It has been proven that depressed people dream up to three times as much as non-depressed people. They are unable to get negative thoughts off their mind. If you are suffering with depression, dreaming may be a way for you to control those negative thoughts and ruminations that keep you worried and awake.
Although some researchers believe that dreams are no more than a byproduct of sleep, many think that dreams are important for memory consolidation or conflict resolution. There have been studies to suggest that dreams may help with mood regulation, which, in turn, can help a depressed person.
The latest scientific studies on the understanding of dreams have taught us that we dream for specific biological and psychological purposes. According to the website Clinical-Depression.co.uk, emotionally arousing ruminations which are unfulfilled at sleep onset (i.e. the concern is still a worry) get ‘dreamed out’ metaphorically during dreaming. This is done to leave the ‘higher brain’ (neo-cortex) free for dealing with the next day’s events. If a depressed person wakes up every time they show a rapid eye movement, the symptoms of clinical depression can lift.
If you are experiencing the symptoms of depression and would like to seek help, call the Department of Psychiatry at The Jamaica Hospital Medical Center at 718-206-7160 for an appointment and consultation.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.