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Mechanics of dreaming - Dreaming occurs primarily within the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of sleep, when the brain is highly active and simulates sensory experiences, emotions, and memories. Additionally, this stage involves the limbic system, which manages emotions, and the prefrontal cortex, which usually governs rational thought, leading to the often surreal and vivid nature of dreams.

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Importance of dreaming - Dreaming is important and helps enable your thoughts and experiences each day to be transferred to your memory. Dreams can also help individuals process daily experiences and cope with stress.

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Famous dream theorists - Numerous theorists out there used to, and still do, interpret dreams. Three of the most recognized are Sigmund Freud, who believed that dreams reveal hidden desires and anxieties, providing a window into the subconscious mind. Carl Jung (pictured) expanded on this by suggesting that dreams contain universal symbols from the collective unconscious, and J. Allan Hobson proposed that dreams are the brain's way of making sense of random neural activity.

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Dreams -

Curious about which dreams are most popular in certain countries and what they mean? Click onward to explore.

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Teeth falling out -

If you’re having dreams about your teeth falling out, it could mean several things. The main theory is that it's related to vanity and anxiety about how others perceive you and your appearance. Dreams like this may result from a fear of rejection, feeling sexually undesirable, or even fear of aging. 

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Which countries? - Countries that dream about their teeth falling out include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, UAE, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

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Snakes - Dreams about snakes can be complicated to decipher as they can be positive or negative for someone depending on how the individual views snakes. For many, the snake refers to fear as snakes are unpredictable and can attack at any time. A snake in your dreams may suggest there is something unpredictable and out of control happening in your life.

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Which countries? - Countries that boast the most dreams about snakes include Austria, Brazil, Finland, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Portugal.

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Pregnancy - Regardless of whether you have been pregnant before, want to be in the future, or don’t want children at all, many people have dreams of being pregnant. It’s suggested that these dreams are rarely about actually being pregnant and more about something in your life that is in a growth and development phase. Basically, plans are in process and fruition is near.

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Which countries? - Countries where pregnancy dreams are common include Denmark, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, and Switzerland.

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An ex-partner - Dreams about an ex-partner can be especially jarring. It’s thought that these dreams represent one or more of the following: unresolved feelings about an ex, previous trauma, recently seeing an ex, or even similar relationship concerns with a current partner.

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Which countries? - Countries where exes tend to make subconscious appearances include France, Japan, and Mexico.

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Mice - Dreams about mice can be interpreted in many ways depending on things like the color of the mouse or mice and where the dream mouse is (in a house or not for example). Is the mouse biting you, being trapped, or playing in the dream? In general, though, mice often represent anxiety, hidden fears, or unresolved and overwhelming issues.

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Which countries? -

The only country, according to this particular research, that has dreams about mice is Chile.

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Spiders - Interpreters of spider dreams speculate that these dreams can mean any of the following: a regressive attitude or behavior that is prohibiting you from reaching your full potential, feminine energy, women, or mother figures, and finally, a feeling of vulnerability or anxiety. Dreams and their meanings can vary depending on how many spiders there are and what the spiders are doing (biting you or crawling on you etc.).

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Which countries? - Two countries that dream about spiders include Argentina and Latvia.

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The dead -

Having a dream involving a dead person can suggest you have a fear of change or even of the unknown. It might also symbolize the ending stages of a phase in your life and a need to let go and move on. Be sure to consider who the dead person is, are they currently living in real life or someone who passed away previously?

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Which countries? -

The dead is a prevalent dream theme for the people of Hungary, Mali, Pakistan, and Costa Rica.

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Rats -

Rats can have multiple meanings when they show up in a dream. In order to better understand the dream it’s important to evaluate the following: Is the rat dead? Is the rat biting you? Is it in a cage? Is the rat friendly? And other similar questions. Typically though, rats signify a sneaky person in your life or a big issue that is gnawing away at you.

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Which countries? -

Peru is the sole country listed in this source that has a lot of dreams revolving around rats.

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Money -

While there are many interpretations regarding dreams about money, it most often deals with and symbolizes self-worth, a desire for security, or success. Gaining money can be a great thing while losing it might cause a lot of stress and worry about financial instability.

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Which countries? - Money is important and a source of many dreams in countries like South Africa, Belize, and Slovenia.

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Falling into water - Falling into water in a dream can represent an actual fear of swimming or bodies of water such as the ocean. However, once you fall into the water in this dream, it can represent a feeling of suspension or limbo. Perhaps you’re unsure of where you stand in your career or relationships 

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Which countries? -

South Korea is a country where falling into water is a common dream. 

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Lice - Lice in dreams have been said to be symbolic of feelings of guilt, shame, or even neglect. They can also symbolize a fear of impurity of personal cleanliness, as well as social perceptions.

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Which countries? - In countries like Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, lice make appearances in dreams often.

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Death - Dreaming about death is theorized to be less about actual death and more about something in your life ending. Perhaps there’s a relationship, project, or other important chapter of your life that’s coming to a close and it’s very prevalent in your mind, even at night in your subconscious.

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Which countries? -

For the Czechia, Niger, and Sri Lanka, death is a common dream topic.

Sources: (Embed) (Verywell Mind) (dream moods) (Sleep Foundation) (Mindberg) (PsychCentral) (mindbodygreen) (City MAttress) (NIH)

See also: 10 common dreams and what they may mean

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