Why do we dream?

We’ve all had those horrific dreams before— we made it to school but forgot to put on clothes, can’t seem to make a peep when we scream for help, or are free falling. Why do we dream? According to the National Sleep Foundation, this question has been a topic heavily debated since the years of Aristotle and Plato and has since been expanded on by psychoanalysts in the 19th and 20th centuries. The subject of dreaming fascinates me because I have had dozens of inexplicable, scary, joyful, and surreal dreams myself, and I have always wanted to sort out why these visions occur. While the topic is still heavily debated today, theories include useless by-products of brain functioning; mechanisms where the brain sorts through memories, solves problems, and analyzes emotions; and even ways to act out unconscious wants and needs in a safe and “unreal” setting. Although it may still be a highly debatable subject, one thing is for sure: the illusions and fantasies the mind can create during a good night’s sleep are remarkable.