[Softshoe]

Hey, since we're NFs - the Dreamer types, what dreams do we have during R.E.M. sleep? Let's each name a recurring dream we have, then a theme of dreams that we have, and discuss what these dreams & themes might mean, or the common themes that we share, etc.

Recurring dream: I generally don't have these. The only time I've ever had a recurring dream that I can remember was this one where I was walking down the hill that I lived on, taking the shortcut through the woods, and ending up down at the county road, where my family's car pulled up and I got in. A semi-famous celebrity (Chris Kratt) was in the car and I showed him a cassette tape.

Then immediately after, the same night, I had the exact same dream, but in black & white instead of color. All the other dreams in my life I can remember were in color.

Dream Theme: I have this recurring theme about buildings where all the rooms in it are bathrooms. No, I don't have to use the bathroom or anything when I wake up after these dreams. The only other people I know of who have had this theme are my sister and my cousin. He had a dream about a warehouse full of bathrooms. (Kind of reminds me of that Rocko's Modern Life episode.)

So, what do you dream of? Thoughts?

[MrShatter]

I had a crush a while back. I think there's a relationship between the love chemicals in your brain and dreams because the night I kissed her I had dreams about her for 11 nights straight.

Other than that - I generally have dreams almost every night. Most of them including other human beings. When I was younger - I didn't have that many dreams that included other people. Now, I do.

[Sheppard]

Recurring dreams I have are usually grief-mares, as I've dubbed them.

Like, for instance, standing at the bedside of my father while he, scared, slowly dies.

I'm divided on what they might mean. On one hand, it could be a form of catharsis trigger, since I wake up crying, grieving. I know the dream wasn't real as soon as I wake up, but while I'm dreaming it seems real, and the chemicals in my body that were triggered take a while to subside.

On the other hand, it was these dreams that made me realize just how much I care for people I had cut out of my life, and led me to reestablishing closer relationships.

So, maybe the dream isn't about processing an event, but about getting me to move towards an outcome. I dunno.

[Softshoe]

@MrShatter: Yes, any thing people got a strong affinity for they seem to dream about a lot. Every once in a while, I keep having dreams that our family's dead cat is still alive. She died about four and a half years ago. I also dream about crushes, except that usually they just happen to be in a dream when random weird other stuff is going on...except the time I had a dream that a crush had to become a fugitive because her double stole her car, did a drive-by shooting, and everyone thought she was guilty. I was the only one who (somehow) knew that she was innocent. I had to try to convince people that she was innocent and it didn't work and then I woke up. (This is usually one of my themes BTW I have to go on a 'quest' for one reason or another.)

I have an idea on why you didn't dream much about other people when you were younger. It might be because when one is younger, they are more focused on themselves and their place in nature and figuring out the world, etc. Then, when we're older, we start focusing on others... could be something like that.

@Sheppard: Yeah, you're probably sad about losing them, I think. You're probably realizing what could happen if you don't reconnect. At least, I think that's why I sometimes have grieving dreams like that. Though I don't have them very often.

[MrShatter]

Dreams are lovely! I love them. If you like tea- there's this tea called sleepy time tea and it makes my dreams more vivid. (It's not like a drug or anything . And if you eat really nutritiously your dreams become more vivid.

[Softshoe]

@MrShatter: 'm sorry, I didn't explain myself very well... I meant I don't have grieving dreams very often. I do remember my dreams about every night, particularly if I talk about dreams during the day. Thanks for the tip about sleepy time tea and nutrition :)

P. S. I'm glad to hear you love dreams. I like talking about dreams a lot myself. :)

[Wallmaster]

Mostly just the most anti-logical poopscapes that the sub-conscious can muster up when under the influence of sleep.

Which I pretty much always forget anyway. Problem, NF label?

Occasionally I still have dreams about a crush I had in HS, even though I haven't seen her in over three years (and even then I never talked to her). Strong Dulcinea.

[MrShatter]

MrShatter: I'm sorry, I didn't explain myself very well... I meant I don't have grieving dreams very often. I do remember my dreams about every night, particularly if I talk about dreams during the day. Thanks for the tip about sleepy time tea and nutrition :)

P. S. I'm glad to hear you love dreams. I like talking about dreams a lot myself.

Oh no, it was nothing to do with your frequency of dreams! (or your self explanation) Don't worry I was just pointing out that stuff because it is potentially useful.

:P did I catch a sentence that was edited out?

You're welcome.

[Softshoe]

@Admros: Are your dreams usually very short? If so, you're probably not entering extended R.E.M. sleep. I remember waking up in the middle of the night, remembering that I had a "dream" and all it was was a bunch of completely unrelated still frames changing in rapid succession. Other times, I've had "channel surfing" dreams that are about five seconds long, usually of someone doing one action over and over, like an old man hitting a table with a hammer, and then it switches to something else - like a half chimpanzee, half old woman dancing in a rainstorm. Waking up once, I "heard" a brass horn section, and a soul singer yelling "Cheddar School!"

So yeah, if my REM sleep cycle is interrupted early in the night, I remember some pretty crazy stuff. Maybe you should consider taking Vitamin B6, if you would like to remember your dreams more.

@MrShatter: Gotcha :)

[MrShatter]

My dreams are all very long. On this note, (King of Recommendations now ) have you ever seen The Science of Sleep? It's not a documentary. Ever have a lucid dream?

I feel like I have ADD...