Dreams Continued…

Dreams continued….

In “Real or Just a Dream,” I began the dreams conversation after hearing Sheri talk about them on the Monday, March 3rd radio show segment “Can you believe this?” Sheri said, “Woman, people who are big daydreamers, and younger people are more likely to remember their dreams. There is a link between being a daydreamer and remembering your sleeping dreams” That was/is me. I have always had a fascinating relationship with the dream world. I have also been a major daydreamer. I remember being in school, teachers would call my parents telling them I was a daydreamer and lacked focus, but I also had an uncanny ability to know exactly where we were in the lessons when randomly called upon to pick up where the reading was left off. I looked at the book and began to read proving I was listening without having to follow along. I considered it a gift. 

I was dreaming so much that I began doing my own dream interpretations for clarity and insight. I thought dreaming and recalling dreams was normal for everyone, but learning, for many, is a struggle. 

How can I remember my dreams? 

I get asked this question a lot. A key piece is sleep and its quality. How well do you sleep? Is it restful or disrupted? 

In doing a search for “factors that contribute to non-restful sleep and the interference of dream recall”, I found certain sleep disorders, frequent nighttime awakenings, sleep disruptions, stress, anxiety, certain medications, excessive alcohol, and drugs do not allow the achievement of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep needed to achieve vivid dreams.  

What can be done?

1. Rule out any sleep disorders that could prevent you from having good quality sleep. Some examples of sleep disorders are Insomnia, Narcolepsy, and Sleep Apnea.

1. Be consistent in your sleep schedules. Are you going to bed too late and waking too early? Try making it a habit to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. 

1. Be mindful of what you eat or drink late in the day and before going to bed. Eat lighter later in the day and try to avoid stimulants like cigarettes, caffeine, and sugar. Try natural sleep aids, such as warm milk, chamomile tea, and tart cherry juice, or speak to your nutritionist about supplements to aid with sleep. Alcohol and drugs may make you sleepy but do interfere with achieving REM and non-disruptive sleep.

1. Create a relaxation routine before bed. Journaling, hot baths, relaxing music, reading, and yoga are great tools for relaxation. 

1. Create an environment suited for sleep being mindful of clutter, temperature, lighting, bedding, how old or new the pillows are, and if possible, not having a television or computer in the same room. 

1. Seek alternative or complementary therapies like Reiki, Acupressure, Acupuncture. As a Reiki practitioner, I have had several patients that have testified to sleeping and dreaming after just one session. We also encourage massage therapy, meditation, and mindfulness. Recently a patient told me for the last 90 days he has consistently been meditating before bed and it has drastically improved his quality of sleep and dream recall. 

Now that my sleep has improved, how do I remember my dreams? 

1. Are you creative? Some personality traits like creativity can contribute to better dream recall due to increased awareness in the form of new ideas and viewpoints. 

1. Keep a dream journal next to your bed. Each time you wake up write down everything you can remember, no matter how small the fragments are. 

1. Actively think about wanting to remember your dreams before falling asleep. Know that you dream and want to remember. 

1. Talk to your subconscious. I was taught that I could ask to remember my dreams by saying, “Please help me to remember my sleeping dreams.”  Make it an affirmation by thinking or saying aloud, “I am remembering my sleeping dreams upon waking.”  I have also asked for answers in the form of a dream when trying to solve a problem or challenge. 

What if my dreams are so real that I cannot tell if they are dreams or real life? 

After writing the last episode, “Real or Just a Dream.”  I had more to share. I did a search on Google asking, “How to know if it was reality or just a dream?” The site “Quora” had some interesting tips that I would like to share with you:

 “Distinguishing between reality and dreams can be tricky, especially when dreams feel vivid or lifelike. Here are some strategies to help you determine whether an experience was real or just a dream:

• Check Your Memory: Reflect on the details of the event. Dreams often have inconsistencies or lack clarity in memory. If you can recall specific, coherent details, it might be more likely to be real.

• Reality Checks: Develop habits that help you distinguish between dreams and reality. For example:
  – Look at Text: In dreams, text often changes or is nonsensical. Try reading something; if the text changes when you look away and back, it’s likely a dream.
  – Check Clocks: Clocks often behave strangely in dreams. If you look at a clock and it shows nonsensical time, it may indicate you were dreaming.

• Ask Others: Discuss the experience with someone else. If they remember the event or confirm it happened, it’s more likely to be real.

• Emotional Response: Consider your emotional state during the experience. Dreams may evoke strong emotions but can feel surreal or disconnected from reality. If you felt grounded and aware, it might have been real.

• Physical Sensations: Dreams often lack physical sensations. If you recall feeling pain, temperature, or other physical sensations, it might indicate the experience was real.

• Document Your Experiences: Keeping a dream journal can help you identify patterns in your dreams and improve your recall of real events versus dreams.

If you’re frequently unsure about whether experiences are dreams or reality, it might be helpful to speak with a mental health professional for further insight.”

So much good stuff. I hope this post has been helpful and you got a lot out of it. 

Happy Dreaming!! 

Theresa Martinez-Shapiro
Flexible Being

Website: www.flexiblebeing.com

Socials:
Facebook: @flexiblebeingonline
Instagram: @theresamartinezshapiro
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Theresa Martinez-Shapiro

Hello! I am Theresa Martinez-Shapiro; Wife to Robert. Founder of Flexible Being. A Master Reiki Therapist, Certified Oracle Guide, Spiritual Mentor/Guide, Intuitive Empath, Coach, and Educator. I am a fur mom to 3 cats and 1 dog – Sonny, Patches, Ryelee, and Winnie. We currently live and practice in Stockton, California. We operate three businesses – Shapiro Holistic Health and Chiropractic, Fusion Health APC, and Synergy Health MSO, where we seek to improve and change the lives of our patients and those we have the privilege of crossing paths with. My healing and mentoring journey began around 5 years old when I discovered that I was put on this planet to help others. I knew I was different, unique, and gifted. I did not see the world the same way everyone else did, and recognized I was meant to do so much more. I began to research, spending a lot of time reading & asking a lot of questions to anyone that wanted to share stories about their life experiences. I am a dreamer and had a unique relationship with the dream world. My very real, vivid & lucid dreams began turning into out-of-body experiences and unexplained occurrences. I began doing my own dream interpretations to look for patterns & a new way of deciphering life. Family members were part of many different religions, so I was educated in Catholicism, Buddhism, Metaphysics, and Native American culture & beliefs. Along the way, I took up multiple mentors that cultivated my growth and expansion of my gifts, allowing me to focus on my potential and purpose. As an adult, coworkers were unloading their life stories, internal secrets, and things that had not been shared or even spoken out loud. I began to share those experiences with my aunt & Reiki Master/Teacher, Carmen. In 2012, Carmen told me, “I think you are ready to walk the path I always knew you were meant to walk”. That saying began my obsessive journey into Reiki, Spirituality, Psychology, Intuition and Psychic gifts, Meditation and Mindfulness, Past Lives, Consciousness, Energy Medicine, Mysteries of the Universe, Moon and Sun cycles, Astrology, Numerology, Oracle Cards, Shamanism, & so much more. My journey has helped me to assist patients, clients, families, and friends discover who they have been, who they are, and who they want to become. I am expanding my reach and educating others by authoring Musings of a Flexible Being, and I look forward to sharing my journey with you. Thank you! Theresa Martinez-Shapiro Flexible Being Website: www.flexiblebeing.com Socials: Facebook: @flexiblebeingonline Instagram:@theresamartinezshapiro Instagram: @flexiblebeing