Graf #11 (Real-Life Research)

                You’re running through the deep, dark woods as fast as you can, trying to get away from whatever is chasing you. You’re lost, but you just keep on running and running. All of the sudden, you find yourself in Wal-Mart. You are hurriedly looking down each aisle for that person who was after you. You are scared, but curious – so you keep looking. When you glance down one of the aisles, you see a bear just sitting there peering around. Nobody seems to notice this bear. They all just keep on walking by as if there is nothing out of the ordinary. Dumbfounded, you approach the bear. It seems gentle until you see a flash of teeth and… BAM! You thought you were about to be this bear’s lunch, but instead you’re waking up after jumping ten feet in the air. You just had one of those strange dreams, again. Curious about what they all mean? Each dream has a meaning. Those random, misplaced objects that strangely appear, those weird actions you do, and those disorienting setting changes – they all have a meaning.

                For years, I was always curious what dreams were all about. Dreams that would scare you, dreams that would bring back memories, and even dreams that left you wanting to come back to the dream world. While at school (and not doing what I was supposed to be doing), I looked up all the different meanings of dreams and the symbolisms behind them. I was so intrigued that I actually wrote down all the different types of dreams, why we have them, websites to understand different symbolisms, and so on. It's amazing that a sophomore in high school actually did research on their own time! So, I did my best in finding the answers.

               When you wake up from a dream, you will sometimes be left pondering: “Why was that in my dream?” I bet it wasn’t the first time sometime strange appeared in your dream. There is a reason why it happened. Seeing a bear in a Wal-Mart – weird. However, spotting a bear in your dreams symbolizes life and death; much like going through a period of self-renewal. There is a wide assortment of different objects that symbolize different emotions that you are experiencing. How about the woods? Running lost through the woods signifies that you are having anxiety about leaving something behind that is familiar to you. Finding yourself in a store indicates that you are emotionally or mentally strained. So, put the dream all together: you are seeking self-renewal by leaving or getting rid of something that is close to you, but it is causing emotional or mental instability.

                There are several different types of dreams, although there are two that are the most common. Let’s say that this dream often repeats itself. This is called a Recurring Dream. It usually means that there is a conflict in your life that you are not dealing with – and until it is solved, that dream will continuously come back. Maybe you are really bothered by to leave that object behind. You have to learn to cope with this issue. If you let this issue eat away at you, you may always find yourself having this same dream (or something similar to it). It is much the same with nightmares. Nightmares usually occur because you are refusing to accept something that has happened or is happening in your life. It also may be showing that you have a fear of confronting something. Talking to someone about these dreams or life situations may be the only way to cease the horrid dreams.

                In your dream, while running through those dark woods, you feel a strong sense of panic. Panic often signals that you feel a lack of power in your life. What you see in your dreams may be important; however, what you are feeling is also very important. Although you are curious at the details of your dreams, you should ponder about what your emotions were throughout the course of the dream. What you are feeling in your dream corresponds to what you actually feel in real life whether you know it or not. Your mind tries to uncork all those bottled up emotions that you kept throughout the day, or longer. Understanding what your dreams are trying to tell you may help you figure out important life decisions, issues, or even why you have been having all those migraines lately!

                It’s amazing to know that running through the woods, to searching Wal-Mart, to finding a bear can all mean so much! Figuring out what your dream is trying to say can help you a lot in life. Your dreaming state opens up your subconscious to reveal all those deep, dark feelings or desires that you didn’t know you had. Dreams can also teach you more about your thoughts, goals, and aspirations that you didn’t know about yourself. Learn from your dreams – or else you may experience recurring dreams or nightmares over unresolved issues. So, if you are having anxiety over leaving your ‘Blankie’ at your mother’s house, you may continue to have bad dreams about running around lost in the woods! It’s time to cope with the issue and immerse yourself into a nightmare-free world!