How Too Tell If Your Sleep Problem Is Insomnia

About 35% of adults claim that they have some form of insomnia occasionally and about 12% of these people claim to have severe insomnia. Insomnia complaints often increase with age and are more common in women.

Insomnia is not considered a disease but it is a condition of lack of correct, satisfying sleep. Someone with insomnia will generally have the sensation of daytime fatigue and impaired potential performance. Insomnia relates to the inability to sleep even though one is tired and can include waking up too early and having too fitful of a sleep leaving one tired upon waking. Insomnia can result in irritability, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating and tiredness.

There are two generally recognized types of insomnia, acute and chronic. Both acute and chronic insomnia have many shared characteristics and a combination of symptoms may blur the actual lines.

Acute insomnia is often caused by physical or emotional discomforts that can usually be corrected fairly easily. Acute insomnia may be caused by stress, illness or disturbing loud noise, temperatures too high or low, or unacceptable light levels. Additionally, acute insomnia may be caused by jet lag or disturbances of the daily biological rhythm, such as the night shift.

Chronic insomnia is the more difficult insomnia to deal with and often is associated with many different factors either acting alone or in combination and often includes medical problems.

Chronic insomnia is often associated with medical, neurological and or psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders accounts for about 45% of the cases. Chronic insomnia can be associated with a variety of nonprescription drugs, prescription drugs and drugs of abuse.

There are many causes of insomnia and often an insomniac has more then one cause to blame for this condition. One of the main causes of insomnia are drugs. Some of the drugs associated with insomnia include stimulating antidepressants, steroids, decongestants, beta blockers, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and recreational drugs.

Anxiety and mood disorders can be the cause of insomnia, as well as medical problems such as pain, immobility, menopause, hormonal changes, and difficulty breathing.

Insomnia can be associated with specific sleep disorders such as restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, sleep apnea and circadian rhythm sleep problems. Additional causes of insomnia include poor sleep hygiene, poor sleep surfaces such as bad mattresses, hyper arousal, and behavioral conditioning.

Restless Leg Syndrome or RLS is a condition where the sufferer feels unpleasant sensations in the legs which are temporarily alleviated by moving around. Symptoms are increased during relaxed times and sleeping times. This makes it difficult to fall asleep.

Periodic Limb Movement Disorder describes jerking, rhythmic, repeated movements in the legs and lower extremities every 15 to 90 seconds. Sufferers who have this problem report having less refreshing sleep.

Sleep Apnea which is associated with snoring can cause sleeplessness and insomnia.

Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders refer to a mis- match between when a person can sleep and when his body needs and wants to sleep.

Other causes of insomnia include poor sleep hygiene, stress, hyper arousal and negative behavioral conditioning.

Often acute insomnia (insomnia that lasts less than several weeks) may warrant some kind of medical intervention if you can not correct the problem yourself. This is important because good sleepers that suffer just a few hours of sleeplessness may become significantly sleepy during the day and be a danger to him self and others, especially during driving or operating equipment. There is also the danger that acute insomnia may develop into a learned chronic insomnia.

There are two basic approaches to the treatment of insomnia. Basically one approach is to use drugs and the other approach is behavioral.

Behavioral treatment includes correcting poor sleep habits and changing sleep beliefs and attitudes. Several of the therapies include relaxation therapy, sleep restriction therapy, stimulus control therapy, and cognitive therapy.

Pharmacological therapy includes hypnotic medications, antidepressants, antihistamines, melatonin, and other drugs like barbiturates.

In conclusion, there are effective solutions to insomnia and sleep deprivation. The patient can do much to help themselves in this matter and the physician has many tools to aid in this. Improved sleep will help in your quality of life, and health both mental and physical.

About the Author: Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular web site AbeFeller.com. www.abefeller.com is a ecommerce site offering great deals and service on mattresses, airbeds, adjustable beds, water beds and bed frames. AbeFeller.com offers a great selection of mattresses for sale. Posted: 01-11-2006 Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

Do You Experience Sleeping Problems

You must remember when being a child that due to the excitement you felt before a planned trip, it was impossible for you to sleep. Unfortunately, your sleeping problems are not today the outcome of an expected and desired journey. Problems at work or in the house keep your mind occupied and your body restless. Although you know how important it is for you to sleep during nighttime, you are convinced that you are incapable of entering the stage of dreams, especially when the thought that you must sleep and you cannot crosses your mind. Surpassing your present worries by simply counting sheep may help some but not you. You better come up with a better plan before visiting a doctor's office. First, take a deep breath and try to understand that sleep is your body's time to heal. A healthy body and mind can help you overcome all those persistent problems you have to face during the day. Stop putting on a fight and realize that bed time is your chance to reboot your body's batteries and revive your mind. Try to relax and always remember that this is a goal you can attain all by yourself. Check the room's temperature. The cooler it is the better are the chances you will be able to sleep sooner. Do not try to freeze to death so as to expedite the process, but rather keep the temperature at a totally comfortable level so as to avoid feeling hot, since this is proven to mess your sleeping patterns. Keep the room dark by closing blinds and curtains. The darker the room is the less possible might be for you to feel the difference between open and closed eyes. Invest in a comfortable and back supporting mattress. If your bed is too soft or too hard, you will probably experience greater difficulties in falling asleep and you will be waking during the night trying to find a better and more comfortable position, for your legs, back or neck. Consider buying earplugs and an eye mask. Earplugs can isolate you from the sounds outside -or even inside- your house and an eye mask will help you block out any excess light. Sometimes, simple things like adjusting the room temperature by turning on the AC or the fan and let a soft music theme play in the background -if you prefer listening to something pleasant- can help. Additionally, some people suggest you should try to meditate, while others advice you to drink milk or herbal tea made from chamomile. Keep in mind that experts agree that you should avoid consuming any large portions of food or alcohol or caffeine-based beverages, since the digestion process will take hours before it is complete and alcohol or caffeine are very effective stimulators that can mess your sleeping patterns and keep you awake for hours. Most importantly, try to maintain a fixed sleep schedule every night, as this routine will help you fall asleep faster so as to get the appropriate amount of rest. In case none of these suggested tips can help you establish again healthy sleeping habits, you should consider visiting a doctor. Some sleep disorders, like insomnia, require special treatment and medication.

About the Author: Kadence Buchanan writes articles for http://healthandourworld.com/ - In addition, Kadence also writes articles for http://letsdropsomeweight.com/ and http://foodandourlives.com/ This article was posted on October 13, 2006 Article Source: articlecity

What do you need to know about sleeping disorders

Finally another strenuous day prowls to its end…hefty eyes die to shut down and do not reopen till they bask in the fairytale world, for when we live the rituals of the day, why not terminate with the custom of the night…a wonderful sleep! But seldom it happens that you get absorbed in the sleep that seems as enigmatic as the hoary mummies in Egypt, for today seven out of ten people suffer from sleeping disorders consciously or unconsciously. The sleep chaos can be minor, slight objectionable like restless leg syndrome to major nagged ones such as snoring, kicking and insomnia etc. An individual's mental as well as physical condition is accountable for the sleeping chaos. Acute stress and agitating perennial thoughts or brooding mind are primary psychotic reasons; illness, aching or wounded body produce physical disturbance in sleep. Generally, people confronting regular limb (hip, knee, toe and the like) movement problems are the ones who suffer from disorders like restless leg syndrome. The article takes a look at some regularly visible slumber difficulties, their causes, effects and cures. Insomnia is a paradigm sleeping disorder. It is the name given to lack of sleep at night, often followed by walking in a semi-conscious state and feeling tired. Though the insomniac feels soporific yet sleep does not blanket him. Insomnia is related to fretfulness, depression and learning disorders as its causes. One major factor behind broken sleep is the deficiency of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep or the period of sleep when the brain is working-dream sleep. Disturbed cycles of REM signify unstable naturally working metabolism of the body, which in turn indicates a distorted sleep along with uneasiness throughout the day. It is not the case that only the person who is suffering from a slumber upset is only troubled by it but the one sharing his bed is even bereaved of a sound sleep. Sleep Apnea is one amongst such sleeping disorders that fetches enormous problems for the patient's partner. This is because the patient starts feeling irritated and tired while sleeping, does loud snoring and ceases to breathe for quite a few seconds after which he resumes his breath. The amount of this uneasiness is quite disturbing for the one who is sleeping next to the patient. Throat collapsing while sleeping, blocked airways and unavailability of the breathing command by the brain are some of the universally accepted causes behind sleep apnea. Besides these extra weight or obesity is an impediment in breathing, stoutness thus is another factor that contributes to the development of sleep apnea. Another threatening disorder that is known for the person's performing activities viz. brushing his teeth, sleep paralysis, horrifying dreams and wakefulness amidst sleepiness is Narcolepsy. In case left untreated, Narcolepsy can worsen with time and lead to serious repercussions. Slumber disorders can be treated with medicines and several other psychotic therapies. The foremost category of medicines to treat slumber disorders are dopaminergic drugs. Dopamine is a chemical made in the brain, it aids in the transfer of messages from brain cells to other brain cells and in locomotion of the body. Benzodiaepines and Opioids are subsequent types of drugs. Some of the largely prescribed medicines are Ambein, Sonata and Lunesta. Apart from the medicines a change in lifestyle is also extremely beneficial and wonderful idea. Conjoined with many other things, the change should specially include inculcating healthy eating habits and avoiding stress. About the Author: Mansi gupta writes about. sleeping disorders . Learn more at http://www.lostslumber.com Added: 26 Sep 2005 Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/10646.html

What Dreams about the Back Mean

The back is one of the most commonly dreamed about parts of the body, and depending on its context within the dream the back can hold a great significance. Backs can be symbols for many things, including your strengths, burdens, attitude and standing in the world. Dreaming of a back that hurts, or a back that feels as though it is breaking, can mean the dreamer feels overwhelmed or overburdened by the events in his or her life. Thus the dream is a manifestation of feelings of being asked to do too much with too little support.

Dreaming about a back can also indicate that the dreamer is feeling undue stress or pressure, especially from an outside source. Those who are feeling overworked or pushed to hard on their jobs often dream that their back is hurting. Stress is real life can cause back problems, and psychological stress can often manifest in dreams of an aching back.

If someone in your dream world turns their back on you, it can indicate that you harbor feelings of hurt, envy or jealousy toward that person. The identify of the person who turns their back to you can be quite significant and it should be heeded. Repressed feelings of anger or resentment often manifest themselves in dreams, and the turning of a dream characters back toward you is one of the clearest manifestations of repressed feelings of this nature.

Seeing a back in your dream, or being afraid to turn your back on a person in your dream, May also indicate that you fear a betrayal, either of a personal or professional nature. Dreaming about being afraid to turn your back to a coworker may indicate that you feel someone at work (not necessarily the person in the dream) is plotting against you.

If the character you refuse to turn your back on is a friend, you may feel the betrayal of a friend. Again, the friend you fear will betray you may not be the one who appeared in the dream. Dreams are symbolic, and one friend can be a dream stand-in for another, especially if you do not want to face up to the possibility of their betraying you.

If you dream about a naked back, it can mean that you are keeping secrets from those in your life, and that you fear that those secrets could be revealed and you could be exposed. Dreams of any sort of nakedness, including an exposed back, are often manifestations of this type of fear. If you have been keeping secrets, dreaming of a naked back may mean your subconscious is telling you to come clean.

How Diet Affects Your Sleep...

What you eat during the day and evening can affect your sleeping patterns. If your diet consists of a high amount of processed foods you may want to try eating more wholesome products. You may want to eliminate, reduce, or substitute the amount of sugars, fats, and preservatives from your daily intake of food. This may benefit your ability to fall asleep at night as well as improve your general health. Eat a well balanced diet by following the recommended daily food allowance. Make sure you are meeting the daily requirements for fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat complex carbohydrates and choose protein that is low in fat. You can also choose healthy meat substitutes, such at tofu and vegetarian burgers. Become aware of any food allergies that you have and try to avoid them. If your body is allergic to certain foods it may affect the way you think and feel. This could be a contributing factor to your sleep problem. Some common food allergies that are known to contribute to insomnia are corn, dairy products, wheat, and chocolate. Try to schedule your last evening meal at least four hours before bed. Eat a healthy, well balanced meal. Try not to overeat as this may cause you to become tired after your meal. You want to avoid feeling tired or napping in the early evening hours as this will greatly hinder your ability to fall asleep at bedtime. As well, try to eat enough so that you are not hungry later and find yourself reaching for foods that are high in fat or sugars. If you find that you are hungry before bed you may find that a small snack an hour or two before bedtime will help. Avoid foods that are high in protein, fats, and sugars. You should also avoid foods that are too heavy or spicy. Try a bit of cereal and milk or one serving of low-fat yogurt. The key idea is to provide your body with a bit of nourishment to avoid hunger pangs and not overindulge in an evening snack. The goal is to reduce your hunger and allow your body to rest and relax. Make sure that you drink enough water during the day. Studies show that your daily recommended water intake should be around 8 glasses, or 2 liters. If your body is well hydrated it won't signal you to wake up during the night. Try to avoid drinking water or other liquids one hour before bed if the need to urinate wakes you up during the night. The healthier you eat the more balanced you will feel both physically and emotionally. The target here is to get you to sleep regularly and deeply without waking during the night.

About the Author: George Lesco Taken from the report http://www.SimpleSleepingSecrets.com. Discover Why Almost Everyone is Dead Wrong About Sleeping Disorders - Including How to Sleep Like a Baby Every Night For the Rest of Your Life - Without Using Expensive or Dangerous Drugs. Send a blank email to http://www.SimpleSleepingSecrets.com/tips.html to receive free tips by email. Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Insomnia And Sleep Deprivation

By definition, a sleep disorder is a a disturbance that interferes with or interrupts the normal sleep pattern. It may also be something that occurs due to the individual's inability to sleep well. Some common types of sleep disorder are bruxism, insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and sleep deprivation. Bruxism Bruxism is alson known as "teeth grinding." Teeth grinding may have any of a range of causes. However, teeth grinding may cause enough pain or discomfort during sleep, leading to disrupted sleep. In addition to making daytime tasks difficult to accomplish, bruxism may also: - wear away the enamel of the teeth - grind the teeth down - cause cuts to or swelling of the gums - cause pain in the jaw Insomnia Insomnia has several forms. It is frequently associated with depression and is more common in women than in men. Insomnia may be characterized by - difficulty falling asleep - difficulty returning to sleep if sleep is interrupted - waking before it is time to get up. Narcolepsy The inability to maintain wakefulness during the daytime hours. This disorder is characterized by the sudden and uncontrollable urge to sleep. This impulse results in the affected individual falling asleep at inappropriate times. One form of narcolepsy is called "microsleep." Microsleeps may last for only a few seconds, although many episodes of narcolepsy result in longer periods of sleep. People who are affected by narcoplepsy may be treated by scheduling naps during the daytime. Nightmares and Night Terrors Nightmares are frightening or distressing dreams, or dreams that may cause intense sorry, which may result in waking the individual attempting to sleep. Night terrors are also characterized by sudden wakefulness due to feelings of anxiety or fear; however, they are unrelated to dreaming because they occur during slow-wave sleep. Although they are unrelated to dreaming, individuals having night terrors frequently experience hallucinations. Night terrors are most frequently experienced by children, although adults may be affected by them as well. Nightmares are more egalitarian, affecting individuals across age groups. Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea occurs when an individual has interrupted breathing during sleep,frequently due to the individual's airway being blocked by the tongue or from soft palate problems. Sleep apnea is characterized by loud snoring and cessation of breathing, followed by a gasping sound when breathing resumes. People affected with sleep apnea may be treated with devices that control the soft tissue or through surgery. Sleep Deprivation Sleep deprivation occurs when the individual fails to get a sufficient amount of sleep to meet the body's needs, resulting in a daytime sleep deficit. This deficit may be characterized by drowsiness, making mistakes, irritability, or microsleeps. Sleep deprivation may occur if the individual has attempted to stay awake for too many hours at one time, such as on long trips. It may also occur if the individual gets too little sleep over a series of nights. Sleep deprivation may be treated by the individual allowing him or herself to get sufficient natural sleep and waking when the body is refreshed.

About the Author: Jerry Cahill answers to your frequently asked questions about Insomnia and other sleep disorders, please go to Sleep Disorders Posted: 30-11-2006 Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

What Can You Learn About Dream Interpretation from a Movie Star?

After twenty years of working with dreams, someone asked how I first got inspired. The question took me back to an extraordinary weekend in the 1980's. I was a private-practice psychotherapist who included a few minutes of dream interpretation in every therapeutic hour. Dreams often suggested topics to explore in therapy, and occasionally some real insight would emerge.

Then I saw an advertisement for a lecture on "Jungian Dreamwork" at the elegant "Old Main" building at the University of Colorado in Boulder. I arrived early and sat in the front row as a huge crowd amassed. I was surprised that so many people cared about dreams. As the lecturer, Tom Laughlin, began to describe the process of dreamwork, his assistant recorded every word for his next book; he had written two (now rare) books on dreams already.

First, Mr. Laughlin decried how "rote Jungians" had lost touch with the living soul of dreamwork. Then he related several amazing case studies that revealed the wisdom hidden in dreams. I was genuinely intrigued. He was a powerful speaker with impressive stories about a vein of living psychic wisdom. He said every dream offers us a living dialogue with the Unconscious. For some Jungians, that roughly translates as "talking with God."

As I delighted in these fresh possibilities for understanding dreams, an odd awareness began to dawn. I had the clearest feeling that I had seen this man before, that I knew him. So while I took notes, I racked my brain for why he looked so familiar.

After a time, he wiped his forehead in a gesture which I absolutely recognized. Clearly I had seen this brilliant dreamworker before, but where? After half an hour, I tapped the person next to me to ask incredulously, "Isn't that Billy Jack?" "Of course" he hissed. Always the last to know!

So this overflow crowd was not just here for the dreamwork. Many came to see the movie star who wrote and starred in one of the biggest hits of the 1960's. Laughlin later mentioned that he had based that film upon several classic Jungian archetypes, and believed this gave it a depth that increased the movie's collective appeal and cultural impact. So here I was, learning more about the power of dreams than I had in doctoral studies… from Billy Jack!

It turns out that Tom Laughlin had worked for many years with Jung's star student, Marie Louise Von Franz and many other renowned Jungian analysts. After the lecture, Laughlin's assistant enrolled volunteers for 90-minute sessions to be held at his Hilton suite from early next morning until night time: anyone could have a dream interpreted! I eagerly arrived at 9:30 a.m.

Though there was not time to interpret my own dream, I observed how, with carefully targeted questioning about the associations to each symbol in each dream, Laughlin could arrive at insights that stunned, sometimes amazed, and without fail, thrilled the dreamers.

Each and every time, with people he had never met, this movie actor could unearth profound and powerful insights that you could witness having a potent effect on the dreamers. It never failed. The impacts were dramatic and unmistakable. People learned important new truths about themselves that they often affirmed with passion and gratitude. This rich interior wisdom came from any dream of any length from any person! I was electrified, and my professional life changed that day.

Tom Laughlin allowed me to witness this amazing process in action for three sessions in a row; 4 1/2 straight hours. That is the day that the wisdom and power of dreams really hit me. That day dreamwork became my primary object of study and in time, my central professional purpose.

Before long I discarded all the rest of the therapeutic hour and focused only on dreams. The psychotherapy model was designed by some brilliant and caring people--but the dreams come from our source, from whoever created all those brilliant humans! Von Franz called dreams "Nightly letters from God," and I have since devoted my career to reading the mail!

About the Author: Ron Masa, Ph.D. Sign up for the free 8 part email class "Discover Your Dreams: A Beginners Guide to Dream Interpretation" and newsletter: http://www.UniversityofYourself.com/DiscoverYourDreams_a.html DreamTalk is a low-cost dreamwork email group which Dr Masa, Debbie Hart and Dr Marjorie Miles co-moderate that allows you to submit dreams for analysis and to help others understand their dreams. Info at: http://www.UniversityofYourself.com/DreamTalk.html Ron Masa, Ph.D. wrote columns on dreams while in private practice for 25 years. Dr Masa has taught dream work, psychic development, Jungian psychotherapy, shamanism, and (for Naropa University) the I Ching and Dream Work. He and Debbie Hart co-lead the University of Yourself (http://www.UniversityofYourself.com), an online resource for accessing the wisdom within every person. Article Submitted On: October 11, 2006 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Sleep Apnea: A Silent Killer

Getting a good night sleep is essential for your well-being. However, many people don't realize that they are often sleep-deprived because of breathing problems. Over 90 percent of people who snore are at risk for sleep disordered breathing, or sleep apnea. According to the National Sleep Foundation research, about 18 million of adults are not getting enough sleep because of sleep apnea. Suffering with sleep deprivation will make you feel tired and groggy, which leads to poor productivity at work and even result in bad driving habits. Your bedmate can eventually get tired of your constant moving and breathing irregularities which can cause stress and strain on your relationship and lead to separate bedrooms. Pauses in breathing while asleep is called sleep apnea or sleep disordered breathing. Most often adults are diagnosed with obstructive apnea, or sleep disordered breathing which is caused by the blockage of the breathing passage by tonsils and adenoids. Sleep apnea affects you in ways that you couldn't dream of. The vicious circle of sleep apnea starts when a throat is blocked, blood oxygen level falls due to the lack of breath, and a person wakes up gasping for air. People with sleep apnea often feel tired and sleepy during the day because their sleep quality is affected, as they move out of deep sleep and into light sleep several times during the night. These periods of not breathing, as short as they are, will inevitably wake you up from deep sleep. As a result, you are not getting enough rest from your sleep. Plus, sleep apnea causes a reduction of oxygen in the bloodstream which results in overall deprivation of cellular functions in your body. If you snore, sleep restlessly, gasp and pause when breathing at sleep, especially during deep sleep, most likely you have sleep apnea. You can detect these symptoms yourself, or most likely you have been told about them by your partner. Sleep apnea is most common in people who are overweight. Men are also more at risk than women. Almost all people who have sleep apnea snore – at least once during the night. However, not all people who snore have sleep apnea. It's important to check for other sleep apnea symptoms to see if you have this medical condition. The most common symptoms of sleep apnea are snoring and sleepiness during the day. Other symptoms include: Restless tossing and turning during sleep. Nighttime choking Nighttime sweating Mild to severe chest pain Waking tired after sleep Having problems with memory and concentration Feeling irritable and nervous Experiencing personality changes Morning headaches Heartburn Swelling of the legs Undetected sleep apnea may increase your risk for hypertension, heart attack or stroke, as well as diabetes and work-related and driving accidents. Sleep apnea can also cause brain damage and result in shorter life span. If sleep apnea is successfully treated and you start sleeping better, you will experience a huge boost of energy. Many people even report having less asthma, they are calmer, with more positive outlook; they have improved stamina and better functioning immune system. So if you suspect you or your partner is suffering with this condition you should speak to your doctor to discuss possible treatment plans. About the Author: Kathryn Whittaker writes articles on a number of different topics. For more information on Sleep Apnea please visit http://www.sleeping-disorders-guide.com/sleepdisorders/ and for additional sleeping disorder related articles please visit http://www.sleeping-disorders-guide.com/sleepdisorders-articles/ Added: 06 Oct 2005 Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/12696.html

Some Common Dream Symbols

Dream interpreters, from the earliest Greek and Roman societies, to Sigmund Freud, to modern therapists and dream researchers, have long recognized the symbolic nature of dreams. Unlike the real world, in dreams things are often not as they appear. What appears to be a normal, everyday object in your dream world is often anything but ordinary.

Learning to recognize and interpret these objects, and learning about your dreams can be an exciting and fun exercise as well as a great learning experience. Since dreams and their symbols are often manifestations of real fears and anxieties, dreams can provide much help in working through these serious issues.

Let’s examine a few of the most common dream symbols and scenarios.

Dreaming Of School

Dreams of school, including taking tests, forgetting about a test, showing up to school without your books, and they like are among the most common of dreams for students and non students alike.

For those currently in school, dreams about school can be reflections of anxiety about grades, peers, social issues and other concerns. For those who are not in school, dreaming about school or taking a test is often a manifestation of anxiety about work, or even your personal life. Dreaming about school is often related to your latest lesson in life.

Dreaming Of a Car or Other Vehicle

Dreams of driving in a car or other vehicle often symbolize a desire to escape. Cars and other forms of transportation represent freedom, and dreaming of driving, especially of driving fast, can symbolize a desire to get away from an unpleasant or undesirable task.

Dreams about car crashes or near misses can symbolize the feeling of being out of control. Such dreams often occur when you are feeling overwhelmed by pressure and unable to cope with the stresses of everyday life.

Dreams in which you are the passenger instead of he driver can also symbolize this sort of lack of control. This is especially true if the vehicle in the dream seems to be out of control. Such dreams may signal a need to relax and avoid additional stress.

Dreams about Houses

Dreams about a the house you grew up in can represent a desire to go back in time to when life is simpler. These dreams often occur at turning points in our lives, such as just after college graduation, prior to a marriage, or during or after a move.

Dreaming about an unfamiliar or threatening house can represent a fear of the unknown or an unwillingness to change. Again, these dreams often take place during times of upheaval or change, and they can be your unconscious mind’s reaction to such sudden change.

Dreams about Tornadoes

If you live near an area prone to tornadoes, or if you have been the victim of such a force, then a tornado can simply be a tornado. Unpleasant experiences can be relived through dreams, but most of the time the tornadoes we dream about are symbolic and not literal.

Most of the time, a tornado represents an emotional turmoil. People in such a state are often described as being whirlwinds of emotions, so a tornado is a fitting symbol of that state. Dreams of tornadoes often accompany sudden upheavals or changes in life, such as a sudden career change or cross country move. A dream about a tornado can indicate that you feel your life is spinning out of control. Those experiencing tornado centered dreams may want to take a step back, meditate and concentrate on the positive aspects of change.

Dreams about Telephones

Dreams about telephone often carry important messages that the dreamer needs to pay close attention to. When interpreting a dream about a telephone, it is important to pay attention to the details. For instance, did you initiate the call, or did someone call you? Was the voice on the other end of the telephone friendly or threatening? Can you hear the other party or is their static on the line? These details of a telephone dream can give you valuable insights into just what is being communicated.

Methods Used to Treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be treated in numerous ways. What needs to be looked at is the patient's medical history, the disorder's severity, and crucially, the exact cause of the airway blockage.

Kids that have OSA do so typically due to chronically enlarged adenoids and tonsils. Tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies are successful at diminishing OSA substantially. The difficulty level associated with operations to reduce OSA in children can be very high, as for example with cases of reduced growth of the body alongside poor development of the right side of the heart. Fortunately, when OSA-associated high exhalation pressures are lowered complications to the cardiovascular system tend to reverse of their own accord. Careful precautionary practices are adhered to during the important postoperative period in children.

OSA treatment in adults who have poor oropharyngeal airways in combination with a large upper body frame are open to a variety of treatments. Unfortunately, this most common form of OSA tends not to have particular treatment methods that habitually work, each case needs specific evaluation over the best course of action.

Such methods for relieving obstructions consist of changes to the sufferer's lifestyle, e.g. reducing alcoholic intake, avoiding medications that may relax the central nervous system (CNS) (e.g. sedatives, muscle relaxants), stopping smoking and reducing weight. Specially designed devices, such as pillows, that stop the sufferer from sleeping on their back can be effective in reducing OSA.

Oral appliances are sometimes used, these keep the patients airways open whilst they are asleep. Mandibular advancement splints (MAS) are sometimes advised to lessen mild to moderate OSA. MAS consists of a mouth guard, similar to that used with impact sports to protect the teeth, which holds the lower jaw a little more down and forward from its usual relaxed position. When in use the users tongue is moved farther from the back of the airways, possibly far enough so that some OSA sufferers are able to gain improved breathing.

When such methods fail to make enough of a beneficial impression GP's will often suggest the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

CPAP comes in the form of a mask attached to the face which has a tube running from an air pump to the sufferer's mouth and/ or nose, forcing controlled bursts of air through the obstructed air passageways and into the lungs. CPAP uses a constant air pressure found by performing an overnight test or 'titration' on the sufferer. Recent models of CPAP contraptions are able to reduce the exhalation pressure for improved performance and patient comfort.

Variable positive airway pressure (VPAP), known also as bilevel or BiPAP, monitors the patients breathing with an electronic circuit. Two different pressures are adopted here, inhalation has a higher pressure than exhalation. This system is more expensive than CPAP and is often used on people that have other respiratory problems or who find sleeping with higher exhaling pressures from CPAP difficult.

Automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) uses sensors that measure air pressure in conjunction with a computer that monitors the patient's performance with breathing. Pressures exerted by the air pump are constantly adjusted, i.e. heightened when the user is finding breathing difficult, lowered when pressures are considered higher than necessary.

Various surgical ways of widening airways, or removing or tightening tissues in that area are used, the success rate tends to be low with these practices. In some cases patients adopt a combination of such therapies to reduce their OSA. Surgery is typically a last resort, used when none of the above, as well as other more experimental OSA reduction methods (e.g. pharmaceuticals like methylxanthine theophylline and modafinil, and neurostimulation e.g. pacemaker stimulation), have been deemed effective.

About the Author: Alex Rider If your household suffers from snoring problems have a read of all the information at http://www.sleepapneafacts.info/Why-You-Should-Stop-Snoring.php . This sleep dedicated website contains a vast array of information specifically designed to help you get an improved nights sleep. Posted: 14-11-2006 Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

Good Sleep Habits: A Key To Better Health!

Most of us fail to get good nights sleep. As a result we run the risk of greatly increasing our susceptibility to disease and accidents. Getting a good night sleep is a minimum for a healthy life. For most people this amount needs to be around 6 to 8 hours each night. Anything less than that and you are sleeping too little and anything more than that and you are probably sleeping too much. What is it that sleep does for us? The best way to think of sleep is as the body’s form of “downtime”. Just like our computers need to go offline in order to be repaired so must our bodies. During this “downtime” the body actually rebuilds tissue, grows bone and muscle and strengthens the immune system. The truth is we really don’t know everything that does happen in sleep just yet. However, we know enough to realize that without it the body deteriorates along with the mind. Each night we cycle through three stages of sleep including light sleep, deep sleep and Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REM). Each of these stages are vital but the last stage is especially vital. Deprivation of this final stage of sleep can seriously decrease our health and productivity and make us increasingly prone to accidents and systematic disorders. During deep sleep brain activity that controls emotions, decision-making processes and social interaction shuts down. Though these areas become inactive other areas of our brain that are usually dormant come to life. It is also at this stage that cell growth and cell repair takes place. There is in fact some truth to the phrase “beauty sleep”. Missing these vital areas of sleep deprives our body of the chance to revitalize our skin and organs. Sleep is also integral in fighting off infection. As anybody who has been sick can attest the need for sleep increases when we are ill or bedridden. Part of the reason for this behavior is because our body is trying to shut down other aspects of our functioning in order to send much needed energy to our immune system and other parts of the body that help to fight off infection and sickness. This is a key step in the healing process. Depriving someone of sleep with a major illness can do serious damage to their long-term health. The effects of sleep deprivation are many and varied. When we are deprived from sleep hallucinations and mood swings are usually the first effects we feel. There is also a general sense of irritability that pervades our waking mood when we are sleep deprived. Lack of sleep also affects our nervous system leaving us drowsy and unable to concentrate. Lack of sleep is also a frequent contributor to the causes of vehicular accidents and all other types of accidents, many of which are fatal. To make sure you get the most of your sleep try to develop some ritual before going to bed. By creating a routine you condition your body to prepare itself for sleep. Avoid taking medicines since many of these prohibit the deepest levels of sleep, which are most necessary for our body. Also avoid excessive stimulation two hours before sleep. This can cause your body to be unable to fall reach the state of deep relaxation needed to fall to sleep. Find an amount of sleep that is right for you and allows your body to operate at maximum efficiency.

About the Author: Ray Kelly is an Exercise Scientist with 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry. Sign up for his free 7 Day Weight Loss Course at http://www.free-online-health.com or http://www.trainingdiary.ws Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Sleep Apnea Medical Treatments

If your airway is blocked or only partially blocked, medical procedures can correct these problems. Some problems that can be corrected include enlarged tonsils or enlarged adenoids these can be fixed. If you have a small jaw, or only a small opening in the back of your throat, or if you have a broken nose, or a deviated septum, you can have, these conditions corrected leaving sleep apnea to be a thing of the past. Polyps and cysts can be removed, correcting the breathing problems without interrupting your lifestyle much. Recovery times from all of these surgeries are short, and will improve your ability to sleep well. A tracheostomy is a procedure that will cut a hole in the neck, a very small hole, and will insert a tube so you can breath well. The value is closed during the day so you will breath normally but at night, opening the valve and opening the tube allows you to breath well, and sleep well taking the stress off your heart. This is not a procedure that is done all the time, it is one that is done if you are really sick, and if you can't have any other procedure done to aid you in you problems with sleep apnea. Another correct method is the uvulo palato pharyngoplasty which is also short for UPPP. This is the flesh; the extra lining that is at the back of your throat. Having this removed is going to ease the sleep apnea conditions for some people. This is not the choice of surgery for all, as the extra flesh in the throat may not be the problem for you. Your family doctor will be the best to tell you if this surgery is something that you should be thinking about to correct your breathing airway problems. Yet another corrective measure is the manibular myotomy wish is a conditional treatment for the jaw. By dividing the muscle surrounding the jaw, and then cutting the bone and inserting additional bone in that area, the jaw is then extended. This can pull the tongue forward a small amount, aiding in the treatment of severe sleep apnea for patient who are seeking a treatment for this condition. Again, not all people who are suffering with sleep apnea will require this type of corrective surgery. To get a good nights sleep please visit: http://www.disorders-sleep.info Author Darren Mallory C/O http://www.akashop.com

About the Author: Darren Mallory - 31 Year Old Online Marketing Manager This article was posted on October 13, 2006 Article Source: articlecity

Dream Interpretation and Sigmund Freud

In the early part of the 19th century, dream interpretation had fallen out of fashion, and almost no one practiced this art seriously. In the early part of the century, dreams were thought to have no meaning at all, and to be simply the result of a heavy meal before bedtime, noises heard in the night and other trivial causes.

By the latter part of the 19th century, however, Sigmund Freud would revolutionize the world of dreams and dream interpretation with his radical new ideas incorporating dreams and deep seated childhood fears.

Born in 1865, Sigmund Freud revolutionized the world of psychiatry and dream interpretation with his seminal work “The Interpretation of Dreams”. Freud started to analyze the dreams of his patients, and he used this dream analysis to diagnose and treat their psychiatric ills.

Freud also studied dreams as a way to understand certain aspects of the personality, especially those aspects that lead to psychological problems and disorders. Freud believed that nothing human beings did happened by chance, and that every action, no matter how small or seemingly trivial, was at some level motivated by the unconscious mind.

Of course in order for a civilized, modern society to function, certain primal needs and desires must be repressed, and Freud’s theory was that these repressed urges and desires were released by the unconscious during dream sleep.

Doctor Freud saw dreams as a direct connection to the unconscious mind, and he studied that connection through the interpretation of symbolic objects found in dreams. The theory was that with the conscious mind acts as a guard on the unconscious, preventing certain repressed feelings from coming to the surface. During sleep, however, this conscious guard is absent, and the subconscious mind is free to run wild and express its most hidden desires.

Freud was especially interested in the sexual content of dreams, and he often saw ordinary objects in dreams as representations of sexual desire. To Freud, every long, slender item encountered in a dream, from a knife to a flagpole, was a phallic image, while any receptacle such as a bowl or vase, represented the female genitalia.

Freud believed in five stages of personality, and he saw dreams as manifestations of desired stemming from each of these five stages. To Freud, personality formation consisted of:

Stage One – Oral/Dependency

Freud’s theory was that any needs not satisfied during the oral/dependency stage would cause the person to go through life trying to meet them. Thus, to Freud, habits such as overeating, drinking to much and smoking were all oral fixations. People suffering from these oral fixations often dreamed about their unmet needs and desires.

Stage Two – Anal/Potty Training

Freud held that improper potty training could traumatize a child, and cause him or her to become anal retentive, rigid and controlling. Such traumatized children often develop obsessive compulsive disorders as well. Recurring dreams of being out of control, such as dreams of falling were common in such people.

Stage Three – Phallic

According to Freud, the personality is completely developed by the time stage three rolls around. The third stage of personality is identified with the Oedipus and Electra complexes. The Oedipus complex represents the love a male child feels toward the mother, coupled with fear and jealousy of the male parent. The Electra complex is the female version of Oedipus, in which the female child feels anger toward the mother and develops “penis envy”.

Stage Four – Latency

Unlike the other stages, the latency period is a time of relative calm. During this stage, the aggression and sexual urges are less intense, and little psychosexual conflict is exhibited.

Stage Five – Genital

This is the period of sexual maturity and the creation and enhancement of life. The stage of sexual maturity is where reproduction, intellectual activity and artistic pursuits take place.

Freud believed that wish fulfillment was the source of dreams, and that dreamers used dreams as a way to satisfy the fixations they had developed during childhood. In addition, issues like power and control frequently manifested themselves in dreams. The central part of Freud’s dream theory was that thoughts and desires repressed during the day were free to run wild during the dream stage.

Since Freud’s death, many have criticized him for seeing sexual motivation behind every dream object. Many have pointed out that Freud was born into the sexually repressed Victorian era, and his preoccupation with sexual matters could have been as much a product of the times in which he lived as a valid scientific theory. Even so, many of Freud’s dream interpretations have proven valid and are still used by psychologists and dream researchers today.

Tips for Getting a Great Night's Sleep

Is it difficult for you to "roll out of bed" in the morning? Do you have a hard time concentrating in the morning and feel like you're running around in a fog for most of the day? Are you constantly trying to "snap yourself out of it?" If this sounds like you, then you may not be getting enough uninterrupted sleep. Most adults need between 8 to 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep every night in order to function at their best.

Why "uninterrupted" sleep? Because normal sleep is composed of "sleep cycles" with each cycle made up of two distinct parts, one physical and one mental. During the first, or physical, part of the cycle, you do not dream. Your body uses this time to physically heal and rejuvenate itself. If you miss this phase of the sleep cycle or if it's interrupted, your body will feel tired and drained and you'll have trouble maintaining physical coordination.

You dream during the mental phase, or the second part, of the sleep cycle. During this phase, your mind plays out your stresses and troubles and resolves all the little issues that bother you throughout the day. This is usually accompanied by rapid eye movement and is also known as "REM" sleep or dreaming sleep. People who are deprived of dreaming sleep have a difficult time staying focused mentally.

A typical sleep pattern usually involves 4 to 7 complete sleep cycles during the night, with each sleep cycle lasting 60 to 90 minutes. Getting enough uninterrupted sleep is important since waking up in the middle of a sleep cycle usually leaves you feeling tired or groggy or both.

Here are some tips to help make sure you get your full "40 winks" and wake up feeling mentally and physically refreshed.

Make Sure You're Ready To Go To Sleep

Just because you're ready to go to bed doesn't mean you're ready to sleep. If you lie awake in bed for more than 30 minutes, then your mind is still too active and not ready for sleep yet. You might have some unfinished business you're thinking about or there may be something else that's occupying your mind. If this happens, get out of bed and go into another room. Put on some relaxing music or read some light fiction until you start feeling sleepy. You might also try sipping some warm milk or herbal tea. The idea is to try to get your mind to relax so avoid doing anything that will stimulate the mind like trying to work or watching TV. When you find that you've read the same paragraph 3 times and still can't remember what it says, you're probably ready to sleep.

Make Your Bedroom Conducive to Sleep

Your bedroom should invite sleep by being quiet, dark, and comfortable. The room should be at a slightly cool temperature and have plenty of good ventilation. Keep a clock handy but out of sight so you won't be tempted to stare at it if you wake up in the middle of the night. The bedroom curtains should be heavy enough to block out any stray light. If outside noise is an issue, consider a "white noise generator" or something similar. Lastly, take a critical look at your bed. If you have a traditional mattress and haven't replaced it in several years, it might be time to consider a new one. Your old mattress might be keeping you up at night.

Stick to a Routine

Try to set and keep a sleep routine. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on holidays and weekends. This will help to "program" your body clock to a preset sleep period. Keeping a set routine will make it easier to fall sleep at night and easier to wake up in the morning. Your body will also be able to adjust the length of the sleep cycles so that they are completed within the allotted time.

Don't Work in Bed

Your body should be conditioned to "shut down" and sleep as soon as you lie down in bed. Therefore, don't watch TV, pay bills, or do office work while in bed. Doing so will keep your mind active for hours and all you'll do is toss and turn for most of the night. If you must work, go into another room and return to your bedroom only when you're actually ready to sleep.

Don't Bring Worries To Bed With You

Before you go to bed, write down anything that is worrying or bothering you and make a promise to yourself that you'll think about it the first thing in the morning. You have no idea how liberating this is until you try it! Once you write things down, your mind no longer feels compelled to constantly remind you about it. Keeping a journal is an excellent way to "download" and capture all of the day's worries and problems onto paper so you won't lie awake all night thinking about them.

Wind Down in the Evening

Avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine and eating heavy meals for 2-3 hours before bedtime. A late meal or a nightcap will actually activate your digestive system making sleep difficult. Caffeine is a stimulant and is an ingredient of many beverages including coffee, teas, and soft drinks. Avoid these altogether in the late evening or make sure you're drinking the "decaf" version.

Sleep is something we all take for granted but it's an essential part of staying healthy. These tips should help you get a full night of restful, uninterrupted sleep. You'll start to feel the benefits immediately. You'll wake up feeling physically refreshed and mentally sharp. What a great way to start a new day! About the Author: Hiram Perez has made good health and fitness a lifelong study. Discover other simple and common sense techniques to improve your health and wellbeing by signing up for a free 5-part mini-course at www.Balance-Your-Health.com Added: 16 Nov 2005 Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/16664.html

Jungian Dream Interpretation - How To Make Sense Of Your Dreams

We all dream as we sleep, during discrete stages called REM (Rapid Eye Movement). Some dreams also occur in non-REM. Our longest REM phase is 1 1/2 hours for most people, shortly before they awake. This is why we so often have recall of a vivid dream when the alarm clock goes off. The difficulty is being able to recall dreams. These dreams contain immensely important information about how the psyche is operating.

One may think of a dream as a movie about the way we are living our lives, a commentary, often in a disjointed way, that tells us about our conscious world. Whenever possible, we should record and interpret our dreams. But why? There are a number of reasons : Dreams provide the most direct access to unconscious material, giving us access to the inner world of symbols or archetypal images. The contents of the unconscious compensate/complement our conscious attitudes and beliefs, giving us feedback on our lived experiences, by telling the situation of the psyche ‘as it is’. Dreams also may have a healing quality. Can you recall a time when a dream left you feeling peaceful and certain about a problem you were dealing with in your life?

Carl Jung saw dreams as ‘snapshots’ of our life as it is at that very moment. But how does one attempt a Jungian dream interpretation? Central to Jung’s approach was that the interpretation must fit the dreamer, so if someone helps you work through a dream, the final result must fit you and not someone else. Here are some key ideas that can help you achieve an interpretation. First keep a dream journal next to your bed. Use the journal only for writing down your dreams, and nothing else. When you recall a dream, write it down just as you remember it, don’t edit it, or change your grammar or spelling. Often we will have strange new words in dreams – write these down because they are valuable just as they are. Second, write down how you felt inside the dream – was I happy, anxious, sad or scared etc. Then write down how you feel now. Third -write a short paragraph on what your conscious life involved over the past few days, what attitudes you are using, what challenges you are facing, i.e. what is troubling you over the past few days. Fourth -Underline the figures and objects in the dream text and then write a few brief associations to these. Identify the objects/figures that have strong symbolic meaning to you. Amplify (or flesh out) these objects/figures using your own ideas. Fifth –work out the parts or the structure of the dream.

Like all movies, dreams often have beginnings, middles, and ends. Jung used specific names for the four parts of the dream : EXPOSITION : who is there, where did it happen? DEVELOPMENT : How does the dream progress? What happens to the figures/objects in the dream? CRISIS : What happens in the critical moment of the dream? LYSIS : How does the dream end? How is a solution presented?

Finally, ask yourself what is the dream speaking about and does this relate to a conscious attitude or issue. This is the last stage of the interpretation – when you know what the dream is commenting on (your conscious attitude) and know how you felt in the dream, and know what each of the dream symbols means to you, you can develop a sense of what the dream is saying about you, and may even be suggesting what you need to change.

About the Author: John Betts is a Diploma Candidate at the International School of Analytical Psychology in Zurich, Switzerland. He has a Jungian Analysis practice in Victoria, B.C., Canada and can be reached through http://www.jungian.ca Article Submitted On: May 08, 2006 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Getting Baby To Sleep At Night

Does your baby sleep through the day, and keep you up at night? This has been the cry of mothers and fathers heard round the world for centuries. A newborn baby will sleep from 16 to 20 hours per day. Unfortunately, this sleeping time is usually broken up into 2-4 hour periods. The key is to get your baby into a routine sleeping schedule. This type of consistency will allow you ample time for household chores, a good night's rest, and time in general just for you...( because we know that all moms need some of that.) You may just be one tweak away from a good night's rest. Here are some simple steps to follow to get your baby into a routine sleeping pattern. The key to getting a baby to sleep consistently is by keeping bedtime rituals. A baby should not be rocked to sleep one night while being left to cry themselves to sleep another. Consistency is the key to forming a healthy sleeping pattern. A quiet and dark room is one of the most optimal sleeping environments. Something as simple as a dishwasher or dryer can interrupt your baby's sleeping schedule on any given night. Therefore, you'll want your baby to be in a room that is away from noises. Pre-bedtime rituals prepare your baby for sleeping. These should be activities that are not overstimulating. Some possibilities include rocking the baby to sleep or singing lullabies. Create a comfortable room temperature... not to exceed 75 degrees. A comfortable room temperature will help your child comfortably sleep through the night without waking. Nevertheless, your baby is sure to cry at some point. Many parents use a method known as controlled crying that has been found to be successful in many cases. If your baby starts crying, leave him for five minutes before soothing him. Remain only long enough to pat his back and say a few kind words. Do not pick him up out of his cot. Always speak reassuringly when you go in. By waiting 5 to 10 minutes, your baby will learn that crying will not help and your reassuring voice will help your baby feel secure. You'll find that most babies begin sleeping through the night by 9 months. Like all things, soon this too shall pass.

About the Author: Alli Ross is the granmamma in residence at http://www.babynamebox.com , where you'll find over 20,000 baby names and their meanings . Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Some Tips To Help Your Children Get A Good Night's Sleep

Everyone knows that for adults it is very important to get a good night's sleep in order to be a fully functioning, healthy individual, and it is no different for children. It's a well documented fact that kids who get a full, restful sleep at night are able to better complete the tasks they need to when they are awake during the day. And it has been shown, not surprisingly, that the children who have problems sleeping are the children who are more likely to get into trouble and develop a bad set of behavioral issues such as antisocial behavior and depression.

While it is true that like most things that apply to individuals, there is not golden mean for everyone's actual needed amount of sleep, it is widely agreed upon that the vast majority of children need to receive between 9 and 12 hours of sleep each night. To decide whether or not your child is getting enough sleep, there are some simple things you can test. If while going to sleep you child takes anywhere from a quarter of an hour to a half an hour to go to sleep, it is a good indication that he or she is getting enough sleep.

If your child wakes up in the morning full or energy, and maintains that level of energy throughout the day, that is another good indication that the amount of sleep he or she is getting is sufficient. If these things are not the case, you can try to help you child get more sleep. Make an effort to inform him or her about the necessity of sleep, not only to not be tired, but in order that he or she be able to function as a complete, normal individual at school and in achieving goals.

Remember that sleep is like food. Good sleep can be beneficial, but bad sleep can harm you. Good sleep is characterized by routine, so it is important to instill the value of routine in your children. Routine makes life predictable, and can really improve on a child's ability to finish tasks and engage the world in a meaningful way. You can help to encourage your child to value routine by having a specific way that you go about putting them to bed. This can be anything from the fabled bedtime story to a light snack before heading off to bed.

As long as it is repeated every day, then it will help establish an order to things that will aid your child in going to sleep. As with the placebo effect, there is a psychosomatic response to routine, and your child may become drowsy just by performing the routines that you have outlined for them. Another important thing is to make the process of sleep fun. Children enjoy things that are fun, as we all do, so you will be more likely to succeed in convincing them to sleep well if you make it enjoyable for them.

About the Author: Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as a kid's music CD at http://www.personalizedcds4kids.com Posted: 08-11-2006 Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

Dreams of Teeth

Dreams about teeth, particularly dreams where the dreamer finds his or her teeth falling out, are much more common than you might think. Some common forms of this dream include dreams in which the dreamer’s teeth crumble in his or her hands, or dreams in which the teeth fall out with just a light touch.

These dreams can be extremely frightening, even more so than chase dreams or falling dreams. In addition, such dreams often leave the dreamer with an image that is hard to shake even after waking.

There are many theories about just what teeth, and losing teeth, represent in the dream world, and these can be some of the most difficult dreams to interpret. One theory holds that dreams about teeth, and losing teeth, are a reflection of the dreamer’s anxiety about his or her appearance, and about how the dreamer thinks others perceive him or her.

This interpretation is certainly valid, especially since we live in a society that seems to value physical beauty above all else. Since a good set of teeth play an important role in physical beauty, it is easy to see how uncertainties about one’s appearance could manifest themselves in dreams about losing teeth.

Since teeth play such an important role in physical attraction scenarios, such as flirting and getting the attention of the opposite sex, dreams of losing teeth can be manifestations of fears of getting old, fears of sexual impotence or other dating related anxieties.

Other interpretations of dreams of losing teeth hold that they are representations of fear of embarrassment or making a fool of oneself. For instance, someone who is dreading a potentially embarrassing situation, such as making a speech or other public speaking engagement, may dream of his or her teeth falling out.

This type of dream would represent an exaggeration of already present fears or anxieties brought on by the upcoming event. People who are troubled by dreams of losing teeth or teeth falling out should examine their own lives for the source of possible embarrassment or appearance based anxieties.

Another theory holds that teeth in dreams represent power, since they are used in real life to tear, chew, and bite. Therefore, the loss of teeth in a dream represents a perceived loss of power or influence. People who feel frustrated, or who feel that their voices are not being heard, may have dreams about losing teeth. Feeling ineffective, or feelings of inferiority, is often associated with such dreams as well.

Finally, some of the latest dream research has revealed that women have more frequent dreams about teeth as they enter menopause. These dreams about teeth may be related to anxieties about appearance and fears of getting older.

There are of course other interpretations of dreams of missing or losing teeth. There are interpretations of this dream in a number of cultures around the world, further testament to the fact that teeth are a common dream theme in many cultures.

One biblical interpretation of the dream of losing teeth holds that the bad teeth mean the dreamer is placing his or her faith in the works of man rather than in the word of God. Thus the falling teeth in the dream are urging the dreamer to turn back to God for guidance.

The ancient Greeks believed that dreams about loose, rotting or missing teeth were warnings that a close friend or family member was very ill or near death.

The Chinese hold that teeth falling out are a punishment for lying, and that dreams of falling teeth are manifestations of guilt over telling lies.

Some have even suggested that dreams of missing teeth are associated with money. This connection probably goes back to the old tooth fairy story, where children are rewarded with money for putting their lost teeth under their pillows.

Top 10 Dream Interpretation Tips (That The Experts Use To Interpret Your Dreams...)

Here are some tips for unlocking the coded messages that your dreams are sending you:-.

1. Always keep a dream journal so you don’t forget your dreams. It’s best to use a tape recorder to record the dream when you first wake up, and then write the dream in your journal later when you have time. That way you can get all of the details out of your head while they are fresh and not have to worry about how fast you can write or how sloppy your writing is.

2. Dream Glossaries and other online dream resources are okay for reference, but remember that no one can determine what your dream means better than you can.

3. You must use a consistent approach and methodology when analyzing your dreams. Dreams are not random events and you shouldn’t approach their analysis in a random manner.

4. Often times we cannot determine a dream’s meaning right away. When this happens, just journal the dream as usual and then go back and revisit the dream frequently until the meaning makes itself clear.

5. Not every symbol in a dream is significant. Sometimes what we think are symbols are really nothing more than props or background just like in a real movie. For instance, if there was a payphone visible in the dream, it might simply be there because you expect to see one there. On the other hand, if you are feeling anxious about a telephone call you need to make, but have been avoiding, then the payphone could be a significant symbol.

6. Dream symbols can have very different meanings to each of us. There is no one answer. Use a process known as free association to link symbols in your dream with the first thing that comes into your mind when you think about the symbol.

7. Remember that sometimes a dream has no meaning. It may simply be your subconscious mind’s attempt to burn off excess energy by replaying events that are on your mind.

8. Dreams of murder are rarely what they seem, and dreaming of your own death is rarely a warning. There are other meanings to the death symbol that have nothing to do with mortality.

9. Even the most bizarre dreams can be easily analyzed if you use a proven methodology for dissecting each symbol in your dream and attaching a real-world meaning to it.

10. Never take a dream at face value. Even if you think that the meaning of the dream is obvious, you should still put it through your analysis process just to make sure. It’s very rare for a dream to mean exactly what it looks like it means.

About the Author: Yap Kee Chong If you want to know more about how to analyze your unique dreams, and you want to learn about a revolutionary new 4-steps dream analysis system that a 35 years old dream interpretation enthusiast discovered: Go and grab this FREE 5 part e-mail course which is available for a limited time NOW:- = = => http://64.239.134.172/x.php?adminid=519&tid=7106 Article Submitted On: August 31, 2005 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/