Q: Why would I dream almost all night every night?

A: There are varying opinions as to why a person does or doesn’t remember dreams. One professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School feels no one knows why dreams occur but speculates that dreaming will allow a person the opportunity to practice things he or she may or may not ever have to do. Sigmund Freud felt dreams are an expression of what a person is repressing during waking hours. Carl Jung felt dreams are messages of lost or neglected parts of oneself that needs to be reintegrated. What is reasonably consistent, however, is that everyone dreams every night. We may vaguely remember them, be able to explain them in vivid detail, or have no knowledge of even dreaming.

There are three stages of non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and two stages of REM sleep. The average individual cycles through all the stages up to six times each night, although not always in the same order. N1, the first stage, is considered the lightest and occurs as an individual drifts off to sleep. N2 is a deeper phase when brain activity begins to slow, as does a person’s heart rate and breathing. Body temperature may fall slightly as the body relaxes. N3 stage is the beginning of slow wave or deep sleep. Brain waves are generally slower, although faster waves can occur. This phase can last up to 15 minutes but the overall first deep sleep of the night may last an hour or longer, providing necessary bodily regeneration. N4 is known as REM sleep. Blood flow, breathing and brain activity increases. The first period of REM sleep of the evening commonly begins about 90 minutes after stages N1 and N2 and may last for 10 minutes. The length of REM sessions then increase in length, with the final episode lasting an hour or longer. It’s during R4 that dreams occur, with the brain being almost as active as it is when a person is awake. During the REM phase we lose muscle tone throughout the body except for the diaphragm and muscles of the eyes. Perhaps that is why some individuals feel they cannot move their extremities. This may explain why we try to run away from a bad situation or scream in fear yet are incapable of moving our arms and legs or of screaming out loud. Some medications can make dreams extremely vivid.

So, in answer to your question, N4 represents about one fourth of an individual’s sleep time. Dreams can last from a few seconds to around 20 minutes. If we multiply those 20 minute sessions by six throughout the phases of REM sleep, that may amount to two hours of dream time.

Dreams may signify our brains organizing memories and activities of the day, even though there may not be any logical reasoning behind the way they evolve. Dreaming allows us to “act out” during sleep, and interpret things in ways completely different from how we would ordinarily express ourselves when awake. The brain’s activity is truly remarkable.

Readers who are interested in learning related information can order Dr. Gott’s Health Report “Sleep/Wake Disorders” by sending a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and a $2 US check or money order to Peter H. Gott, MD Health Report, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form from www.AskDrGottMD.com.