User:Meganstambaugh/sandbox

Introduction
Recurring dreams refer to dreams that are repeated by one over their lifetime. These dreams can be pleasant or nightmares and can be very unique to the person and their experiences. Dreams are recurring throughout the world and history through time. There are many schools of thought on dream interpretations and little fact known on which is accurate. There is also evidence that some psychological disorders have a role in the occurrence of recurring dreams and can even be a symptom to help in diagnosis.

History and Background
The cave men have left historical paintings which are world wide. There have been reports that these paintings could explain how dreams occurred. There have been researchers who found repeated cave men pictures as a symbol of recurrent dreams. The ‘real’ meaning of this cave painting is not basic for our argument that focuses on the way we perceive meanings. Images like these tell stories that carry meanings without the need to use words. Since the cave men did not use words they used a different form of communication. The communication was through the paintings. What the meaning of these paintings has many different interpretations.

The Egyptians actually recorded dreams like the cave men did with the cave paintings. Eyptians expressed dreams or history using hieroglyphics to remember and keep records of the past. Dreams, visions, abstract ideas of the mind were written in the language of hierogylphics. "Hieroglyphics are visual, and far more emphasis is accorded sculptural and painterly representation of mythical entities". The mythical entities were associated with dreams because it was a part of way of life. The language was used to express importance to pass on to future generations of the Egyptian people.

In the medieval times recurrent dreams were not seen as positive or beneficial as the past Egyptian era. If someone kept having the same dreams it was thought that something demonic controlled their bodies, physical illness, or a mental disease. The medieval people did not talk to other people about their dreams. Recurring dreams meant that something was wrong or that an unresolved problem was about to occur in your life. The mind in medieval times was seen as something that could not be expressed in any abstract thinking.

A current historical context was the view Native Americans had with dreams. Dreams were a part of the culture of way of life with Native Americans. Dreams that were recurring meant a number of things to the people. They believed people who had recurrent dreams were gifted, spiritual, and strong. Some of these people could be associated with a person called a Medicine Man. To the Native Americans dreams repeating were either warning signs or good future signs. They believed that their bodies were connected to the earth and the earth could communicate through many ways. One of the ways of communicating with the earth was through dreams.

Common Themes in Recurring Dreams
Through psychological analyses and studies, some recurrent dream themes have been identified. These include dreaming of being chased and pursued, which has been repeatedly demonstrated as being the most frequently experienced recurrent theme. The following themes below have been found to contribute to more than half of recurring dreams:


 * Difficulties with house maintenance


 * Teeth falling out - Freud believed that if a woman had a recurring dream of her teeth falling out that she unconsciously longed to have children. He believed that if a man had this dream he was afraid of castration.


 * Discovering new rooms in a house - Freud believed that houses represented bodies. Others thought finding new rooms represented the dreamer finding out new things about themselves or of their own potential.


 * Losing control of a vehicle


 * Being unable to find a toilet


 * Having the ability to fly

Psychological disorders associated with recurring dreams

 * Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: People suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder can often suffer from recurring dreams. These dreams are thought of as chronic nightmares that act as a symptom of PTSD. A study found that the degree of trauma had a positive relationship to distress related to dreams


 * Anxiety: Evidence suggests that recurrent dreams occur during times of stress and once the problem has resolved they will cease to recur.


 * Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Possible explanations to recurrent dreams
Much research has been done to try and find the connection between recurring dreams and their underlying values. There is some functional value appeared to be associated with recurring dreams as an attemept to resolve emotional preoccupations. Another finding represents recurring dreams as a rehearsal of threat perception and avoidance. Threatening elements are often present in recurring dreams, as well as them occurring in stressful periods of ones life. They can often times relate to psychological well being and can reflect current concerns a person may be going through. Below is a list of some of the more prominent explanations to recurrent dreams.


 * Threat simulation theory - This theory was proposed by Revonsuo and states the biological function of dreaming is to simulate threatening events and then rehearse threat avoidance behaviors. However, this theory has come with mixed reviews. Zadra et el. found in a study on this theory that 66% of recurrent dreams contained at least one threat. For the most part, these threats involved danger and were aimed at the dreamer themselves. In contrast however, they also found that less than 15% of recurrent dreams involved realistic situations that could prove critical to ones survival. They also found that the dreamer usually did not succeed at fleeing the threat. These provide mixed support for the theory originally proposed by Rensuo.


 * Gestaltist dream theory - This theory views recurrent dreams as representing the person't current state of psychic imbalance. By bringing this imbalance to consciousness through the recurrent dream, it is possible for the person to restore their self-balance


 * Freud believed that recurrent traumatic dreams showed expressions of neurotic repetitive compulsions.


 * Jung believed that recurrent dreams played an important role in the integration of the psyche.


 * Culturalist dream theory, brought to light by Bonime in 1962, holds that recurrent dreams represent a lack of positive change or development in a person's personality.

Treatment methods for recurring dreams

 * Practice relaxation and imagery exercises before one goes to sleep has been a popular treatment suggestion. By imagining the dream and an intentional task to be carried out during the dream, the person will remember to carry out that task when they are actually dreaming. Then, when it occurs in the dream it will act as a prerehearsal cue in order to remind the person that they are dreaming, where they then can interact with the dream imagery. Once this is achieved, they can consult with their therapist the best way to modify their recurrent dream to make it less traumatizing. There are several different proposals suggested to go about doing this.


 * Confront and conquer the feared scene, suggested by Garfield in 1974.


 * Alter a small aspect of the dream, suggested by Halliday in 1982.


 * Have the dream ego engage in concilatory dialgue along with hostile dream figures, suggested by Tholey in 1988

Conclusion
Throughout history recurring dreams have held their place with mystery. Recurring dreams can have significant meaning behind them, or they can be mysterious. With many schools of thought on the interpretations of the dreams themselves there is little fact known on which is accurate. Some psychological disorders play a role in the presence of recurring dreams and can even be a symptom to help in diagnosis. This is done where the content of the dream may not play a role as much as the emotions also make the dreamer feel after waking.