Why Dreams are Considered a Physiological Need of the Human Body

On average, people spend about one-third of their lives sleeping. If someone lives to be 70 years old, they will have spent approximately 27 years sleeping. Within these 27 years of sleep, about 1/5 of the time is spent dreaming, which amounts to at least five to six years dedicated to dreaming. Although this may seem like a waste of sleep time, in reality, dreaming is a physiological need of the human body and serves several positive purposes.

Here are a few main points:

1. Restoring and enhancing brain function: Dreams stimulate highly active chemical reactions within the brain, promoting protein synthesis and renewal of brain cells. The rapid flow of blood during dreaming delivers oxygen, nutrients, and removes waste, laying the foundation for renewed activity the following day. Therefore, dreams contribute to the restoration and strengthening of brain function.

2. Pleasure for the body and mind: Sweet and pleasant dreams often bring feelings of joy, comfort, and relaxation. They enhance mental clarity and cognitive abilities, aiding digestion, promoting overall physical and mental well-being, stabilizing emotions, and enhancing intellectual capacities. It is no wonder that people often wish each other "sweet dreams" as a bedtime greeting.

3. Prolonging lifespan: Studies indicate that infants spend approximately 50% of their sleep time dreaming. The content of these dreams remains a mystery. However, researchers believe that rapid eye movement during sleep in infants indicates the storage of sensory stimuli experienced while awake. On the other hand, the occurrence of dream sleep significantly decreases in older adults, with an average of around one hour per night. If we calculate the overall duration of dream sleep throughout a person's life, it remains relatively stable, ranging from 8 hours during infancy to 6 hours in old age. By finding ways to increase dream sleep time, it is possible to extend lifespan.

4. Promoting innovation: Freud stated, "Dreams not only have a reproductive function but also an innovative function." Many individuals have experienced finding solutions to unresolved problems or recalling forgotten memories in their dreams. This leads to the speculation that dreaming may have a positive impact on intellectual abilities.

In summary, dreams within normal ranges have benefits for maintaining physical health and do not pose the health risks that many people fear.