by Lisa Larsen

Created on: October 02, 2009   Last Updated: October 05, 2009

He's after me! With each passing second he closes the distance between us. I can hear him panting with exertion as his outstretched arms grope at my waist. And I'm running, damnit. I'm running so hard and so intensely that I swear I'm losing my breath. Yet I'm going nowhere! No matter how forcefully I push my legs, it's as if I'm moving through Jell-o. Inch by inch I nudge forward, but my assailant approaches with lightening speed. He's upon me now; ready to lunge, capture me and do horrible things. I awaken with a start, sweat pouring down my back. I struggle to catch my breath as I sit up. Switching the light on I recall my dream; one that has recurred for years. Always the same. I'm being chased. I try to run. I get nowhere. When will this end, I ask myself as I tug at my covers. And what in the world does it mean?

Dreams are the playgrounds of life. In our sleeping state we drop inhibitions and objections, opening ourselves to adventures, arrangements and mysteries of bizarre and seemingly impossible quality. And we achieve all this without even leaving our room! Dreams can be enticing and sensual, blissful and heavenly or downright terrifying. They can soothe or terrorize, delight or suffocate. They need no invitation, visiting us whether welcome or not.
It is ironic how our dream-life seems to exist separate from us, a world with a mind of its own, a stage upon which we are forced to perform, like it or not, night after night, and yet without dreams our brains are negatively affected.
Dreams occur in the REM (rapid eye movement) stage of sleep, which is the fourth stage. The first stage of sleep is so light that if awoken during it, one may not even be aware they were sleeping. The body begins to relax, and there may be some eye movement.

In the second stage of sleep the muscles will alternately relax and contract. Body temperature decreases as the heart rate slows.

The third and fourth stages consist of deep sleep. At this time the sleeper is very still, with rhythmic brain activity. In REM sleep the large voluntary muscles of the body are paralyzed. However, brain activity is intense. REM sleep is the stage of sleep where people dream. Some researchers believe the paralysis of the large muscles during REM sleep is to keep the person from acting out their dreams. (http://www.happynews.com/living/sleep/rem-sleep.htm ) Retrieved 10/02/2009

During REM sleep, breathing and heart rate are faster than normal. The sleeper's legs, face, and fingers twitch. And of course, there is rapid movement of the eyes. It is during this time when people have intense dreams, although they might not remember the dreams upon waking. Understandably, researching REM sleep is elusive. Most studies agree it has links to memory consolidation and to learning. Those deprived of REM sleep due to sleep disorders are prone to difficulty in remembering and have difficulty in learning new things.

So when it comes time to crawl into bed and turn out the light, open yourself to all the wondrous possibilities dreams have to offer, and dream on!

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