According to a survey, about five to ten percent of adults have nightmares once a month or more frequently(Dr. Phil, 2013). In my case, I experienced dreaming about failing the exam when I was preparing for entering university. These kind of dreams which are repeated with the same patterns are called recurring dreams. Generally, recurring dreams have a tendency to appear in a form of nightmares, and most of the people who experience these dreams are tormented by negative feelings such as fear and anxiety. However, suffering from recurring dreams can be prevented by a typical process. That is, understanding a dream by keeping a journal, exercising self-discipline, and finally controlling a dream.
The easiest and the most fundamental step to prevent recurring dreams is keeping a dream journal and interpreting those dreams(DreamStop.com, 2012). As it says “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know”, it is important to have knowledge of the dreams specifically. Through this step, recurring dreams can be remembered and analyzed. First of all, a dream journal should be able to be approached at anytime, anywhere. As a result, all of the details of the dreams can be recorded. Right after waking up in the morning, the first behavior that should be done is writing down the dreams. Even if a dreamer is awakened in the middle of the night, keeping the dream journal cannot be overlooked. Furthermore, this journal should be considered as an individual dream dictionary. With this in mind, the specifics of the dreams are recorded as much as possible and categorized according to similar symbols and patterns. Finally, this journal can be examined and consequently, symbols and patterns of the recurring dreams are analyzed. It means that every time those dreams occur again, the dreamer can consult this journal. Accordingly, recurring dreams will be considered more objectively.
The next stage to deal with recurring dreams is to train self-discipline(Steinbock, 2010). One of the most important factors in preventing recurring dreams is the willpower of the dreamers. Therefore, it is necessary to practice mind control. Above all, dreamers should never doubt that the dreams can be controlled. Especially before going to bed, the dreamers should have confidence that they already possess a significant ability to manage the dreams. This process of autohypnosis actually provides the dreamer a power of control. Then, after a dreamer awakes, the dreams of the last night should be contemplated slowly. Those dreams ought to be reflected in spare moments during the entire day. The more the dreamer ruminates on the dreams, there is more possibility to be conscious in the dreams. This awareness, as a result, facilitates the capability to recall dreams. In addition, learning to meditate is considerably helpful to mind control. The effects of meditation such as relaxing and purifying the body and the spirit are already widely known. However, it...
