream experience. During slow wave sleep we may twitch, talk or even sleepwalk, but during REM sleep we are virtually still. Even though the brain remains active, we lose complete muscle tone, which leaves us almost paralysed. It is the weirdest feeling and often we can feel very tired after a dream like this. This means there is no danger of us physically acting out a dream and can also explain the sense of paralysis during a nightmare. Here are some theories as to why we dream: o Dreaming is a sign that the brain is 'ticking over' and interpreting signals from the outside world. o Dreams are a form of catharsis, a way of resolving emotional crises. o Dreams are a form of wish-fulfilment. They allow us to experience and fantasise about what we don't have in our waking lives. o Dreams are a way for the brain to sift through the information it has received during the day, and to get rid of information it no longer needs, while storing information that may be useful. According to some this means the brain will also consider ideas and come to grips with problems. Dream Diary We cannot begin to understand our dreams until we remember and record them. One of the best things to do is get yourself a diary or journal and write them down. Before you start writing take a moment to try and recapture some of the images. Most dreams are a series of images and to remember one could trigger a sequence. If you can't remember, think about how you felt during a dream, any colours or words that come to mind and write them down. Write in the present tense. One approach to record your dreams could be the following: o Significance - is there a direct link between the dream and what you did during the day? Or is it something from the past? o Theme - did the dream have a main theme running through it? Are you running, escaping, flying? Is it a recurring dream? o Setting - where did the dream take place? o People - write down the list of people in your dream o Feelings - make a note of any emotions you experienced in the dream. Were you angry, happy, sad, scared, frustrated? o Symbols - did any objects figure prominently like a bird, a tree, a place? o Words or Phrases - did any words or phrases in the dream jump out at you? o Other Notes - was a colour, time of day or season relevant? You might like to write down the main points of the dream on one side of the page and analyse the dream on the other with comments of your own. The longer you keep a dream diary the more able you are to make associations. You may have a certain dream over and over in times of stress for example. It can be a good idea to put illustrations or colour into your diary for easy reference. Some common dream themes include: Flying or floating Being chased Falling Losing teeth Drowning Unable to move A certain animal, person or place Being naked in public! By the way, sex is a common dream theme. There can be a complex broad range of meanings that depend on the individual. Generally speaking, seeing others having sex in a dream or having sex yourself could simply be an expression of sexual desire, a release of sexual tension or a desire to bond, or a need for physical and emotional love. Dreaming about sex with someone 'inappropriate' or a person from your past (how freaky is that when it happens!!), does not necessarily mean you harbour secret desires - your memory of them may have been triggered or you have come into contact with them again recently! Whatever your dream, if you remember it write it down. It can be nice to have a dream partner! Find a friend who is keen to do the same. You can share your dreams with one another and help to decipher their meaning or simply just share them. Use books from the library or information over the internet to help interpret them. Dreams are a way of revealing or exploring ourselves. They can offer an interesting perspective on life, or can even help ignite our imagination and creative potential! Pop a drop of lavender on your pillow, take some nice deep breaths as you relax into slumber and dream dream away…