EXPERTS at the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), are discounting the idea that dreams can be explained in a straightforward manner.

Dr. Raymond Mgeni, a MUHAS psychiatrist said in an interview that there is no single rule to explain dreams, as sleep experienced have a natural and therapeutic function in the mind.

"Dreams are normal and a part of the mind's way of healing and soothing emotions," he said, noting that beyond their often-mystifying sequences, dreams are not merely random illusions but crucial mental processes that actively help the brain cope, heal, and organize information.

This understanding sheds light on the importance of our nocturnal experiences for overall well-being, he said, affirming that during sleep, our brains engage in sophisticated activities far beyond simple rest. 

Dreaming is highlighted as a fundamental mechanism through which the mind processes the vast influx of data, emotions and experiences accumulated during waking hours, he asserted.

He emphasized that dreaming serves as a fundamental mechanism for the brain to rest and process the vast amount of information it continuously absorbs.

“Simply put, dreams are a part of the mind where the brain, during rest, processes various information received through the senses throughout the day or even before,” he stated. 

"The brain never stops working; if it did, it would mean death,” he declared, noting that the common experience of forgotten dreams arise from an elusive nature of dream recall.

Most dreams are instantly lost or only fragments remain as part od the brain's memory formation process. "Memory formation doesn't prioritize the retention of that information," he affirmed.

Saldeen Kimangale, a clinical psychologist, said that the dreaming process is essentially the brain's way of processing thoughts. Dreams are how the brain processes thoughts, emotions and memories during sleep, he stated.

“Sometimes dreams reveal our secret thoughts, such as fears, sorrows or desires., while at other times they simply reflect what we are experiencing, expecting, or planning,” he explained

Dreams can also be triggered by external stimuli or sensations, he specified, elaborating that "we dream because we are stimulated – for example, hearing a sound, experiencing a smell or even being uncomfortable, like being covered by a blanket, having difficulty breathing or experiencing pain."

During these subconscious moments, the brain develops these occurrences into dream narratives, which explains why dreams often appear in fragmented patches that are sometimes coherent and often not so.

“Often, we don't remember most dreams (though some we do) because the part of the brain responsible for memory storage doesn't function optimally when we sleep,” he said.

Because dreams often lack a specific format or logical sequence, their retention is difficult. "Sometimes, we dream as a way to remember something we need to work on," he added.