MHM Magazine

Issue 5 | 2022 | MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS | 39 MHM Dreams are fictions that are invented by the mind using reality formed by the conscious, the personal conscious, and the collective unconscious mind. During the process of sleep, dreams serve the function of revealing imbalances in an individual’s psychological makeup. Additionally, dreams are messages from the unconscious mind which may serve as markers of an individual’s repressed fears and biopsychosocial conflicts. Thus, by asking patients about their dreams, or if they are even dreaming at all, mental health workers can gain access to information that can assist in comprehensive treatment. It’s important to understand the meaning of the following words as they are integrated throughout the article: The Conscious Mind: This term refers to thoughts, feelings, experiences, and mental processes that an individual is aware of in their mind. The conscious mind consists of both unpleasant and pleasant entities. The Unconscious Mind: The unconscious mind can be described as a segment of the mind that holds information, important events, experiences, and mental processes that an individual is not aware of. This unawareness dictates the uncharted understanding of the relationship between one’s internal psychological makeup and outward emotional, behavioural, and or physical problems. The unconscious mind consists of both unpleasant and pleasant entities. Complex: A mental image of oneself with certain characteristics and limitations ranging from simple to multi- faceted. The Personal Unconscious: A metaphorical domain in the mind that holds all the experiences or memories that have been forgotten or purposefully repressed; within this domain certain complexes exist. The Collective Unconscious: The deepest level of human existence that is transgenerational. The collective unconscious contains accumulations around inherited ancestral experiences (the meanings we attach to symbols, fears, attractions etc.). As much as the body uses sleep in the restorative process of healing and in the process of growth, dreams can also be understood to play a vital role in healing bodily sicknesses and for psychological explorations. Through the basic exploration of a patient’s dreams, the healthcare worker facilitates the integration of the unconscious into patient care. This is simply bringing aspects of the patient’s life into awareness that can be used in a beneficial way. Picture a toolbox with tools in an enclosed compartment in the lower part of that toolbox; asking patients about their dreams is a way to get them to open the hidden lower part of the toolbox so that they can reach for items that can help them. These tools can be used to fix and rearrange aspects in their psychological makeup that could be impeding positive psychological decisions impacting their health. These tools can also illuminate blind spots and bring about insight into fears, beliefs, and maladaptive coping mechanisms that could be impacting their experiences. SN Mthembu Clinical Psychologist www.centeredconsciousness.co.za THREE LEVELS OF USING REM DREAMS TO ASSIST IN PATIENT CARE