mental health functions of dreaming and raija-leena punamäki, university of tampere, finland

Mental health functions of dreaming and sleeping

@ Raija-Leena Punamäki, University of Tampere, @ Raija-Leena Punamäki, University of Tampere, FinlandFinland

© Raija-Leena Punamäki 2007

What psychological theories say about dreaming? I

Psychoanalysis:Psychoanalysis: The king road to The king road to unconsciousness; a window to veiled unconsciousness; a window to veiled mental life & meaningful messages mental life & meaningful messages

Cognitive psychology:Cognitive psychology: Possibility to Possibility to learn about memory, attention, learn about memory, attention, thinking & feeling in altering states of thinking & feeling in altering states of mind (sleeping & waking) mind (sleeping & waking)


What psychological theories say about dreaming ? II

Psychophysiology:Psychophysiology: (a) Communication between brain (a) Communication between brain locations differs in dream & waking locations differs in dream & waking

(b) Brain activation in dependent of (b) Brain activation in dependent of experienceexperience

Evolution psychology:Evolution psychology: (a) Humans capable to form mental (a) Humans capable to form mental imagery, (b) Ability to process threat & imagery, (b) Ability to process threat & danger facilitated survival, (c) rehearsal of danger facilitated survival, (c) rehearsal of traumatic events enhances success in lifetraumatic events enhances success in life


MENTAL HEALTH FUNCTION OF DREAMING? I Psychoanalysts: • To restore the the sleep from disturbances • To gratify wish fulfilment• To integrate traumatic experience• Dream content is symbolic & meaningfulII Cognitive theorists: • To reorganize memories• Dream content is similar to daytime thinkingIII Neurophysiological research:• To tide up memory stores • Dream content is random• Sleeping decrease arousal


Research about trauma & dreaming among children

How does exposure to war trauma How does exposure to war trauma associate with remembering dreams?associate with remembering dreams?

How does trauma impact dream content How does trauma impact dream content and structure?and structure?

Which dream characteristics associate Which dream characteristics associate with good mental health? with good mental health?

What kind of dream structure & content What kind of dream structure & content can protect child mental health from can protect child mental health from negative impact of war trauma?negative impact of war trauma?

Can dreaming compensate for daily life, Can dreaming compensate for daily life, traumatic & dangerous experiences? traumatic & dangerous experiences?


Participants413 Palestinian children413 Palestinian children Trauma group n=279 living in Gaza Trauma group n=279 living in Gaza

(subjected to military violence)(subjected to military violence) Control group n=144 living in Galilee Control group n=144 living in Galilee

(not subjected to military violence)(not subjected to military violence) Age 6-16Age 6-16121 Kurdish children Northern Iraq121 Kurdish children Northern Iraq Orphan Children n=60Orphan Children n=60 Children from intact families n=61Children from intact families n=61 Age 7-15Age 7-15Method:Method: 7-day dream diary 7-day dream diary


Scoring the dreams Structure of dreams: Structure of dreams: Fantasy - Documentary Fantasy - Documentary

Bizarre - Mundane Bizarre - Mundane Narrative - Broken storyNarrative - Broken story

Content of dreams: Content of dreams: Anxiety & threatAnxiety & threatCovert & overt aggressionCovert & overt aggression

Persecution dreamsPersecution dreamsSaviour dreamsSaviour dreamsDevelop. problem solvingDevelop. problem solving

Behaviour of the dreamer: Behaviour of the dreamer: Passive - activePassive - active Fearful - heroicFearful - heroic

Relying on others - aloneRelying on others - alone Emotional repertoire & intensityEmotional repertoire & intensity Repetition of theme, characters, scenes, endingRepetition of theme, characters, scenes, ending


Main results ICharacteristic dreams of children withCharacteristic dreams of children withsevere trauma:severe trauma:

Dream content:Dream content: Persecution dreams, sense of falling, Persecution dreams, sense of falling,

physical vulnerability physical vulnerability Kurdish children dream about death; Kurdish children dream about death;

Orphans about their parentsOrphans about their parentsDream structure:Dream structure: Concrete & content-less dreams (”I Concrete & content-less dreams (”I

dreamt about a dog”, ”Somebody was dreamt about a dog”, ”Somebody was chasing me”)chasing me”)

Lack of narratives & happy endingsLack of narratives & happy endings


Main results II Many somatic feelings & action dreamsMany somatic feelings & action dreams (”I was running to escape, but my feet were (”I was running to escape, but my feet were

glued to the ground”)glued to the ground”) Lack of emotional expression (both Lack of emotional expression (both

negative & positive: ”negative & positive: ”I fall down because I fall down because of a killed body, and run awayof a killed body, and run away”)”)

Exposure to trauma increases recall of Exposure to trauma increases recall of dreams in the morning -> Human mind dreams in the morning -> Human mind works actively during the night works actively during the night

Symbolic, narrative, and emotional Symbolic, narrative, and emotional dreams protect the child mental health dreams protect the child mental health


Main results III

Mental health function of dreamingMental health function of dreaming Exposure to trauma increases recall of Exposure to trauma increases recall of

dreams in the morning -> Human mind dreams in the morning -> Human mind works actively during the night works actively during the night

High dream recall associated with High dream recall associated with good mental health good mental health

Symbolic, narrative, and emotional Symbolic, narrative, and emotional dreams protect the child mental health dreams protect the child mental health


Protective dreamProtective dreamcontentcontent Parental shieldParental shield

I dreamt that the soldiers I dreamt that the soldiers intruded our neighbours’ house. intruded our neighbours’ house. They broke the door and took They broke the door and took their son. I put the lights on, and their son. I put the lights on, and soldiers came to my room and soldiers came to my room and asked why I had put the light on. asked why I had put the light on. I was afraid and shivering all I was afraid and shivering all over my body. They hit me on my over my body. They hit me on my face. face. I called for my mother. She I called for my mother. She came and took me away from the came and took me away from the soldiers, and said to them: ”But soldiers, and said to them: ”But he is only a little boy"he is only a little boy"..

((Boy of 12, Gaza)Boy of 12, Gaza)

Vulnerable dreamVulnerable dreamcontentcontent No protective No protective

shieldshield

I dreamt that I was collecting I dreamt that I was collecting shellson the beach. Suddenly the shellson the beach. Suddenly the soldiers appeared and started to soldiers appeared and started to follow me. Other children were follow me. Other children were running away, but I could not run. running away, but I could not run. My feet were glued to the ground. My feet were glued to the ground. I I shouted for help, but nobody heard shouted for help, but nobody heard meme. The waves of the sea rose, and . The waves of the sea rose, and were very high, the waves were very high, the waves approached me, the waves covered approached me, the waves covered me. me. (Boy of 11, Gaza)(Boy of 11, Gaza)


Protective dreamProtective dreamstructurestructure Symbolic, emotional Symbolic, emotional

& fantasy& fantasy I dreamt that sea had dried up. I I dreamt that sea had dried up. I

walked in the middle of the dried sea. walked in the middle of the dried sea. Suddenly I saw a huge fish in front of Suddenly I saw a huge fish in front of me, and I got scared. I asked the fish me, and I got scared. I asked the fish why he is able to speak, unlike other why he is able to speak, unlike other fish. He said: I talk to you, because I fish. He said: I talk to you, because I want to protect you from the anger of want to protect you from the anger of other fish and from the rageful sea. I other fish and from the rageful sea. I asked him: how can the sea can be asked him: how can the sea can be rageful if it has dried up? The fish rageful if it has dried up? The fish asked me to hurry up, since the sea asked me to hurry up, since the sea was just sleeping, and when it wakes was just sleeping, and when it wakes up it will return to its real nature.up it will return to its real nature.

(Girl 13, Gaza)(Girl 13, Gaza)

Vulnerable dreamVulnerable dreamstructurestructure Repeats reality & Repeats reality &

unemotionalunemotional I dreamt that soldiers followed me I dreamt that soldiers followed me

in the streets of the camp. I ran as in the streets of the camp. I ran as much as I could. They followed much as I could. They followed and ran more until they caught and ran more until they caught me. They tied my hands and took me. They tied my hands and took me to prison. They told me that I me to prison. They told me that I had thrown stones. I said that I did had thrown stones. I said that I did not. They asked if I had prepared not. They asked if I had prepared a molotov-coctail. I said that no, a molotov-coctail. I said that no, and they sent me to prison.and they sent me to prison.(Boy 13, Gaza)(Boy 13, Gaza)


Orphan girl, 16 (Kurdistan)

22ndnd night night: : I dreamt that my mother hit me because I went to the room. I dreamt that my mother hit me because I went to the room. At that time my mother washed herself and my hand became green At that time my mother washed herself and my hand became green coloured. My mother told me "you are very good because your hand coloured. My mother told me "you are very good because your hand became green, but now you are more afraid", but I was not afraid.became green, but now you are more afraid", but I was not afraid.

33ndnd night night I dreamt that my mother wore a white dress, she talked nice I dreamt that my mother wore a white dress, she talked nice things, then she cried & then I told her: "Why do you cry?" - she said: things, then she cried & then I told her: "Why do you cry?" - she said: "where are you?" - I said I am in my grandmother's house."where are you?" - I said I am in my grandmother's house.

44ndnd night night I dreamt that the fire rains; I was with my mother & sister in I dreamt that the fire rains; I was with my mother & sister in a room, near a camp. Suddenly a man entered the room & I asked a room, near a camp. Suddenly a man entered the room & I asked about this fire which rains - he answered that this is the end.about this fire which rains - he answered that this is the end.

55ndnd night night I dreamt that my father stands in the grave & I told him: I dreamt that my father stands in the grave & I told him: "why did you die so early?" He said "you will die also and everyone "why did you die so early?" He said "you will die also and everyone should die whether early or late".should die whether early or late".


Orphan girl, 13 (Kurdistan)

22ndnd night night I dreamt that my friend T. burnt her legs, I I dreamt that my friend T. burnt her legs, I asked why this happened. She cried and was in big asked why this happened. She cried and was in big pain because of the burn. Then the headmaster came pain because of the burn. Then the headmaster came and wanted to hit her, but her condition was very and wanted to hit her, but her condition was very bad, I looked at her and I cried.bad, I looked at her and I cried.

33ndnd night night I dreamt that my father and me were going I dreamt that my father and me were going to the orphanage; I cried and screamed that I did to the orphanage; I cried and screamed that I did not want to go to the orphanage. There was rain and not want to go to the orphanage. There was rain and strong wind. My father told me: "because you cry, I strong wind. My father told me: "because you cry, I come back tomorrow to return you to my house".come back tomorrow to return you to my house".


Orphan girl, 13 (Kurdistan) continues

66ndnd night night I dreamt that I fight with my father & I told I dreamt that I fight with my father & I told him that "you are the cause of death, and my mother & him that "you are the cause of death, and my mother & you damage our life & made us live in the orphanage & you damage our life & made us live in the orphanage & damage our future. Then my sister came & brought a nice damage our future. Then my sister came & brought a nice thing to my father. Then my father said to us: "I am not thing to my father. Then my father said to us: "I am not your father. Your father died a long time ago". Then we your father. Your father died a long time ago". Then we came back to the orphanage.came back to the orphanage.

77nd nd nightnight I dreamt that I and my friend T stand on the I dreamt that I and my friend T stand on the grave of my mother. I hit the grave by a piece of wood. grave of my mother. I hit the grave by a piece of wood. My friend told me: "Why do you do this? I love your My friend told me: "Why do you do this? I love your mother more. We should go to buy something for her". mother more. We should go to buy something for her". But I did not go with her. I came back to the orphanageBut I did not go with her. I came back to the orphanage..


Main results IVCommunication between Dreaming Communication between Dreaming & Waking reality& Waking reality

Fear & anxiety interrupt dreaming: no Fear & anxiety interrupt dreaming: no narratives narratives (”I was shouting for help, but I (”I was shouting for help, but I woke up to my own screeming”)woke up to my own screeming”)

Dreaming shows a compensatory function: Dreaming shows a compensatory function: Children with active and heroic coping during Children with active and heroic coping during the day, reported helpless and fearfull dreamsthe day, reported helpless and fearfull dreams


Broken dreams – healing interrupeted (boy, 11, Gaza)

66thth night night I dreamt that I was I dreamt that I was climbing a very high mountain climbing a very high mountain full of valleys around it. I sat full of valleys around it. I sat waiting for the coming of my waiting for the coming of my bother, my mother and bother, my mother and brothers. I went to play up the brothers. I went to play up the mountain but I found a big mountain but I found a big snake surrounding my little snake surrounding my little brother. I tried to force it to go brother. I tried to force it to go by throwing stones on it, but I by throwing stones on it, but I was afraid that my brother was afraid that my brother would be injured by the stones. would be injured by the stones. I began shouting, but nobody I began shouting, but nobody heard me. I was shouting till I heard me. I was shouting till I woke up.woke up.

77thth night night I dreamt that I dreamt that the soldiers entered my the soldiers entered my school, they took me and school, they took me and I began shouting, but I began shouting, but something came out from something came out from the hands of the soldiers. the hands of the soldiers. It was like a monster It was like a monster with big eyes and big with big eyes and big mouth and long teeth, mouth and long teeth, like beasts have, and all like beasts have, and all horrified. horrified. I began I began shouting in a loud voice shouting in a loud voice and shouting till I woke and shouting till I woke up, terrified of the view.up, terrified of the view.


Example of coping measurement

1) War-time traumatic stress:”We will teach you to trow stones, you evil”

2) Childhood stress:”We do not want to play with you any more”


Passive coping responses during the day

The army has destroyed neigbour house...The army has destroyed neigbour house...I wish that I wish that the soldiers find their own house destroyed.the soldiers find their own house destroyed.

We are under curfew… We are under curfew… I feel like a bird in his cage. I feel like a bird in his cage. I see soldiersI see soldiers… I am frightened and horrified, and … I am frightened and horrified, and

I try to hide. I try to hide. I hear about shooting of people I hear about shooting of people … We are all lost.… We are all lost.


Active & fearless dream content

I dreamt that the soldiers broke into my house, I dreamt that the soldiers broke into my house, attacking us including my mother and elder attacking us including my mother and elder brother. This was awful, and I attacked the brother. This was awful, and I attacked the soldier and took his weapon. Then I ran away soldier and took his weapon. Then I ran away and became wanted. Everyday they used to come and became wanted. Everyday they used to come and look for me in vain. Once I came back to and look for me in vain. Once I came back to check up on my family and there were the check up on my family and there were the soldiers, waiting for me…soldiers, waiting for me…


Active coping mechanisms in daytime

The army has destroyed neigbour houseThe army has destroyed neigbour house… I go and … I go and prevent the soldiers to destroy more..prevent the soldiers to destroy more..

We are under curfew… We are under curfew… I join my friends and we I join my friends and we demonstrate against the soldiers.demonstrate against the soldiers.

I see soldiersI see soldiers… I join the demonstrations and hope … I join the demonstrations and hope that it is my stone that will hit them well. that it is my stone that will hit them well.

I hear about shooting of people I hear about shooting of people … I am very angry … I am very angry and sad, and carry a knife with me. and sad, and carry a knife with me.


Passive & fearfuldream content

I dreamt I was standing at the door during a I dreamt I was standing at the door during a general strike. I saw the soldiers behind the general strike. I saw the soldiers behind the wall looking at the boys. I was scared because I wall looking at the boys. I was scared because I am a little boy, and I can't run. The soldiers am a little boy, and I can't run. The soldiers laughed at me, and they caught me. I was laughed at me, and they caught me. I was frightened. (Boy of 10, Gaza)frightened. (Boy of 10, Gaza). .


Aims:Aims:Fragmented & broken dreams to Fragmented & broken dreams to complete narrativecomplete narrativeExploring and expressing emotions, Exploring and expressing emotions, especially absent or numbed feelingsespecially absent or numbed feelingsFacing horror & monsters in a safe placeFacing horror & monsters in a safe placeChange the end of the dream story Change the end of the dream story Change the position of the dreamer Change the position of the dreamer (victim<–>hero, active<->passive, (victim<–>hero, active<->passive, helped<->helper)helped<->helper)Form friendship with your dreamsForm friendship with your dreams

Dreams as intervention material

mental health functions of dreaming and raija-leena punamäki, university of tampere, finland

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