Deciphering dreams

What unconscious thoughts say about you

Face it, we've all been there.

We've all walked into a room full of people only to realize that we weren't wearing any clothes. And it wasn't until the pointing and staring ended that we abruptly woke up and realized that one of our worst fears came true in a dream.

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It happened to me, it happened to Torrance Shipman in the movie "Bring It On" and it has probably happened to you, too.

Dreaming that you are completely or partially naked is very common, according to www.dreammoods.com.

But, have you ever wondered exactly what your dreams mean?

Whether it's being naked and surrounded by strangers or being chased by a man holding an ax, Sigmund Freud believed dreams to be our inner-most thoughts attempting to escape our unconscious repressions.

Likewise, if you dreamed you were naked in a public place, and became frantic in the dream, that is often a reflection of your vulnerability or shamefulness, according to the Web site. You could be hiding something and are afraid that others can see right through you.

Being chased in a dream may represent your way of coping with fears, stress or various situations in your waking life, the Web site states. Instead of confronting the situation, you are running away and avoiding it.

The Web site advises people who have those types of dreams to turn around and confront their pursuer.

My advice is to duck if the chaser swings the ax at your head, because dying in your dreams could be quite frightening.

For a long time, I believed that if you died in a dream, that you would die in real life.

But according to the International Association for the Study of Dreams, that is not true. Many people have dreamed that they died and lived to "tell the tale."

While I have never died in my dreams, I have dreamed that a family member has.

Dreaming of the death of a "loved one" may be the result of numerous factors, including genuine anxiety for that person's well-being, according to www.predictions.astrology.com.

Most of the time, I can't even remember my dreams in full. I can only remember parts of them, which the International Association for the Study of Dreams states is quite normal.

There is something about the "phenomenon of sleep" that makes it difficult to remember what has occurred, and most dreams are forgotten unless they are written down, the Web site states.

If all else fails and you can't remember your dreams, you always have the option of sleeping with a pencil and notepad next to your bed so that you can write as much of your dream down as soon as you wake up.

With practice, there is a way that people can learn to control their dreams.

Lucid dreams allow people to control their dreams and basically steer them toward the direction they want them to go.

Lucid dreaming means being fully aware that you are dreaming, according to www.lucidity.com.

I once remember seeing a movie with an actor who knew he was dreaming. "Is this a dream?" he asked the people in the dream. And the response was "yes."

Many theorists disagree on the importance of dreams. While some believe that dreams are not important, other believe that the opposite is true.

People who are deprived from entering the dream phase of sleep exhibit symptoms of irritability and anxiety, according to the Dreammoods Web site.

I, for one, believe that dreams are important aspect of our lives. They allow people do different things that they wouldn't ordinarily do, like ride on a magic flying carpet or travel to another country in a matter of seconds.

When analyzing your dreams, try to remember that the rules of reality do not apply.

So go ahead, take a nap and allow your dreams to take control.