Erotic dreams: why do we have them and how to interpret them?

According to many psychoanalysts, the human mind has a conscious and unconscious component. Everything that happens to a person while awake is directly controlled by thoughts and images arising in the cerebral cortex. Sometimes you wake up in the morning and are completely shocked by what you dreamed. Immediately, thoughts pop into your head: “Am I really that perverted?” Psychologists unanimously agree that dreams, especially erotic ones, reveal more than just what we want directly—they’re simply a type of scenario that includes sexual scenes.

Contents of the article:

• Where do erotic dreams come from?
• What can you do to have erotic dreams?
• The meaning of erotic dreams: a dream book

Where do erotic dreams come from?

What does it mean to dream about sex? First of all: contrary to popular belief, such dreams do not suggest a desire for infidelity. Even the most faithful of people sometimes dream about sex—with those who wouldn’t betray their loved one in deed or thought. So why does our brain generate such images? Dreams are a highly distorted mixture of our memories and thoughts: in other words, all the information we collect in our minds. The images we see during sleep can arise from both current thoughts and those that accompanied us even in the most distant past.

So, if we’ve recently thought about sex, or, by the way, about any person, there’s a certain probability that our mind will conjure up an image of intercourse with that person. We have no control over this; we generate these mental connections completely unconsciously—it happens automatically, like breathing or swallowing saliva.

Of course, sex in dreams is an image we can recall more consciously. If we think intensely about intercourse or fall asleep feeling aroused, there’s a good chance we’re dreaming about sex, not a Sunday stroll or a Hawaiian beach.

It’s important to note that the brain remains “connected” to the body during sleep—an erotic dream can trigger a nocturnal orgasm we’re not even aware of. That’s why we sometimes wake up with wet sheets. This happens to both women and men, most often in teenage boys.

What can I do to have erotic dreams?

Is it possible to influence the brain to have erotic dreams? It turns out that the position we adopt while sleeping is important. When we sleep on our stomachs, we gently rub our genitals against the mattress, and our body transmits information about arousal to our minds. Such stimuli can influence what we see in dreams, but not necessarily. Will thinking about sex before bed work? Not quite: what matters is what we think about throughout the day, not just before bed.

But is it possible not to dream about sexual intercourse? According to research, no. During sleep, various areas of the brain remain more or less active—in a completely asleep state, the prefrontal cortex is responsible for self-discipline. It could be said that it is precisely because of this part of the brain that we have dreams we didn’t even suspect. It’s because of this that people who’ve never dreamed of driving a car become rally drivers, while the calmest people dream of fights, shootouts, and assaults. The same applies to people who dream of the wildest and most chaotic love, even though they don’t think about sex every day.

The Meaning of Erotic Dreams: Dream Interpretation

We’ve already explained the neurological significance of erotic dreams. But what about esotericism? What does a dream about sex mean or foretell? The dream book offers interpretations of various dreams:

• Sex with your current partner in a dream – if it happens frequently, it signifies the fear of losing a loved one. Such dreams usually appear after arguments and quarrels, but also when relationships are becoming increasingly cold. It’s time to fight for a happy, lasting relationship.
• Dreaming about incestuous sex – Don’t worry, this dream has nothing to do with unhealthy family relationships. Instead, it invites you to consider some important topic you’ve been avoiding. Dream interpreters don’t specify what it’s about: you know best what you don’t want to talk about for fear of the consequences.
• Dreaming about sex with your ex – While this dream doesn’t mean you want to make love to your ex, it is a sign of intense memories of a past relationship – not necessarily sexual. Perhaps something is missing in your relationship, and you continue to ruminate on the past? This is a sign to reflect on the pros and cons of your current relationship or end it and consider renewing the old one.
• Dreaming about sex with someone of the same sex – the meaning of erotic dreams with homosexual overtones is unclear. According to some dream books, they suggest a lack of satisfaction in the relationship (not only sexually), while according to others, they foretell a conflict or quarrel. Such dreams, which occur in heterosexuals, have no relation to attraction to the opposite sex.
• Dreaming about sex in public – foretells that one of your secrets may be revealed. Next time, be careful what you say: if you say too much to the wrong person, they may not keep their secret. Also, make sure your data (for example, on your computer) is securely protected.
• Dreaming about sex with a married man – beware of your finances. You may lose a lot of money or decide to make a bad investment. Be sure to refrain from buying expensive items and don’t take out loans. Also, avoid borrowing large sums of money.
• Dreaming about sex with someone else’s partner – beware of fleeting affairs and casual relationships. They can cause a lot of trouble. If you are in a stable relationship and don’t think about infidelity, you have nothing to worry about.
• Dreaming about sex with a stranger – indicates that you are afraid of the future. Fear of the unknown can begin to interfere with your daily life, leading to poor mental health. Such a dream foretells that it’s time to step out of your comfort zone and take action.
• Dreaming about sex with a famous person or idol – foretells successful social gatherings. If you meet someone important to you within a few days, or if you’re planning a meeting with people from your professional circle, you’ll likely be lucky. You’ll become more talkative and confident!
• Dreaming of intermittent intercourse – This dream refers to problems in communicating with people. If you don’t start being more courageous and open, your relationships with others may deteriorate further and further. On the other hand, if you don’t have problems maintaining relationships, but you’ve been consciously avoiding others lately, you should rekindle old ones.

A person spends about a third of their life sleeping. People have always paid great attention to dreams. They saw them as an opportunity to predict future events and even tried to control them. Indian yogis, Tibetan monks, and Siberian shamans all practiced this. By learning the skills of quality sleep, you can increase your chances of success and begin to automatically make healthier choices.