Is your dream self your real self?

[Edge]

It's something I've been wondering about for a few years. In my dreams, I am much more confident about who I am. I have none of the doubts that I have when I'm awake. I am undeniably ME (at least in dreams). The feelings of being me in those dreams are so strong, they don't leave room for doubt until I wake up.
But they're just dreams right? What does it mean? Are we our real selves in our dreams? Or is it nothing?

[King Malachite]

That depends on how you view yourself in the universe.  As Axelle said we create our own reality. 

Perhaps you are your real self because in our dreams there are no limitations.  We are free to be who we are without much fear or consequences as opposed to this universe.  Perhaps our dreams are our reality.  I certainly feel more live in my dreams.

"I slept and felt that I was awake. I moved through the world and felt like I was dreaming." -Vincent Volaju

[Brooke777]

It's something I've been wondering about for a few years. In my dreams, I am much more confident about who I am. I have none of the doubts that I have when I'm awake. I am undeniably ME (at least in dreams). The feelings of being me in those dreams are so strong, they don't leave room for doubt until I wake up.
But they're just dreams right? What does it mean? Are we our real selves in our dreams? Or is it nothing?

I don't know, but I really hope that my dreams are showing me what it is going to be like for me after transition.

[dylpickles]

I have incidents of both, I think. uncomfortable dreams where I'm a girl, or as I am now, and then dreams where I am a cis guy, and it's such a relief, like. and validating, too. I'm somewhat uncomfortable where I am now.

[Rising_Angel]

Hiya everyone!  So, I originally posted this over in another thread where (coincidentally) this topic was being discussed as part of a larger question, but I'll re-post it here as well as it applies.

That's how it is with me in dreams. The question I've been asking for year is are our dream selves our real selves?

Why do we have to be one or the other, Edge?  In science, there is the concept of mutil-dimensional existence.  For instance, if you had put a ball inside a wrapping paper roll, and then looked head on at it, all you would see is the wrapping paper on the roll.  This is basically the width and height of the roll, or 2-dimensional space.  It isn't until you change your perspective (by turning the roll sideways) that you see the ball inside, adding the 3rd dimension, depth, to the image.  Physics already accepts that are additional dimensions that we cannot perceive, and I like to think of dreams as our subconscious mind "turning the roll" for us.  Dreams allow us to see our world in a way our conscious minds cannot, and that to me means our dreams are as real to us as our waking moments, merely a different perspective!

When I think of dreams in pretext of viewing other aspects of our existent reality, I feel as though it is more appropriate to say that at no time do I stop being me and switch to someone else, rather I allow myself the freedom to no longer be weighed down by the method of perception I was formerly using.  For instance, if I am in the dark and put on a pair of nightvision lenses so I can see, I am still seeing things personally, merely freeing myself of the frailties of my eyes.  Dreams are the same, we free ourselves of the burdens of an existence that no longer applies to the state we are in.

[Sephirah]

My opinion is that dreams are messages and experiences from the subconscious part of our mind. The deeper part which acts on instinct, intuition and emotion. The part which embodies most, if not all, of the true essence of ourselves. Some people call it the psyche, the Mind, the higher self, even spirit. But the words all describe a more primal, basic, fundamental part of ourselves.

I trust that more than my waking, conscious mind because that deeper part of myself - the part that is happy just being - hasn't yet figured out how to tell me to shut the hell up and it's all nonsense, like the surface part of my mind - the part which is constantly pre-occupied with working out how to be.

[Jumpingcats]

I would say no. In most of my dreams I do stuff I wouldn't do or stuff happens thats impossible. For example I had a dream a couple of weeks ago that I was in the military and I've never been. Also had dreams I was living as a different gender then what I am right now. Most of my dreams are way out there and just strange.

[Pica Pica]

I also tend to play more parts and roles in dream than real life.

[Jamie D]

Interesting question.

I am, for no rhyme or reason, randomly male or female in those dreams I remember.

On occasion, I have very vivid dreams, so realistic, that I cannot tell when I wake, and am confused as to where I am, or where I have been.

[Edge]

Interesting question.

I am, for no rhyme or reason, randomly male or female in those dreams I remember.

On occasion, I have very vivid dreams, so realistic, that I cannot tell when I wake, and am confused as to where I am, or where I have been.

I have vivid dreams too. The kind where I can feel the texture of the stone or grass under my feet and see detail (which I can't do in other dreams for some reason) and stuff like that. Those are lucid dreams though so I am aware of myself and where I am. Actually, I feel rather hyper aware and I do feel like I'm awake. I even wake up from those dreams more tired than when I went to bed. It's only disorientating when I wake up though. Is that the kind you get?
I have been different races in dreams randomly. I don't think that means anything since I barely even notice while I'm in the dream. I just notice the overwhelming mental sense of I am me (sorry for the lack of words to describe it) no matter what I look like or where I am or what's happening. That may just be me though. Am I weird?