GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — It's probably safe to say that there are a lot of things we didn't expect to happen during this pandemic, a toilet paper shortage, gas prices below $1.50, alcohol being turned into hand sanitizer and weird crazy dreams that have us saying... “What the hell was that?"
My longtime friend Tommy Allen. Publisher of Rapid Growth Media, local activist and crazy COVID quarantine dreamer. “I've had a few of them have been really a little bit memorable.", Tommy's latest one is my favorite.
“Why am I dreaming about the 90's working at T.G.I. Friday's? I don't even get to the restaurant that's the thing and I'm panicking because I think I'm supposed to start my shift." says Tommy jokingly.
And while we have a good laugh about it, there's one thing Tommy and many others including myself would like to know.
What do they mean?
"I see the puzzle I know exactly what it going on and I can pick up on that.", Deborah Johnson is a local dream interpreter and owner of Dreams of Hope. She believes people are experiencing vivid and strange dreams because our lives have slowed down during this quarantine, "And by us being able to sit still a lot of information is flooding in."
She also believes the dreams have important messages, "They are giving you some direction in your life and you need to do something about it."
For example, Deborah says repeat dreams need special attention, It's repeating until you get the message and really take note of it."
And pay attention to all the details in your dream. If you dream about walking in the woods, try to remember everything you can, "What is going on in the woods. Are the trees very dry, are the leaves off or are they very healthy trees with a lot of greenery that makes a difference." Deborah says all of these details play a role in the message they are sending you so the more details you the better your dream interpretation, "Each individual needs something different."
And for some, that might mean a more scientific approach.
“Increased dreaming might be a good thing.", DR. Christopher Morgan is the Medical Director of Mercy Health Saint Mary's Sleep Center. He says these strange quarantine dreams may be caused by the added stress of protecting ourselves from COVID 19 and trying to re-adjust to a different way of life.
“If you've had a very stressful day a lot things you're thinking about and going on sometimes your dreams can be a little more intense because your brain has to calm down all those emotions from the day. And that could be a reason why people have more dreams going on and remembering their dreams more.", Dr. Morgan says you may also be getting more sleep, which means more time spent dreaming and a better chance of waking up during them, “That's when you remember those dreams the best when you wake up during the dream when you're actually having it."
Dr. Morgan says other things can also influence your dreams like melatonin, sleep aids, depression and alcohol, “People are drinking more most likely sitting there with nothing to do. Alcohol suppresses your dreams the first half of the night but intensifies your dreams the second half of the night."
And whether it's a wild and crazy dream or one that brings you peace, dreaming is healthy. "It's actually good for our brain to try to help with these emotional responses we're having during the day and tone them down." says Dr. Morgan.
We may never be able to completely explain our dreams but hopefully you'll sleep better knowing what you're experiencing is completely normal, during a pandemic, when your quarantined.
TIPS FOR REMEMBERING DREAMS
- Tell yourself you want to remember your dreams before you fall asleep
- Set your alarm to go off every hour and half so you'll wake up during REM sleep -- when you're most likely to remember your dreams
- Keep a pad and pencil next to your bed to write down all the details you can remember
- Try to wake up slowly to remain within the "mood" of your last dream
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