Between reality and fantasy: What our dreams reveal about us

Fleeing from fire, racing over rough terrain, suddenly joining your favorite sports team or slipping, without warning, into the role of a celebrated actor: our dreams truly know no limits. Sometimes they feel so real that by the next morning we are simply relieved that the dramatic scene in which we almost met our end was nothing more than a nocturnal false alarm.

But what exactly is going on during these nightly adventures? Why do we dream at all, and why do some dreams remain crystal clear while others behave like files our brain has silently deleted?

The truth is: we dream in every sleep phase, but especially during what is known as the REM phase. During this time, the brain is almost as active as it is during the day, while the body lies motionless—presumably to prevent us from acting out our wild dream scenes and tumbling out of bed.

There are various theories about why we dream. Some see dreams as a training ground in which we practice reacting to dangerous situations. Others believe that the mind uses this time to sort through everything that occupies us: feelings, impressions, worries and memories. This also explains why people we were annoyed with during the day so often reappear at night. Yet this does not mean we only process real experiences. After all, none of us has ever truly soared through the sky like a bird, no matter how convincingly our brain tries to sell that idea.

On average, we dream four to six times per night. However, we can only remember these dreams if the brain has enough time to start up its systems upon waking. Roughly fifteen minutes are usually enough for dream images to settle into memory. People who wake up more often during the night or who take an active interest in their dreams remember them more easily. Daydreamers, creative minds and those who tend to think inwardly also have an advantage. Very practical and highly focused people, on the other hand, recall their dreams less frequently. Age plays a role as well: younger people remember their dreams more clearly, while older individuals more often report so-called white dreams. The emotion lingers, but the story behind it remains a blank page.

What our dreams are truly made of, how to take the fear out of nightmares and whether dream interpretation is more than beautifully wrapped symbolism— all of that awaits you in the next post.