Are Your Dreams A Delusion?

Greta Romano, LVI, lets us in on the meanings of the top ten most popular appearances in our dreams

If dreams are a sign, then why do I keep dreaming about being chased by a toaster? Is the universe trying to warn me about my sixth-form toast addiction? Or is the toaster just mad because I keep pressing its buttons (literally)? But beyond rogue appliances, dreams can reveal something deeper, our subconscious battle for freedom. Whether it’s the desire to break free from stress, escape expectations, or outrun a metaphorical (or literal) toaster. Either way, dreams are fascinating, and I’ve always wanted to decode the… Just in case the toaster comes for revenge.

The science of dreaming first caught the attention of Sigmund Freud. He believed that dreams allowed us to sort through repressed emotions and unconscious desires, providing a way to process things our waking mind could not. According to Freud, the manifest content of a dream (what you actually remember) is often a distort ed version of our deeper, unconscious feelings. This distortion, something Freud called “dream work”, protects us from confronting sensitive topics.

Freud broke this “dream work” down into three processes:

Displacement

Shifting emotion from one object to another. For exam ple, Freud analysed a patient who disliked his sister-in-law and often called her a dog. The patient then had a dream of strangling a small white dog. In the dream, according to Freud, the dog symbolised the sister-in-law, and because the brain could not cope with his unconscious desire to murder his sister-in-law, his brain transformed her into a dog to protect him from guilt.

Condensation

Combining multiple ideas or feelings into one symbol. A dream about a house could represent worries about security, finances, or stability, all mixed together in a single image.

Symbolization

Using symbols to represent abstract ideas. Dreaming about a ladder? Freud would say it represents your ambition, or perhaps a desire to climb out of your current situation.

Not everyone agrees with Freud’s theories. The activation-synthesis theory argues that dreams don’t necessarily mean anything; rather, they’re just the brain’s way of dealing with random electrical impulses.

Another theory suggests that dreams serve as a biological defence mechanism. By repeatedly simulating threatening events (such as being chased by wild animals – or in my case, appliances), early humans may have developed better instincts for detecting and avoiding danger as dreaming might simulate certain events.

But why do we forget dreams so quickly?

Most dreams occur during REM sleep when brain activity looks strikingly similar to being awake. However, the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for memory formation, is less active during REM, so unless you wake up during a dream, it’s likely to fade.

Now for the possibly most interesting part, interpretations.

What might your dreams really mean?

Falling

There are two types of falling dreams. The first is a happy free-falling dream, this suggests that you are not afraid of changes and are ready to embrace them. The other type of free-falling dream (the unpleasant one) might suggest some insecurity or anxiety about a situation, or you failed at doing something when you were awake. It also could mean you feel a loss of control in a part of your life.

Teeth Falling Out

There are many different types of interpretations of what this dream could mean. Teeth are often considered symbols of strength and youth and losing teeth might symbolise that you are getting older or a fear of becoming old. Another interpretation is that losing your teeth might reflect your anxiety about your appearance and how others perceive you.

Being Chased (Hopefully Not By a Toaster)

This dream might suggest your trying to avoid something that is causing you anxiety or fear in your waking life. It also tends to be a common recurring dream because you might be running away from your issues rather than tackling them head on and this will continue until you resolve the problem in your waking life

Flying

Flying in a dream usually suggests a desire for freedom or independence in your waking life or it can represent a desire to escape from your current life or that you should make a big transition to have new experiences and adventure.

Exams

It often reflects the stress of unpreparedness and fear of failure and reflects your lack of confidence. It might also be a fear that you’re not meeting your expectations for yourself or for others.

Being Late

Usually, this dream symbolises that you are feeling overwhelmed by deadlines or an internal fear about missing something important in life whether that is academic or personal. Being late also might suggest that you feel that you’re not in control of your life.

Trying To Run, But Going Nowhere

It might suggest that you aren’t seeing any progress in your life despite your efforts, and it might be a deep fear that you aren’t able to reach your goals no matter how hard you try.

Losing Something Important

If you dream about losing something valuable, like your phone, wallet, or even a loved one - it could symbolise feelings of insecurity, anxiety, or fear of losing control. It may also represent a real-life fear of losing something significant, whether it be a relationship, an opportunity, or a sense of identity.

Being Naked in Public

If you’ve ever dreamed of suddenly realising you’re stark naked in the middle of a crowded place, don’t worry - it’s a common one. This dream often symbolises feelings of vulnerability or embarrassment. It might suggest that you are afraid of being exposed or judged, or that you feel unprepared for a situation in your waking life.

Missing a Bus or Train

Dreaming about missing a bus, train, or flight often represents feelings of frustration or missed opportunities. It can symbolise anxiety about time slipping away or a fear that you are not keeping up with your personal goals. This dream might suggest that you feel like you’re running out of time to accomplish something important.

Are your dreams really a sign, or just a load of nonsense your brain randomly generates? Either way, I’d keep an eye on that toaster…