DREAMS

Purpose: Okay. Good morning. The purpose of my speech is to inform my audience what a dream is
and to tell you some of its important facts and theories about dreaming.
I.

Introduction
Have you ever woke up in the morning having had the most bizarre or curious
dreams and wondered what it means?

II.

Definition
All of us have once have dreams. Dreams are a combination of images, sounds,
emotions, sensations and ideas blended together to form an interesting story that occur
involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The word dream is most likely
related to the West Germanic draugmus, (meaning deception, illusion, or phantom) It is a
world where you can do anything your heart desires no limits, no consequences. The
content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a
topic of scientific speculation, philosophical and religious interest throughout recorded
history. The scientific study of dreams is called oneirology.

III.

Facts about Dreaming

A. Stages of sleep in which dreams occur
1) 4-5% Light sleep. Muscle activity slows down. Occasional muscle twitching.
2) 45-55% Breathing pattern and hearth rate slows. Slight decrease in body
temperature.
3) 4-6 % Deep asleep begins. Brain begins to generate slow delta waves.
4) 12-15% Very deep sleep. Rhythmic breathing. Limited muscle activity. Brain
produces delta waves. (DELTA WAVES: is the slowest (zero to four cycles per
second) and is present in deep sleep.)
5) 20-25% Rapid eye movement. Brainwaves speed up and dreaming occurs.
Muscles relax and heart rate increases. Breathing is rapid and shallow.
B. Common symbolic meanings
1) Death: It means that someone close to you or relatives will pass away.
2) Clocks: Clock may indicate that you are afraid that life is moving by you, or
things are moving too fast.
3) Devils: The Devil in dreams symbolizes darkness, temptation and confusion
4) Forest: Forests may indicate we feel lost in our lives.
5) House: It is a sdesire for security and safety.
6) Tunnel: Deals with birth, and sometimes death.
7) Water: Deals with cleansing and emotional stirrings. If the Water is clear,
success is coming your way.
8) Animals: Wild animals denote troubles or fears, even misfortune. Domestic
animals esp. pets usually mean good fortune.
9) Falling: The most common dream of all. It can mean the dreamer is in fear of
losing respect or status; or financial difficulties or fading physical vitality.
10) Flying: Instinctively know the goals in life and how to seek them but according
to Sigmund Freud flying means sexual desire.

C. Length of dreams
Dreams happen during Rapid Eye Movement, or REM. REM starts about
45 mins after you fall to sleep, and finishes about 20 mins before you wake up. It
can happen 3 or 4 times a night, depending upon how stressed you were before
falling to sleep.
IV. Popular Scientific Theories
A. Sigmund Freud
Dr. Sigmund Freud's theories are based on the idea of repressed longing -- the
desires that we aren't able to express in a social setting. Dreams allow the
unconscious mind to act out those unacceptable thoughts and desires. For this
reason, his theory about dreams focuses primarily on sexual desires and
symbolism. For example to dream of a train entering a tunnel would represent
sexual intercourse..
B. Carl Jung
Dreams originated from our primal needs and repressed wishes, he felt that
dreams allowed us to reflect on our waking selves and solve our problems or
think through issues.
V. Conclusion
Review the facts of dreaming.
Dreams are a combination of images, sounds, emotions, sensations and ideas
blended together to form an interesting story that occur involuntarily in the mind
during certain stages of sleep.5 Stages (Light sleep, Breathing pattern and hearth rate,
Deep asleep , Very deep sleep, Rapid eye movement) Common Symbolic Meaning
(Death, Clock, Water, Devil, Flying, Falling, Tunnel, House, Forest, Animals)
Length (45 min after fall asleep and 20 mins before waking up, 3 to 4 times a night.)
Popular Theories ( Sigmund Freud- Sexual Desire, Carl Jung- Solve problem).So
the next time you wake up and wonder why you dreamt that dream, keep in mind that
most believe dreams deal with the subconscious desires of the mind.