What Do Your Dreams Really Mean?

                                                       What Do Your Dreams Really Mean?

We all dream while we sleep. Just think if last night’s dream contained the response you’d wanted! What if we could really regard our dreams as a roadmap to our fears, hopes, and anxieties? If we could somehow interpret our dreams ‘ hidden meanings, then this understanding could change our lives.
I think that dreams are one of the most intriguing and mysterious aspects of human experience, and dream interpretation can offer us a clear idea of what can happen in our subconscious minds at this time!

Analyzing dream symbols and assigning significance in popular culture has become a popular source of entertainment as well as self-reflection. Do dreams have meanings that are really hidden? Can you learn by interpreting your dreams your subconscious wishes and desires?

While most contemporary dream theories would suggest that the response is no, this has not prevented interpreters and analysts from publishing a whole host of dream dictionaries that aim to define the meaning of these prevalent dream topics and symbols.

Let’s look at some of the most common dreams and what some of the most famous books on the interpretation of dreams have to say about them.

What Are Your Dreams Telling You

1. The Falling Dream:

The dreams of falling from excellent heights are very prevalent. While there’s a common myth that you’re going to die in real life if you hit the ground in your dream, it’s just not true. So what precisely might falling dreams really imply?

The falling dreams are a sign that something is not going well in your lives, according to many common dream interpretations. It may indicate that in some region of your life you need to rethink a decision or consider a fresh direction.

“Dreaming of falling is very prevalent. It is a sign of fear in true life-perhaps failing at job or in your love life.” Falling often reflects the need to let yourself go more and appreciate life more.

2. The Naked Dream:

Have you ever had one of those uncomfortable dreams in your birthday suit where you show up at college or at the office? Do not worry. It is hardly uncommon to dream of being naked.

Dreaming of public nudity may suggest that you feel like a fool or that you are scared to reveal your imperfections and weaknesses.

3. Dreams About Being Chased:

It can be particularly frightening to dreams that feature being pursued by a recognized or unknown attacker. But what do these dreams say about what’s going on in your mind? Dream interpreters often indicate that such dreams imply you’re trying to prevent something in your daily lives.

The key to knowing what a dream like this might mean relies in part on your pursuer’s identity. Being hunted by an animal may show that you are hiding from your own rage, passions, and other emotions.

If your pursuer is mysterious, it could be an experience of childhood or a trauma of the past. If you’re chased by someone of the opposite sex, you’re scared of love or haunted by a previous relationship.

4. The Snake Dream:

Seeing a snake in your dream or being bitten by one means hidden concerns and worries that threaten you. Your dream may alert you to something you don’t know about in your waking life or that hasn’t surfaced yet. Alternatively, the snake can be considered phallic, symbolizing temptation, hazardous sexuality, and prohibited sexuality. Some groups take the serpent as a favorable sign to make the matter a little confusing, representing healing, understanding, and wisdom. Take your pick!

5. Dreams About Dying:

Death is another prevalent theme of dreams that can be especially disconcerting. Sometimes dreamers dream of a loved one’s death or even dream of dying. Sometimes popular interpretations of dreams indicate that such dreams represent anxiety about change or anxiety about the unknown.

“Like death, change can be scary because, like death, we don’t understand what’s’ on the other hand’ of change, that’s why the dreaming mind equates change with death,” Lauri Loewenberg suggests in her book Dream on It: Unlock Your Dreams, Change Your Life.

Dreaming of a loved one’s death can reflect a comparable fear of change, particularly when it comes to kids achieving milestones and growing up. Such modifications show that a kid grows up and the mind of a parent starts to wonder where the child’s younger version went. Therefore, such dreams of dying represent a kind of mourning for the inevitable passage of time.

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Premenstrual Dysphoria Disorder

                                              What is Premenstrual Dysphoria Disorder (PMDD)?

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a very severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), which can cause many emotional and physical symptoms every month during the week or two before you start your period. It is sometimes referred to as ‘severe PMS’.

While many people who are able to have periods may experience some mild symptoms of PMS if you have PMDD these symptoms are much worse and can have a serious impact on your life. Experiencing PMDD can make it difficult to work, socialize and have healthy relationships. In some cases, it can also lead to suicidal thoughts.

Symptoms

According to the diagnostic criteria for PMDD as outlined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM):

• You must have five or more severe symptoms that occur during the time between ovulation and your period.
• These symptoms must go away during your period and not return for at least another couple of weeks when your next luteal phase starts.
• These symptoms must also interfere with your work or school, your relationships with family, friends, and/or coworkers and your usual social activities.

You have to have at least one of the following symptoms to have the diagnosis of PMDD:

• very labile moods like mood swings, increased sensitivity to rejection, and/or sudden sadness or tearfulness
• marked irritability or anger
• depressed mood
• marked anxiety and tension

In addition, you may also have any one or more of the following symptoms to make a total of five or more symptoms:

• decreased interest in your usual activities
• difficulty concentrating
• lack of energy
• overeating or food cravings
• changes in your sleep habits
• feeling overwhelmed or out of control
• physical symptoms like breast tenderness or swelling, joint pain or muscle aches, feeling bloated, and or weight gain

Common Causes

As a mood disorder, PMDD is believed to be triggered by fluctuating hormone levels altering the production or effectiveness of neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine.

Hormones

Reproductive hormones—namely estrogen and progesterone—interact with brain chemicals and can influence mood. Estrogen and progesterone are produced by the ovaries and the levels of these hormones fluctuate during a regular menstrual cycle.

PMDD is not necessarily the result of a hormonal imbalance or deficiency, though your doctor will probably run tests to rule that out.

Progesterone/Allopregnanolone

PMDD symptoms are limited to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which occurs between ovulation and the first day of bleeding. In a typical 28 day menstrual cycle this corresponds to cycle days 14 to 28.

At ovulation, the ovaries begin to increase the production of progesterone, which is then converted into allopregnanolone (ALLO). Progesterone and ALLO levels continue to rise until the start of your period, at which point they rapidly drop.

The exact cause is not known, but researchers have two theories: women with PMDD either experience a change in GABA-receptor sensitivity to ALLO in the luteal phase or there is a defect in ALLO production during the luteal phase.

EstrogenAfter ovulation, estrogen levels drop. Estrogen interacts with several brain chemicals that control your mood, in particular, serotonin. Serotonin is important for regulating many functions, including mood, sleep, and appetite. Serotonin also influences your cognition, or how you acquire, process, and perceive information from your environment. Estrogen promotes the positive effects of serotonin.

Women with PMDD may experience an exaggerated drop in serotonin levels. Low serotonin levels are associated with the depressed mood, food cravings, and impaired cognitive functioning of PMDD. This is why selective serotonin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs) is the top treatment for PMDD.

Immune Activation and Inflammation

Mood disorders are linked to the immune system. Infections and other causes of systemic inflammation can trigger a worsening of symptoms in patients with mental health issues.

Genetics

There is a genetic basis for the hormonal sensitivities that appear to be at work in PMDD. Researchers at the National Institute of Health found that women with PMDD have changes in one of the gene complexes that control how they respond to estrogen and progesterone.

This discovery is extremely validating if you have PMDD. It gives concrete scientific evidence that something biological and beyond your control is causing your mood changes.

Lifestyle Risk Factors

Some, but not all, women with PMDD have a history of significant stress exposure, such as a history of childhood physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. Everyday stress can also trigger symptoms or make them worse.

The correlation between stress and worsening PMDD symptoms is currently an area of active investigation. Researchers are looking at the relationship between ALLO and the stress response in women with PMDD. ALLO typically increases at times of acute stress and has a calming and sedative effect. Experimental studies suggest the ALLO response to acute stress is decreased when exposed to chronic stress.

Certainly, the possibility of a connection between your stress response and PMDD supports the common sense first line treatment interventions for PMDD, including lifestyle modifications and stress reduction.

Diagnosis of PMDD

At-Home Testing

If you suspect you have PMDD, you can take an online screening assessmentthrough the International Association for Premenstrual Disorders website.

This self-screen goes over various symptoms that occur following ovulation during the luteal phase of your cycle, which is typically seven to 14 days prior to your period. It is not intended to diagnose the condition or replace the care of a medical practitioner but rather serves as an indicator for further investigation.

Through labs and tests

Since PMDD is a mood disorder, it cannot be diagnosed through blood tests or imaging. However, your doctor may order blood tests to rule out other potential causes, such as altered hormone levels or thyroid problems.

Coping

Living with PMDD can be challenging.

In addition to medication, women with PMDD may find some relief using holistic techniques, relaxation exercises, stress relief, and diet in the week before their period. Here are some methods that are also suggested for easing PMS symptoms:

• Eat right. Follow the rules of good nutrition. Health experts recommend that women with PMDD limit their intake of salt, caffeine, refined sugar, and alcohol.
• Take supplements. Calcium, vitamin B6, vitamin E, and magnesium are recommended for easing PMS and PMDD.
• Reduce stress. PMDD is cyclical, so you have a good idea of when it will resurface. When possible, lower your expectations for productivity or social commitments for the week before your period, and try to incorporate stress relieving techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation. Book yourself a massage, pedicure, reflexology, or other types of pampering session during this time.
• Get exercise. Even light exercises, like walking, yoga, or tai chi, can help to relieve symptoms.
• Seek professional mental health care. Some women suffering from the symptoms of PMDD also seek out counseling. Therapy can help you to develop effective coping strategies.

PMDD is a real condition and left untreated may have a serious impact on your health and well-being. You must take a professional opinion before following any treatment procedure. Let your friends or loved ones know about it and allow people to help you.

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What Is An Attachment Disorder?

                                            What Is an Attachment Disorder?

Most children develop early-age secure emotional attachments to their caregivers. They demonstrate good anxiety and relief when their caregiver is not present.

However, some infants develop attachment disorders because their caregivers cannot meet their needs. They can not bond with their caregivers and struggle to develop any kind of emotional attachment.

Disorders of attachment can be treated, but early intervention is important. Kids with attachment disorders can experience ongoing problems throughout their lives without treatment.

Importance of Attachment

Repeated positive experiences with a caregiver help to create a safe attachment for children. When an adult responds by feeding, changing, or rocking her to a baby’s cries, the baby learns that she can trust the adult to keep her safe and care for her needs.

Securely attached children tend to:

• Build better relations with others
• Fix issues more easily
• Try and explore new things independently
• Have fewer extreme stress responses

Children with adverse or unpredictable reactions to a caregiver may create an insecure style of attachment. They may see adults as unreliable and may not have easy confidence in them.

Insecurely attached children tend to:

• Show anger, fear, and anxiety
• Refusing to engage with others
• Exaggerate distress
• Avoid People

Cause Of Attachment Disorder

The most common cause is when the child is ignored or neglected by her parents or caregiver, e.g. when a baby shouts, is too long hungry or wet without anyone reacting to the baby feels abandoned. This manifests itself over time and could become severe as time progresses, leaving the child with the knowledge that they can not depend on others. Another possible reason for this could be physical or sexual abuse during adolescence. They begin to feel that the world is an unsafe place to watch their every move, and there is the fear of getting to understand others and letting them get near.

A person with a disorder of attachment deeply wishes love and affection, but can not well depict these desires. The adverse experiences they suffered in early childhood lead to denial and fail to comprehend the feelings they need such as love and attachment.

Types Of Attachment Disorder

Children with attachment problems may create two possible disorder kinds:

• Reactive Attachment Disorder
• Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder.

1 Reactive Attachment Disorder:

Due to adverse experiences with adults in their early years, children with RAD are less likely to communicate with other individuals. They have difficulty calming down when stressed and when they are upset they don’t seek comfort from their caregivers. When interacting with others, these kids may seem to have little to no feelings. They may seem dissatisfied, irritable, sad, or frightened with their caretaker while having ordinary operations. RAD is diagnosed when symptoms become chronic.

2 Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder:

Children with DSED do not seem to be afraid when they first meet someone. They may be too friendly to speak to, or even hug them, strangers. Younger kids can enable strangers to take them, feed them or play with toys. They don’t check with their parents or caregivers when these kids are put in a strange situation, and they often go with someone they don’t know.

Treatment:

Children with RAD or DSED signs require an exhaustive psychiatric evaluation and a personal therapy plan. Baby and family both should be involved in treatment. Therapists aim to understand the connection between a baby and its main carers and to strengthen it. Such circumstances can influence the social and emotional growth of a child without therapy. Role-playing is another technique that helps in the therapy of adult attachment disorder. Most importantly, someone with an attachment disorder can trust a friend or family member and eventually open up a much-needed, honest connection with them.

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Components Of Emotional Intelligence

                                5 components of Emotional intelligence

The ability to express and control our emotions is essential, but so is our ability to understand, interpret, and respond to the emotions of others. Imagine a world in which you could not understand when a friend was feeling sad or when a co-worker was angry. Psychologists refer to this ability as emotional intelligence, and some experts even suggest that it can be more important than IQ in your overall success in life.

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions. Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened. While others claim it’s an inborn characteristic.

Emotional intelligence as a term didn’t come into our vernacular until around 1990. Despite being a relatively young term, interest in the concept has grown tremendously over the last 20 years.

Components

Salovey and Mayer proposed a model that identified four different levels of emotional intelligence, including emotional perception, the ability to reason using emotions, the ability to understand emotion, and the ability to manage emotions.

1. Perceiving emotions: The first step in understanding emotions is to perceive them accurately. In many cases, this might involve understanding nonverbal signals such as body language and facial expressions.
2. Reasoning with emotions: The next step involves using emotions to promote thinking and cognitive activity. Emotions help prioritize what we pay attention and react to; we respond emotionally to things that garner our attention.
3. Understanding emotions: The emotions that we perceive can carry a wide variety of meanings. If someone is expressing angry emotions, the observer must interpret the cause of the person’s anger and what it could mean. For example, if your boss is acting angry, it might mean that he is dissatisfied with your work, or it could be because he got a speeding ticket on his way to work that morning or that he’s been fighting with his wife.
4. Managing emotions: The ability to manage emotions effectively is a crucial part of emotional intelligence and the highest level. Regulating emotions, responding appropriately, and responding to the emotions of others are all important aspect of emotional management.

Different types of emotional intelligence

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness, or the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions, is a critical part of emotional intelligence. Beyond just recognizing your emotions, however, is being aware of the effect of your own actions, moods, and emotions of other people.

In order to become self-aware, you must be capable of monitoring your own emotions, recognizing different emotional reactions, and then correctly identifying each particular emotion. Self-aware individuals also recognize the relationships between the things they feel and how they behave. These individuals are also capable of recognizing their own strengths and limitations, are open to new information and experiences, and learn from their interactions with others.

Goleman suggests that people who possess this self-awareness have a good sense of humor, are confident in themselves and their abilities, and are aware of how other people perceive them.

Self-Regulation

In addition to being aware of your own emotions and the impact you have on others, emotional intelligence requires you to be able to regulate and manage your emotions. This doesn’t mean putting emotions on lock-down and hiding your true feelings — it simply means waiting for the right time, place, an avenue to express your emotions. Self-regulation is all about expressing your emotions appropriately.

Those who are skilled in self-regulation tend to be flexible and adapt well to change. They are also good at managing conflict and diffusing tense or difficult situations.

Goleman also suggests that those with strong self-regulation skills are high in conscientiousness. They are thoughtful of how they influence others and take responsibility for their own actions.

Social Skills

Being able to interact well with others is another important aspect of emotional intelligence. True emotional understanding involves more than just understanding your own emotions and the feelings of others. You also need to be able to put this information to work in your daily interactions and communications.

In professional settings, managers benefit by being able to build relationships and connections with employees. While workers can benefit from being able to develop a strong rapport with leaders and co-workers. Some important social skills include active listening, verbal communication skills, nonverbal communication skills, leadership, and persuasiveness.

Empathy

Empathy, or the ability to understand how others are feeling, is absolutely critical to emotional intelligence. But this involves more than just being able to recognize the emotional states of others.

It also involves your responses to people based on this information. When you sense that someone is feeling sad or hopeless, for example, it will likely influence how you respond to that individual. You might treat them with extra care and concern or you might make an effort to buoy their spirits.

Being empathetic also allows people to understand the power dynamics that often influence social relationships, especially in workplace settings. Those competent in this area are able to sense who possess power in different relationships. They understand how these forces influence feelings and behaviors, and accurately interpret different situations that hinge on such power dynamics.

Motivation

Intrinsic motivation also plays a key role in emotional intelligence. People who are emotionally intelligent are motivated by things beyond mere external rewards like fame, money, recognition, and acclaim.

Instead, they have a passion to fulfill their own inner needs and goals. They seek things that lead to internal rewards, experience flow from being totally in tune with activity, and pursue peak experiences.

Those who are competent in this area tend to be action-oriented. These people set goals, have a high need for achievement, and are always looking for ways to do better. They also tend to be very committed and are good at taking the initiative when a task is put forth before them.

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