Your dreams can be affected by when you dream, whether you smoke, your mental health, and more. And, by the way, man is not the only animal that dreams.
These 13 Bizarre Facts About Dreams Might Keep You Up at Night
Updated on Mar. 16, 2022
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We all do it
Dreaming is a natural brain function, and all human beings do it. But some people never remember their dreams, according to experts. Your dreams have meanings as well. This is what they reveal about you.
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You become sexually aroused
Psychologists say that both men and women become sexually aroused while dreaming (even if the dream has no sexual content).
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Smoking can affect your dreams
People who have quit a longtime smoking habit report having very vivid dreams for several weeks after stopping.
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Time spent dreaming
Average amount of time spent dreaming per night: 1 1⁄2 to 2 hours. Some people dream during the day as well. This is what your daydreams reveal about you.
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Schizophrenics experience ‘waking dreams’
Scientists believe schizophrenics suffer from irregular REM sleep, and that the hallucinations and delusions they experience may actually be “waking dreams.”
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Nightmares during pregnancy are good
Studies show that women who experience nightmares during pregnancy have easier births than women who don’t.
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Dreams tend to be negative
Negative emotions, such as anxiety, are more commonly felt during dreams than positive ones. If you’re having trouble sleeping because of stress try these tips to get a better night’s sleep.
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Joy, mirth, music
The Old English word dream, which etymologists believe is the origin of our word dream, meant “joy,” “mirth,” or “music.”
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The soul is awake
The Raramuri people of northern Mexico believe that dreams are the result of one’s soul “waking” or “sobering,” and seeing the world more clearly than usual. (Raramuri families often wake up and discuss their dreams during the night.)
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The longest dreams happen in the a.m.
The longest dreams—up to 45 minutes long—usually occur in the morning. There are certain things you can do before you go to bed to control your dreams. Try them out!
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Birds also dream
Birds, like humans, experience rapid eye movement (REM) during sleep and show brain wave activity similar to that of humans. This suggests that birds dream.
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Reptiles also dream
Reptiles also experience brain activity during sleep that suggests they too may dream. (Fish do not.)
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One President dreamed that he was paralyzed
For most of his life, President Lyndon Johnson had nightmares that he was paralyzed. Maybe it was hinting at something? We don’t know what that one means, but here are 50 hidden meanings behind the most common dreams you may have had.
For more hilarity and fun factual anecdotes, check out Uncle John’s Actual and Factual Bathroom Reader.
