experience with my husband in my dreams, I'm going to try to remember them more often!"
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In addition to recalling a dream, the act of recording it can also be healing in itself. Writing down a dream can become a form of healing meditationthat is, a way to slow down in the morning and to ease the transition from sleep to waking life. Rather than bolting out of bed or immediately worrying about tasks for the day, take the time to be with the unconscious, deeper parts of yourself in your dreams, and record them. Journaling of any kind has been shown to raise immune function, which contributes to healing and overall health.
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Like recording a dream, simply sharing it with someone, even without analyzing it, can be a healing process. Telling someone about your dream is an intimate act and can create or enhance closeness between you and others. Research shows us that improvement in health is accelerated by the experience of feeling connected and supported, and dream sharing is a simple and effective way of creating a connection with another person. Relationships are seen in a new light. Actions and injustices are rectified or made clearer. A dream experience can resonate in much the same way as a waking one, and provide insight, healing, and, finally, closure.
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No dreamwork has to take place for the healing to begin. Sometimes, merely having the dream experience is enough to effect psychological well-being. Laboratory studies have shown that without dream time thinking becomes disorganized, and people become increasingly irritable and anxious. This research seems to indicate that just having dreams, even forgotten ones, contributes to good health. Much more can be gained from dreams, however, when we pay attention to them, both to their content and to their meaning.
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