While we often dream while we sleep, we may not always remember them upon waking up. Even if we can recall some fragments, understanding the meaning behind these dreamscapes can be a challenge. In light of this, experts have shared tips on how to record and interpret dreams, which can aid individuals in understanding their current lives and making practical decisions for the future.
Canadian psychotherapist Nicholas Balaisis, writing for “Psychology Today,” emphasized that dream analysis is a fundamental aspect of psychological therapy. As Austrian psychologist Sigmund Freud once described, it serves as a “royal road to the unconscious.”
Balaisis noted that dream analysis is a mystical and elusive methodology, one that is not solely evidence-based but rather resembles art more than science.
Nevertheless, paying attention to your dreams and either seeking guidance from a clinical professional or interpreting them on your own can prove to be a meaningful and enlightening experience, regardless of the imperfections and inaccuracies in your analysis.
As a clinical therapist and analyst, Balaisis has long been dedicated to dream interpretation. If you choose to view dreams as significant but mysterious “messages” from the mind or subconscious, then you should take note of the dream interpretation strategies and methods he provided:
Balaisis stressed the importance of physically recording dreams and making it a habit. To truly engage in this process, some level of “training” is necessary. Setting up a recording system by your bedside, whether it be pen and paper or an app on your phone for typing or recording, is essential.
People are often jolted awake in the middle of the night by dreams. In such instances, regardless of how groggy you may feel, it’s crucial to promptly jot down your dreams to prevent the imagery from slipping away from your mind. Over time, this practice will become a habit. When you experience a significant dream, you’ll naturally awaken and document it.
After waking up, you can then transfer your notes or recordings into formal documentation, even printing them out on paper. This transformation turns dreams from fleeting memories into “objective entities” – documents generated by your brain. This helps you perceive them as concrete, existing entities outside of yourself.
You can even include a brief summary of the previous day in your dream documentation. Some believe that dreams reflect the “unfocused consciousness” of the previous day. In other words, when you consciously focus on matters throughout the day, your brain also captures and records things on a subconscious level.
One theory about dreams suggests that they reflect people’s secondary perceptual schemas. For example, one may feel they had a pleasant day, only to experience a nightmare at night. Such dreams may highlight subconscious elements or conflicts that are not apparent during waking hours.
Balaisis suggested that a good starting point for dream interpretation is to engage in loose and free associations revolving around key images and themes in the dream. For instance, if you dream about specific people or places, you can begin associating meanings based on your connections to these individuals or locations.
Symbols typically have a strong projection for us, representing either traits we currently exhibit (such as bravado, timidity, or anxiety) or qualities we aspire to develop (like strength, courage, or resilience).
For instance, if you gave a presentation at work the day before and then dream of a great orator, this dream may signify impending success for you.
Conversely, if you dream of desolate deserts and thirst-inducing nightmares post-presentation, it could be an indication of serious consequences or costs resulting from severe depletion and the losses you may suffer.
However, unlike medical diagnoses, dream interpretation is never fixed or precise. You may arrive at an initially accurate interpretation but then modify or reconsider its meanings. The key isn’t about correctness but rather if it helps you understand your current life and make practical decisions for the future.
Balaisis mentioned that people frequently have negative-themed dreams that seem to disrupt material or conscious experiences, or go against them. Some individuals excel at work, earn lots of money, and achieve great feats during the day, only to be bombarded by terrifying images or pursued by witches or beasts at night. They may wonder why, despite all appearing well, they dream of such things.
One possible reason could be that they need to pay attention to certain aspects of their lives. Violent imagery might denote a part of the person’s psyche trying to make others aware or integrate into the individual’s life.
For instance, successful individuals may have nightmares because, despite their accomplishments, they neglect needs like rest, family time, or further personal creativity.
In essence, nightmares may reflect undeveloped parts of the self that individuals want to cultivate. We all operate within a developmental framework, with varying biological needs at different stages of life.
Balaisis emphasized that what matters is not whether a dream interpretation is “true” but if it holds “meaning” for the individual.
Typically, when a therapist and the individual (or shared friends) can come to a mutual understanding of an interpretation, dreams can serve as vital clues or motivators for real change.
Because dreams may amplify or highlight a person’s intuitions or suggestions, dream interpretation can be a pivotal support for other therapies, such as motivational interviewing, which can evoke motivation and instigate change.
When the message is seen as coming from within (the individual), it can serve as a more potent motivator than external sources (friends, partners, or doctors). Consequently, dreams can become a stronger motivator for change than certain external factors.