Posted by BeardedLady on January 3, 2003, at 7:01:41
In reply to Re: Dreams and Depression » Not Bob, posted by jay on January 3, 2003, at 0:19:28
My doc says we all dream the same.
"As for dreaming, the question is not whether one dreams or how much, we all do about the same. The question is
more about remembering one's dreams. We're not all equal when it comes to remembering. Generally, when people wake it's at the end of a dream episode. So it may just be that people with interuption insomnia remember more of their dreams because of that."Indeed, on the nights I don't wake up, I remember a dream, maybe, or a hint of one. On the nights I wake up frequently, I remember them all, in detail. I don't think excessive dreaming is causing the excessive wakening but that the excessive wakening is only making it look as if I've dreamed more.
My therapist admitted that he doesn't know if depressed people remember their dreams more than those who aren't depressed. (But logic says that insomniacs do.)
I have to say I've been dreaming wildly and vividly and frequently since I was a child. I used to study them--keep a journal about them next to my bed. I'd awaken at the end of every dream and write down what happened, and then I'd easily fall back to sleep. I wasn't depressed or suffering from insomnia.
I also believe that my dreams are responsible for my sleeping and my awakening. Some work very hard to keep me asleep. Others (like the searching for a place to pee dreams) let me know that I have to wake up or I'll wet my bed!
I hope this adds a different perspective to the discussion.
I truly do not believe depressed people dream more unless they are actually sleeping more. I think some people have a better ability to recall them, and those who are depressed are so inward focused, they'd seem the likely candidates for remembering dreams.
beardy : )>
poster:BeardedLady
thread:1982
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20021230/msgs/2041.html