Amazingly, as
we approach the 21st century, there is still very little known
about the inner universe of sleep and dreams. In fact, numerous
common misconceptions still exist, many of which are perpetuated
by so-called professionals.
A classic example occurs when
individuals approach their doctor complaining of disturbed
sleep - waking throughout the night. Often, probably for the
sake of expediency, doctors tend to take people at their word
which, on the surface, appears to be a reasonable course of
action. But is it?
It may come as a surprise
to some diagnosed insomniacs to discover that constant monitoring
of their sleep sometimes reveal that they have slept the night
away. Yet, despite evidence to the contrary of a polygraph
and witnesses, they are still prepared to swear that they
woke up on more than one occasion during the night.
Often, it transpires that
these individuals have experienced very convincing dreams
of having woken, perhaps glanced at the clock, turned over,
then gone back to sleep. However, a spouse or partner who
is awake, will often testify that their mate was fast asleep
when they claimed to have noted the time and turned over.
In other words, these people are literally dreaming of insomnia.
Some people will dream quite
realistically that they have been toiling away at their job
of work, and awaken feeling exhausted. Others might be convinced
that the alarm clock has gone off, only to discover that,
when the alarm is actuated in real life, their original belief
was a misconception.
Many people experience false
awakenings, which is a phenomenon closely related to 'lucid'
dreaming - a perfect replica of their bedroom will appear
before their (dreaming) eyes. Under these circumstances individuals
will attain full consciousness, but still be in REM sleep
- in other words, a remarkably convincing illusion. A polygraph,
however, will prove that people who are prone to these conditions
often experience uninterrupted sleep.
Being in possession of these
facts raises a disturbing question. How many people in society
are taking regular medication for insomnia, unnecessarily?
True insomnia can be very disturbing and will be dealt with
in another issue.
Even today, another misconception,
put forward surprisingly by some psychologists is that lucid
dreams do not exist. These so called professionals demonstrate
their ignorance about sleep and dreams by linking this phenomenon
with sleep paralysis, and for no better reason than that they
have never experienced it for themselves. This 'If I can't
see it, then it doesn't exist' attitude is narrow minded and
stifling to the nth degree.
Admittedly, the concept of
becoming fully conscious within a dream, with complete self-identity
restored, and the ability to control the dream, is truly amazing.
Even more so when a lucid dreamer becomes unable to distinguish
this material reality from the realm of the dream, and asks
the question, 'Is this reality and is the material world just
another dream state?'
However, there is no excuse
for psychologists not keeping abreast with published research
material - after all, that is part of their job! Further to
the point, it is hard to believe that more than twenty years
after the lucid dream was scientifically proved - beyond all
doubt - to be a real phenomenon, these negative assertions
of denial still exist.
At seven minutes past eight,
on the morning of Saturday the 12th of April 1975, after an
all-night vigil by a polygraph, at Hull University, Dr Hearne
established the world's first structured communication from
a lucid dreamer to the outside world. The monitoring equipment
proved unequivocally that this individual was in REM sleep,
yet, via a series of prearranged eye movements he was signalling
Dr Hearne. In effect, he was saying, 'I know that I am being
monitored by Dr Hearne in a sleep laboratory. I am also aware
that I am in REM dreaming sleep. It is now time to signal
Dr Hearne to let him know that although I am in the realm
of dreams, I am fully aware that he is in the material world,
and I can prove it.'
This staggering discovery
opened up a whole new field of science to be studied, that
of the inner universe. Therefore it beggars belief that, nowadays,
so few professional psychologists are still unable to break
free of their scepticism in order to carry out research into
this most mind-boggling dream state. It is estimated that
within the realm of the lucid dream, there might lie the answers
to many of humanity's most poignant questions.
Another misconception is that
we need to dream to maintain sanity, and this myth is still
perpetuated nowadays. For instance, a recent episode of the
famous 'Star Trek - The Next Generation' series showed the
crew of the ill-fated Star Ship Enterprise losing their minds
after having been deprived of REM sleep.
This erroneous theory was
first proffered around the end of the 1950s, and was based
on cruel, spurious laboratory experiments on animals. Some
of these tests involved cats which were floated on planks
of wood in water. Every time they nodded off, their heads
would make contact with the water, thus jarring them awake
and depriving them of all sleep, and not just REM sleep -
as was suggested....
(Continued
In Common Dream Misconceptions Pt 2...)
Authors Details: David
F. Melbourne Web
Site
David F. Melbourne, who lives on a remote Scottish island,
has been studying dreams for 25 years and is known all
over the world for his accurate dream interpretations.
Apart from the general public, he has analysed dreams
for celebrities and famous authors, all of whom have
admitted a high degree of accuracy. |
More Information in our Dreams Section
|
