Journal Entry: Dreams and the Unconscious Sigmund Freud once said that dreams are the “royal road to the unconscious.” What he meant is that dreams can show us what’s going on beneath the surface feelings and thoughts we might not be fully aware of when we’re awake. In our textbook (Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior), it explains that most dreams happen during REM sleep, which is when the brain is super active and creates the vivid, sometimes strange images we remember when we wake up (Coon, Mitterer, & Martini, 2022, pp. 168-170). Freud believed that even though dreams might not make sense on the surface, they can be meaningful once you look deeper. One dream I’ve had more than once takes place in my childhood home in Homestead. In the dream, everything looks just like it used to when I was a kid—the same rooms, furniture, and even the same lighting—but there’s always a creepy feeling in the air. I’m usually alone, and after a little while, I start running through the house because I feel like something is chasing me. I never see who or what it is. It’s just a dark, shadowy figure I can’t put a face to. No matter how fast I run or where I hide, I never get away. Right when I’m about to get caught, I always wake up. I looked up some meanings online, and Dream Dictionary says that being chased in a dream can mean you’re avoiding something in your life, like a problem or emotion. Dream Moods also said that dreaming about your childhood home could be a sign that there’s something from your past that you haven’t fully dealt with. That made sense to me. I think the dream might have something to do with stress or fears I had as a kid that still stick with me in some way. Maybe the shadow figure is just my mind’s way of showing something I haven’t faced yet. Overall, I think Freud had a point. Even if dreams seem random or confusing, they might still tell us something important if we pay attention. Word Count: 401
Your recurring dream set in your childhood home is rich with symbolism and reveals much about your inner world, aligning closely with Freudian theory regarding the unconscious mind. Let's delve deeper into the key elements of your dream and what they might signify.
The familiar setting of your childhood home suggests a strong connection to your past. Our childhood environments often shape our identities and can evoke unresolved emotions from that time. The fact that everything looks the same indicates that you may be revisiting earlier memories, but there could be underlying themes of nostalgia alongside feelings of discomfort or fear. This juxtaposition suggests that while you may want to reconnect with your past or the innocence of childhood, there are unresolved issues or traumas that haunt you.
The unsettling aura in your dream symbolizes anxiety or tension that you may not consciously acknowledge in your waking life. This feeling may underscore a lingering sense of vulnerability, perhaps tied to experiences from your childhood or to current life situations that evoke similar emotions. The discomfort felt in this familiar place points to the idea that while the past is a part of you, there are still shadows—or unresolved issues—that create unease.
Dreams of being chased often indicate avoidance. The fact that the figure is a dark, shadowy presence without a face can represent fears, anxieties, or unresolved emotions that you have yet to confront. It’s significant that you never see your pursuer; this anonymity suggests that whatever you are fleeing is not fully recognized or understood by you. It often reflects aspects of yourself or your life that you are reluctant to face, be it a stressful situation, a nagging emotion, or even a decision you've been avoiding.
Your interpretation that the dream relates to stress or fears from childhood is compelling. There may be specific events or emotions you’ve buried that still influence your current mindset. The dream serves as an urgent signal from your subconscious, indicating that these unresolved issues must be addressed to move forward. The incessant chase reflects your mind’s struggle to escape these realities that feel inescapable—at least until you face them head-on.
In reflecting on this dream, consider what aspects of your past might still hold sway over you today. Journaling your thoughts about these unresolved feelings, discussing them with trusted friends, or even seeking professional guidance can provide a pathway to understanding and healing. Freud's assertion about the importance of dreams stands true; they serve as a bridge to awareness of the self, challenging you to confront what lies beneath the surface. Embrace this insight as a call to examine your past, ultimately seeking resolution in order to liberate yourself from the shadows that chase you—both in dreams and in waking life.