How To Analyze Your Dreams

One prominent neurobiological theory of dreaming is the “activation-synthesis hypothesis,” which states that dreams don’t actually mean anything: they are merely electrical brain impulses that pull random thoughts and imagery from our memories.

Oneirology (/ɒnɪˈrɒlədʒi/; from Greek ὄνειρον, oneiron, “dream”; and -λογία, -logia, “the study of”) is the scientific study of dreams. The study of oneirology can be distinguished from dream interpretation in that the aim is to quantitatively study the process of dreams instead of analyzing the meaning behind them.

1. Record your dreams.
2. Identify how you were feeling in the dream.
3. Identify recurring thoughts in your dreams and daily life.
4. Consider all the elements of a dream.
5. Put down the dream dictionaries.
6. Remember you’re the expert.
7. You can learn a lot from even the most mundane dreams.
8. Further Reading on Dream Resources.

Sigmund Freud

According to Freud, dreams are imagery of a wish or impulse from childhood that has since been repressed. This is why Freud studied dreams to understand the unconscious mind. Therefore, according to Freud, your dreams reveal your repressed wishes to you.

According to relationship expert Terri Orbuch, who spoke to Women’s Health, dreaming about an ex could mean that you’re looking for closure. Maybe you’re unsettled with the way things ended between the two of you, or maybe you’re still trying to work past the way your relationship ended in your mind.

Dreaming about other people can be a way for you to gain a better understanding of yourself and your behavior. If there’s something that needs to be worked through and addressed in your waking life, it might show up in your dream in some way. Many times, it will show up in the form of a person in your past or present.

Yes, dreaming of Someone from the past or someone you don’t speak to anymore is normal but may not be positive. This person can be symbolic of something or symbolic of some type of spirit. Example: if it’s someone that lied, or hurted you in some way then know that spirit of lie or hurt is roaming around you.

Dreaming of a former / ex-friend indicates that your subconscious mind is trying to heal you in your sleep. Sometimes people turn out into those that we do not know, to the point of an enemy. Basically, falling out with friends can indicate an emotional time for the subconscious mind.

So what does it mean when you dream about someone you used to like? Digging up the past in dreamland could indicate that something happening in your real life evokes previous experiences, says Loewenberg.

You may have fears this person chasing after you will hurt or kill you. In these dreams, you are likely trying to find ways to run away and hide from the person or animal. In many cases, this dream means that you are trying to avoid something in your current daily waking life.

If it’s a long-ago ex “Dreaming about a long-ago ex — especially a first love — is incredibly common,” says Loewenberg. “That ex becomes symbolic of passion, uninhibited desire, unafraid love, etc.” These dreams are your subconscious mind’s way of telling you that you want more ~spice~ in your life.