Colored dreams and schizophrenia - is there a relationship?


Schizophrenia has many signs. To list everything, more than one monograph will be required. This is due to the polymorphism of the disease, which causes the unpredictability of its course. Even hallucinations, which are usually attributed to schizophrenics, are not always observed in schizophrenia spectrum disorders. In the article we will consider the phenomenon of colored dreams, which are often considered a sign of schizophrenia.

In this article

  • General information about schizophrenia
  • General information about sleep and dreams
  • The connection between colored dreams and schizophrenia

Why are dreams colored?

To understand why dreams are colored, you need to turn to specialist research. Experiments have been carried out repeatedly to explain this phenomenon.

One group of researchers has put forward the view that all people see only brightly colored visions. But not everyone is able to distinguish between color and black and white dreams . Some people simply do not remember shades, so they may decide that they do not see them at night.

Another group of scientists holds the opposite opinion. They believe that everyone sees only black and white scenes, and after waking up they can unconsciously attach one or another tone to the objects that appear.

no consensus on why people have colorful dreams . The most popular point of view is that the richness and vividness of dreams directly depends on the events of the last days or weeks. The more of them there were, the stronger the emotions experienced from them, the greater the likelihood of vivid stories appearing.

Even in ancient times, it was believed that rich pictures were produced by an overloaded brain. Fatigue, problems and troubles lead to the fact that night dreams contain a large number of different colors. If we are talking about exhaustion and complete lack of strength, then, on the contrary, the plots will be faded and dull.

Researchers also say that all shades have different emotional colors. Black color is most often associated with depression, problems, grief, and red with danger. In those moments when a person experiences serious emotional stress, the tones with which he associates a particular situation may predominate in night images.

Why do I always have colorful dreams? This may indicate a busy life, vivid emotions in reality, the presence of problems and hidden experiences. It is necessary to analyze each color separately, as well as the scenes that appear in dreams.

Watching TV before bed

Many people go to bed with a TV in the room.

But experts warn there are several reasons to avoid watching TV or using the computer before bed.

First, the programs you watch may be mixed up with your dreams, says clinical psychologist Steve Orma.

“Our dreams come from the subconscious,” he says, “so if you watch a TV show that has a strong emotional effect on you, your brain may attach more meaning to it and focus on it in your dreams.”

Secondly, blue light emitted by monitors and phone screens is harmful. It negatively affects your sleep schedule.

Who sees colorful dreams

Scientists have also found out who sees colored dreams more often than others. It turned out that people with well-developed intellect and creative abilities are more likely to see brightly colored dreams.

associated with creative professions have colorful dreams First of all, we are talking about artists and musicians. Sometimes painters admit that they saw the plots of some paintings at night, and only then turned them into reality.

In addition, vivid images are for the following population groups:

  • Lefties. This is due to the fact that the right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for imaginative thinking and imagination. And in left-handed people it develops better.
  • Women are also more sensitive to bright pictures than men. They see colored visions one and a half times more often.
  • The younger a person is, the more likely he is to see a rich story. Therefore, in most cases, children remember vivid dreams.
  • People who watched a bright movie before going on vacation will almost certainly be able to see rich pictures.
  • After an emotional and interesting day, the likelihood of colorful images appearing increases.

But does everyone have colorful dreams ? Researchers think not. Older people often see black and white images. This is due to the fact that black and white television predominated in their youth. Therefore, today's youth, when reaching old age, have a greater chance of seeing scenes saturated with colors.

Sleeping pills can ruin your sleep

Bad dreams often occur while taking sleeping pills. But this only means that the medicine is working.

If you take sleep medications that contain melatonin or Ambien, your sleep schedule will change.

The deep sleep that these medications provide includes intense REM cycles with extremely vivid dreams.

Once your body gets used to these changes, your dreams should return to normal.

Colored dreams: what do you dream about?

When colored dreams occur, what the images are for will depend on several factors. Here it is important to take into account exactly what shade you dreamed about, as well as at what moment you dreamed about the plot.

If previously only black and white images appeared to you, and then color dreams suddenly appeared, what does this mean is not difficult to figure out. These changes indicate the process of growing up. We are not necessarily talking about children or teenagers. For adults, a dream can mean a turning point in life, a rejection of any erroneous ideas, or serious changes. The images suggest that it is time to take responsibility and move on to adult actions.

Colored dreams - whether they come true or not will depend on the day on which they are dreamed. For example, it is believed that on Friday night there are more accurate symbols. And the brighter they were, the more likely it was that the plot would come to life.

Why a woman or a man dreams in color will depend on their details. Remember what area of ​​life your night dreams were associated with. Perhaps you can find a clue in them. Remember also that on a waxing moon the likelihood of seeing a prophetic dream is greater.

The nature of dreams


Dreams are the result of the active work of the cerebral hemispheres during a person’s night rest. They are inextricably linked with reality and come at moments of strong experiences, emotional outbursts, and are the result of hidden desires. The stronger the emotions and excitement experienced in reality, the more emotional and colorful the dreams will be.

The meaning of color in a dream

To correctly interpret the images, it is necessary to take into account the specific meaning of color in a dream . Remember which shades predominated and refer to the following information for interpretation:

  • The color purple speaks of the desire to free yourself, to break down barriers that exist only in the head. This is a sign that a person is about to have an insight that will completely change his life. In addition, the image hints at the emerging truth, understanding, and the fight against deception. Purple also indicates creativity, inspiration and new discoveries. In the near future, something unusual and wonderful awaits the dreamer.
  • Blue is the personification of spiritual qualities. Often it hints at kindness, happiness and sincere feelings. Other details of the dream will help reveal the exact meaning of the color. Sometimes blue shades indicate a desire to get rid of daily worries and difficulties. This may be a sign that a person needs rest, solitude and peace. Perhaps you feel a desire to be alone for at least a little while to think about everything that is happening. This color also represents depth of thought.
  • Blue objects also represent positive character traits. This light tone indicates openness, clarity, joy. It may hint at a desire for peace, harmony, and tranquility. Blue hints at taking time for the spiritual component.
  • White color embodies innocence and purity. Most often it relates to a person’s thoughts and speaks of inner harmony. It may mean that you are just trying to find peace, or have already been able to achieve it. To accurately interpret night dreams, they take into account whether the white objects were clean or had dirt on them. In this case, the image is associated with bad deeds, internal imbalance, and depression.
  • Traditionally, yellow is the color of joy and happiness. This is a shade of the sun that represents summer, warmth, and a new harvest. But when interpreting, they take into account the form in which this tone appeared. For example, autumn leaves rarely mean anything good. They symbolize internal decline, sadness, longing for the past. This image may hint at mental anguish and torment, a feeling of hopelessness.
  • Green is traditionally the color of renewal and happiness. Green things in visions can indicate hopes and desire for a better life. The origins of the interpretation are related to grass and tree leaves. Green is a symbol of spring and the beginning of a new happy period. The shade may hint that the sleeping person is striving for change. This is a sign of fatigue from the past, a desire to start doing what will make you happy. Green can indicate dissatisfaction with what is happening in the present. In this case, it encourages action. But it is important to take into account what exactly acquired an emerald tone in the night plot. If we are talking about green eyes, this is considered a subconscious personification of deception, danger and risk. Perhaps a person will actually encounter unscrupulous people.
  • The red tone is associated with pleasure, passion, strong feelings and emotions. The presence of objects of this color in a dream indicates the unbridled nature of the dreamer, that he cannot resist his passions. This is the desire to indulge one's own desires and seek pleasure. Another option for interpreting red things is to desire a luxurious life. This can be indicated by the bright scarlet car that you had in your vision. If red flowers appeared and you presented them as a gift, this may be a hint of the strong feelings that you actually experience.
  • Black is traditionally interpreted as a symbol of grief, depression, misfortune or trouble. In the dark, secrets are hidden from a person that cannot be solved without bright light. And the unknown often warns of risk and danger. We can talk about internal disagreements, imbalance, lack of peace. Often black objects are a reflection of the depression into which a sleeping person plunges. This is a sign of despair, suppressed emotions, unfulfilled ambitions. The color may hint at a longing for the past.
  • Pink and pastel shades are the personification of naivety, inner purity, and sublime feelings. But this meaning can intensify, and in this case it will indicate infantility, being in a fictional world, and lack of connection with reality. Sometimes the color hints at the desire to live a simple life, devoid of difficulties and problems. The person who dreams about it is not attracted to complex goals. He craves ease in life. True, this leads to a lack of responsibility and a desire to shift responsibilities to other people. Daydreaming, which is characteristic of a person, alienates him from reality. It is necessary to find a balance between internal desires and external circumstances. It is impossible to constantly live in your own fantasies.

What it is

In order to understand why people have colorful dreams, you must first understand what dreams are. During rest, the human brain actively works, replenishes energy resources, and transfers information from short-term to long-term memory. In the process, images appear, the clarity of which varies depending on the degree of experience.

The brighter the excitement and emotions experienced during the day, the clearer and more colorful the dreams will be.

The predominance of visions in dark shades is associated with the pressure of everyday problems on the human psyche. During rest, the brain continues to look for a solution to this problem and colors images in dark and red tones. Often a solution is found and when a person wakes up, he already has a ready-made solution, although he does not remember where he knows it from.

Colored dreams - are they good or bad?

Many people think about whether colored dreams are good or bad. Experts are in a hurry to reassure, since there is nothing strange in such phenomena. In most cases, colored dreams are normal because anyone can have them.

However, you should be concerned if you have always seen only black and white visions, and then suddenly they take on bright colors. If this scares and worries you, you should consult a doctor. This may be a sign of unhealthy brain activity, so you should get tested.

Lucid dreaming – is it worth practicing?

In fact, the OS technique is quite interesting - people engaged in the process of self-awareness in another reality want to live two lives in different worlds. What does this mean? The brain still does not receive the proper rest and the opportunity to ease the load on the neurons; over time, there is a high risk of developing very unpleasant mental disorders - from almost harmless sociopathy to violent and lush schizophrenia.

If you are still interested in this technique, be careful and don’t get carried away, alternate between OS and ordinary, human rest. We even have an article “LEARNING TO REST CORRECTLY”

Source

Research by specialists

Interesting experiments by scientists explain which people have colorful dreams. Repeated studies have been conducted on this topic. Most experts are of the opinion that a century ago people saw only black and white scenes.

The experiments also show that people perceive only images that appear during a night's rest. And only then the subconscious compares what it sees with what is happening in reality. This is how the symbols receive a specific picture, as well as a color. Although this does not happen in all cases.

American scientists also collected statistical data on whether people remember which colors predominated in their visions, and whether they were there at all. It turned out that the majority are not able to remember the images that appear at all. But people with a high level of intelligence most often remember stories and note their colorfulness and richness. According to the survey, vivid dreams are typical for 20% of residents.

Russian scientists have also conducted research on the topic of color visions. They determined that the frequency of occurrence of brightly colored scenes depended on the age of the person. The younger he is, the more often he dreams of them. It is already more difficult for older people to have rich dreams.

For example, after 50 years of age, the likelihood that a person will dream about vivid details is only 20%. Researchers attribute this to the fact that in youth emotions are stronger and there are more of them. And in old age, most people prefer peace of mind. Feelings become less strong, which also affects the area of ​​night dreams.

Brightness is normal

Let's try to compare the modern world and ancient Greece - which picture will seem more peaceful to you? Distant times, when humanity coexisted in harmony with nature, and the predominant colors were pastel colors, human eyes were not so tired of the contrast of the surrounding world.

All living things are in balance - in Greek manuscripts there is more than one mention of how bright and diverse the world of the gods and other civilizations are. Thus, experiencing color starvation, imagination itself filled in what was missing for the Greeks. This is also confirmed in the modern world - in winter, when white-gray and dirty shades predominate, people often dream of enchanting tones.

What else could provoke a riotous picture?

If you feel that stress may be one of the reasons, read our article on how to deal with it.

Colored dreams: a sign of schizophrenia

There is a common belief that colored dreams are a sign of schizophrenia. This idea has developed in the past. Psychiatrists in the early 20th century believed that only patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were capable of seeing colored visions. However, today research has proven this opinion to be untenable.

Statistics show that schizophrenics are 20 times more likely to observe vivid scenes. With this type of psychological disorder, the brain produces unusual and intense images. People suffering from schizophrenia observe their own fears and concerns at night. These are unconscious images that may include bright and unusual color combinations. In addition, patients with the disorder are more likely to remember what they see at night than ordinary people.

However, this is not proof that any color dream can be considered a sign of schizophrenia. Patients are able to remember what they see due to their own fears. Increased sensitivity allows schizophrenics to see and remember the strangest scenes.

But scientists have not identified a specific connection between the disease and colorful images. If you see intense stories and you are worried about whether you are suffering from schizophrenia, remember the details of the visions. In patients with a psychological disorder, nightmares and unhealthy images predominate. This is not observed in ordinary people.

Sleep schedule can cause nightmares

REM sleep is an important part of your sleep schedule, and significant changes in sleep can affect your dreams.

The full cycle from deep sleep to REM sleep is about 90 minutes, of which 20 are allocated for it.

To get enough sleep, a person needs to repeat this cycle at least four times. The National Sleep Foundation recommends at least seven hours of rest each night.

So what happens if you only get a few hours of sleep? The next night you will receive REM replenishment, resulting in more intense and tangible dreams.

This means that regular sleep will guarantee good dreams.

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