TresSugar

Interpretation of Dreams: What Does Rush's Dream Mean?

TresSugar — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:30:00 -0700

It's happened to us all. We're hanging out by the water cooler and a coworker suddenly comes around and says - "I had the strangest dream last night . . ."

I try to avoid ever doing this to anyone but my closest friends. Why? Because sometimes you are revealing more than you want - or know. Dreams, after all, are "the royal road to the unconscious," as Freud said.

Take the following dream. I was totally baffled when I heard Rush Limbaugh tell his radio listeners about a recent dream he had about our Commander in Chief:

"I had a dream that I was a slave building a sphinx in a desert that looked like Obama."

Crazy, baby! I have my theories about what this dream signifies. What do you think it means? If you want a clue, check out a recording of what he says beforehand. Just read more.

Remembering Your Dreams Is Beneficial to Your Well-Being

DearSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:00:00 -0700

I'm sure this happens to you all the time: your alarm goes off and you get pulled out of an amazing dream, but as soon as you hit the snooze button, you can't remember many details, if any, of what you were dreaming about. New research suggests that you actually try to remember, because your dreams can give insight into your personality. Tapping into what happens in your dreams can help you understand the thoughts, feelings, and actions you have when you're awake, which in turn can help "heal emotional stress and trauma, enable us to sleep better, make us feel happier while awake, or even answer nagging questions about our lives."

So how can you take advantage of your dreams? To learn some tips, read more.

Here are six strategies to help you harness insight from your dreams. Check out MSNBC.com to learn more about them.

Wake slowly and try to concentrate on what you were dreaming about.
Don't take every detail literally.
Confront the "demons" you dream about, when you're awake.
Put yourself in the dream after waking. Imagine yourself as all the different characters, even the non-human ones, to uncover specific emotions or situations that may have inspired your dream.
Describe your dream to someone to help you recall details, zero in on important aspects, and better interpret dream symbols. Writing down details may help.
Plan a course of action on how to deal with what you discovered in your dream.

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Group Therapy: Torn Between the Future and Now

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:00:00 -0800

I'm 21 and have been dating my boyfriend for four years. Our families know each other and know that we're serious about our relationship. His family is traditional and conservative so they hope that we take things slow until we're married. Although it's against our faith, we do have premarital relations, and I found it to be justifying that we do plan to get married - we're not just sleeping around. From my parents' divorce, I know not to marry young and that things don't always go as planned. My friends and family know that I am very serious about my education and know that nothing will stop me from finishing with my Masters degree, even marriage. I dream about my future with my boyfriend and see it to be attainable, and that notion keeps me motivated in school and smarter with my time and finances.

Very recently, however, my boyfriend told me that I'm too much of a dreamer and I need a hit of reality, especially when it comes to our future. But I think I'm grounded with dreams that keep me motivated. Now I'm torn between my beliefs, our conservative families, his bubble bursting comments, and my dream-driven goals. Can I still be grounded with dreams of a wedding, husband, and family? Is it wrong to keep these dreams? And if I do keep them, do I keep them to myself to prevent them from being shot down?

[EDITOR'S NOTE: To be involved in more GROUP THERAPY, click here]
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You Asked: We Have Different Dreams

DearSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

My girlfriend and I have been dating for six months and things are starting to get serious. We've moved in together and are happy that we did. She's finishing her degree in a month and is thinking of joining the armed forces so she can travel around the world - she wants me to go with her. It's always been her dream to go abroad and try out new places but I, on the other hand, am content with my life here and moving to a new place is the furthest thing from my mind at the moment. I don't want her to give up her dream for me, but she doesn't want to leave without me. What should I do? - Rock and a Hard Place Richard

To see DearSugar's answer, read more.

Dear Rock and a Hard Place Richard,

This is certainly a tough position to be in, but if picking up and leaving to travel the world isn't something you're interested in, don't do it. If your girlfriend says she won't leave without you, that's her decision to make. The thing that makes this situation so tricky is that resentment could easily rear its ugly head for both of you. If she puts you before her dream, she could hold you responsible, but if you leave your life to follow a dream that you can't relate to, you could in turn resent her for making you walk away from your life as you knew it.

You're talking about a major life decision here, so be sure to talk to your girlfriend about all your options. It's important for each of you to follow your dreams, so if you're not on the same page, hopefully you work together to come to a happy meeting place. Good luck and remember communication is key!

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You Asked: Why Am I So Suspicious?

DearSugar — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

I've been dating my boyfriend for almost a year now. For the past two months I have had dreams of catching him cheating on me and it's driving me to snoop on him. I look in his email, his Facebook account, and phone whenever I get a chance. But there's no reason for me to do this; I know he would never cheat on me. Honestly it is the most amazing relationship I could ever ask for. So what's wrong with me? Why do I keep dreaming these horrible things? Am I losing my mind? - Mistrustful Megan

To see DearSugar's answer, read more.

Dear Mistrustful Megan,

The expression of insecurities through dreams is no new thing, but avoid taking your dreams at face value. I'd guess that this dream is an indication of things you might have on your mind regarding the future of your relationship or your own personal stresses. The image of catching your boyfriend cheating is only a manifestation of these other concerns. It's normal for a vivid dream to leave you feeling uneasy, but there's no excuse for continually checking up on your boyfriend, especially without reason. He has a right to his privacy, and you're violating it. Plus, the more you play into this paranoia, the more likely it is to keep showing up in your dreams.

Start writing in a journal and see if you can't let some of your insecurities escape more consciously. You can write down your dreams too and see if you notice a pattern. I'm sure they will subside on their own soon, but in the meantime, try to examine your relationship and see if there's something that may have you feeling worried. But whatever you do, try not to let your dreams affect your waking life so deeply.

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Group Therapy: I'm Engaged but Scared to Get Married

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0700

I have been engaged for about nine months to a guy I love. But I just don't think I want to get married, to anyone! I couldn't say no to him when he proposed because I do want to be with him for the long-term, and he said he wanted to have a long engagement. I have told him how I feel about all of this, and he says that we don't have to get married at all or we can just wait until I feel ready. I don't mind being engaged, but people keep asking when the wedding date is and I don't know what to say. I think my fears are related to the fact that my parents recently got divorced after a long marriage.

Or it could be because I am not sure if he is the right guy for me. I don't want to make a mistake. I keep having (sometimes explicitly sexual) dreams about my ex. We were together for several years and I loved him deeply - we had an amazing sexual connection as well - but the relationship was unhealthy and he ended up leaving me for another girl. When she broke up with him, he tried to get me back. At that point, I had met my current guy and we were really happy. Now, I am so confused about why he keeps showing up in my dreams. How can I make it stop? I have closure; I know that my ex was not right for me.

In many ways, I feel like he was more exciting and sexually compatible than my current guy, who I'm attracted to, but not to the same extent. I am worried this attraction will die out eventually because it's not as strong to begin with. I value my guy's loyalty and I feel safe with him, but my ex will not disappear from my dreams! Does this mean I am still in love with my ex? If so, why would I still be in love with someone who treated me badly? I do want to be with my guy, I am just scared about the idea of marriage. Does anyone have any advice for me?

[EDITOR'S NOTE: To be involved in more GROUP THERAPY, click here]

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Smells Can Affect Your Dreams

DearSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0700

The smell of apple pie always reminds me of my grandmother, who used to make it whenever I came to visit. I'm sure you have certain feelings and memories connected to scents too. And just as they affect us during the day, researchers have found that aromas can influence the emotions we experience when we sleep. Fifteen women in their 20s were part of this dream study. Each had a tube taped to their nostrils and while they slept, one of three scents was pumped through their noses: rotten eggs, roses, and plain air. While they snoozed, their brain activity was monitored. The scientists allowed them to reach REM sleep and after one minute, they woke them up and asked the sleepers to describe what they were dreaming about. The women didn't dream about the specific smells like you might think, but rather when they smelled roses, they had pleasant dreams, and when they smelled rotten eggs, their dreams were just the opposite.

Isn't that interesting? Since a good night's sleep is so important to our health and overall well-being, I'm all for anything that can inspire some delightful dreams, so go out and buy some lovely scented candles or sheet spray for your pillows. Lavender essential oil will also do the trick. Try it, and let us know how it works!

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Why Are Dreams so Bizarre?

DearSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:00:00 -0700

I love to hear about other people's dreams because they can be bizarre, especially the ones about sex or relationships since I'm convinced they're trying to tell people something juicy! Dreams can be so weird sometimes and according to Real Simple, there's actually a biological reason for it. In everyone's head, there's a part of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for logic and reasoning. When you're snoozing, it goes temporarily dormant so your thoughts go uncensored. Dreams bring up snippets of old memories and recent experiences, but they're not necessarily in any semblance of order so they can seem illogical on the surface. Sometimes if you dig deeper and try to figure out what the images and events in your dreams symbolize, they can give you insight into your true feelings. Well that is for some of our dreams anyway. Other dreams may not be profound at all and could just be a patchwork of nonsense.

Experts believe that whether they make sense or not, dreams can help you emotionally understand new experiences, prepare you for change, help you cope with stress or trauma, and help you solve problems. Some experts also believe that dreams can foreshadow the future. So if you pay attention to your dreams, tell me, do they tend to have hidden meanings or messages behind them, or are your dreams usually a jumbled potpourri of absolutely nothing?

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Do Tell: How Often Do You Have Sexual Dreams?

DearSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:00:00 -0700

It's a rare but exciting moment when I wake up in the midst of a sexual dream. I've only had a handful, but let me tell you - they're almost as good as the real thing! We dream about sex because it's such a powerful human drive, and in our sleep we have no control over what surfaces in our subconscious minds. So you may have a sexual dream about your present lover, a past lover, someone you've had your eye on, or even a celebrity (did someone say Brad Pitt?). You may have surprising dreams about people you've never really thought of (like a co-worker), or dreams where your sexual identity has switched (maybe you're involved in a lesbian love fest when you're actually heterosexual). Or maybe, you'll be lucky enough to have a sexual dream where you actually climax. So tell me ladies, how often do you have tantalizing sexual dreams? Care to share any of the details?

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What Do Pregnancy Dreams Mean?

DearSugar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 07:00:00 -0700

Whether you tend to remember your dreams or not, having a dream about being pregnant is pretty unforgettable. I'm sure you can relate to that panicky feeling, where you suddenly wake up and reach for your belly just to make sure. That kind of dream is so vivid that for a split second, you're not sure if it's real.

I've always wondered what those kinds of dreams mean. Is my body trying to tell me something? Am I really pregnant? Do I secretly want to be pregnant? Is someone I know pregnant? Does it have anything to do with pregnancy at all? To find out, read more.

Actually, pregnancy dreams for women are pretty common, and they usually represent new beginnings, renewed connections with others, changes in your life or career, or something in the future you're looking forward to. Being pregnant in your dream is usually a positive thing, and indicates that you're growing in your life or in a relationship. It can also be a symbol for how you're blossoming creatively or spiritually. If your overall feeling in the dream was of happiness and anticipation, then I'd try and think about what exciting or life-changing events are happening right now or what you've been hoping will happen. If having a baby is something you're thinking about, your dream could definitely be about the actual baby. But if pregnancy is far from your mind, then most likely the baby in your dream is just a metaphor for something in your life that's new, exciting, different, or joyful.

I've definitely had one or two, but have you ever experienced a pregnancy dream?

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