Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “Sleep relaxes the body, while dreams relax the soul!”

Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan noted that dreaming is a part of our genetic algorithm and said, “It is not possible for a person not to dream. Everyone does dream, they may just not remember it. Dreaming is a physiological feature of human beings. Sleep relaxes the body, and dreams relax the soul. True psychological relaxation occurs during dreams.” Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that if a person does not have a psychological issue, there is no need to spend time interpreting dreams, adding, “However, for someone undergoing psychiatric treatment or in the process of therapy, dreams may be meaningful.”

President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan evaluated the subject of the subconscious and dreams.

“The human being is the only creature aware of its own existence”

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that among living beings, especially within the mammal group, the human being is the only one with consciousness, and said, “No other creature has consciousness. Other beings do not have a concept of time, awareness of the past and future, consciousness of existence, a search for meaning, or awareness of death. These are characteristics unique to humans. The human being is the only living entity that is aware of its own existence. Being able to ask questions like ‘Who am I, where did I come from, where am I going?’ is an indicator of this awareness. The things a person does unconsciously usually stem from the subconscious. The actions performed knowingly are conscious, while those performed unknowingly are unconscious behaviors.”

“Consciousness is considered a quantum entity”

Stating that these issues were discussed about 100 years ago by psychiatrists such as Freud and Jung, especially in relation to mental illnesses, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said, “Since the 2000s, with the advancement of neuroscience, new discussions about consciousness have emerged. Today, consciousness is seen as an entity above the brain; even, according to some views, as a quantum entity. Consciousness still remains one of the most fundamental topics of debate in psychiatry. It may very well be the quantum of psychiatry. The subconscious is the source of behaviors that appear unexpectedly even to the person themselves. Some individuals may give automatic responses or exhibit reflexive behaviors without thinking. States such as superiority complex or inferiority complex are associated with subconscious mechanisms. Various defense mechanisms in psychology have been developed to explain such states.”

“Implicit memory contains information used automatically without awareness”

Prof. Tarhan explained that in today’s neuroscience, instead of the term “subconscious,” the concept of “implicit memory” is now being used and continued: “The counterpart of consciousness is ‘explicit memory.’ Explicit memory includes the information that we are aware of and remember consciously, while implicit memory includes the information we use automatically without being aware of it. The subconscious consists of the automatic behaviors a person performs without thinking. This occurs through shortcuts in the brain. Thus, it is not only a philosophical or abstract issue; it also has a neurobiological basis. How well a person can manage the mechanisms of implicit memory (subconscious) and explicit memory (consciousness) determines the extent to which they can control their life.”

“A person may suddenly give an intense reaction to someone in front of them”

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan explained that although the terms subconscious and unconscious are sometimes confused, they refer to different concepts, and continued:
“A person may suddenly give an intense reaction to someone in front of them. When you analyze this situation, you see that the person they react to physically or behaviorally resembles someone who harmed them in the past. The person is not aware of this, but the subconscious recalls the similarity and creates an automatic response. In other words, even if the person in front of them has done nothing wrong, the individual reacts under the influence of a past negative experience. This is triggered by the subconscious. Such subconscious reactions are closely related to dreams. That is why Freud said, ‘Dreams are the royal road to the subconscious.’ According to him, dreams are the easiest and most direct way to access the subconscious. Jung, on the other hand, stated that there are bridges between consciousness and the subconscious. In other words, both approaches accept that dreams and the subconscious are closely connected.”

Daytime dreaming is seen in anxious individuals

Prof. Tarhan stated that hypnosis, dreams, and sleep are all different states of consciousness and added, “There are three types of reality. Physical reality is the concrete reality we are currently living in. Imaginary reality is the reality we experience while imagining. A person dreams, and when the dream ends, they return to physical reality. Here, the brain immediately performs a ‘reality check’ and refocuses on the present. Dream reality is the state in which a person feels they are in another reality during the dream. Upon waking, there is a short ‘twilight period’ before the person understands that it was a dream. For example, in types of dreams such as serial dreams or lucid dreams, there are short transitions between consciousness and the subconscious. According to surveys, about 40 out of every 100 people report experiencing lucid dreams. So lucid dreaming is not a rare phenomenon.”

Tarhan also stated that someone who is awake during the day but appears to be daydreaming may actually be experiencing a “daytime dream,” and said, “This is a condition known as Maladaptive Daydreaming. It is especially common in anxious individuals. The person fluctuates between daydreams and reality, and this may influence their behavior.”

Dreams operate outside the concepts of space and time

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan explained that the realm referred to as the “quantum of consciousness” or the “quantum of mental health” is the world of dreams, and that dreams operate outside the concepts of space and time. He said, “Jung stated on this topic, ‘A part of the human soul must be beyond space and time.’ Jung's definition of the soul here closely resembles the concept of the soul in religious literature. The human being may have come from another energy spectrum, live in physical reality in this world, and transition to another plane of energy after death. In other words, human existence is not limited to this world alone. We are only in a simulated part of this broader equation. Dreams are the domain through which we connect to that equation.”

Could the universe be a simulation?

Referring to the work of scientists involved in quantum physics, Tarhan explained:
“What we observe exists, and what we do not observe behaves as though it does not exist. At this point, the question arises: Could there be other beings beyond black holes who observe this universe using superior computer technology? This idea has led some scientific circles to ask, ‘Could the universe be a simulation?’ These thoughts also resonate in sacred texts. According to some interpretations of the Qur'an, a perspective emerges suggesting that 'we are living in the mind of God.’ Due to such views, many thinkers throughout history have been criticized, declared insane, or even put on trial. However, today quantum physics allows for these questions to be discussed on scientific grounds, because quantum is a field of science that attempts to define uncertainties.”

How does the brain behave during sleep?

Tarhan noted that some scientists also ask the question, “Is dreaming an area where a person connects with the quantum universe?” and said, “This situation brings the topic of dreams not only into the realm of the subconscious but also into a shared area of discussion that includes quantum physics, psychiatry, philosophy, and spirituality. For this reason, dream laboratories are being established in many places around the world today, and scientific research on dreams is being conducted. The behavior of the brain during sleep, especially during dream periods, is being examined.”

Repressed traumas must be resolved

Tarhan pointed out that during therapy processes, efforts are sometimes made to reach the subconscious through the conscious mind. However, in certain difficult cases—especially when it is necessary to resolve repressed traumas—conscious methods may prove insufficient. In such situations, a method called narcoanalysis may be used, which involves the use of anesthesia-like medications to bring the individual into a state of consciousness between sleep and wakefulness. This can help resolve unresolved trauma.

Relief is experienced when trauma is resolved

He stated that the subconscious can behave like a network of encapsulated trauma in the brain, and accessing these networks is similar to draining an abscess. Tarhan said, “When the trauma is resolved, the individual experiences relief both mentally and physically. Nowadays, narcoanalysis is rarely used for such situations. Instead, a more common and safer technique called EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is preferred. In this technique, the right and left brain hemispheres are simultaneously stimulated through sound or eye movements. In this way, the individual becomes aware of and can reprocess repressed traumatic memories. The common feature of all these methods is that they create an altered state of consciousness in the person.”

“True psychological rest occurs during dreams”

Tarhan emphasized that dreaming is a part of our genetic algorithm and said, “It is not possible for a person not to dream. Everyone dreams, they may simply not remember. For example, even babies who are born blind can smile in their sleep. These babies, who have not yet developed their sense of sight or discovered the world, smiling during sleep shows that dreams are related not only to data received from the external world but also to the brain’s internal mechanisms. This demonstrates that dreaming is a fundamental function of the brain. A baby who does not yet know abstract concepts smiling in a dream points to a domain of the brain that functions beyond space and time. Dreaming is a physiological feature of the human being. Sleep rests the body, and dreams rest the soul. True psychological rest occurs during dreaming.”

"Dreaming is a physiological need"

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the subconscious is actually our implicit memory and has a physiological counterpart in the brain. He said, “Dreams are also a result of this implicit memory. Dreaming is a physiological need. By eliminating dreams, you can create schizophrenia-like symptoms in a person. If a person is awakened every time they enter a dream during REM sleep, it can lead to serious psychological disturbances.”

Dreams may be meaningful for someone undergoing therapy

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan noted that if a person does not have a psychological problem, there is no need to waste time on dream interpretations. He said, “However, for someone receiving psychiatric treatment or undergoing a therapy process, dreams may be meaningful. For example, if a person encounters a frightening situation in a dream despite not experiencing fear in real life, this can actually be a useful motif operating in the subconscious and applicable in therapy. Dreams are often filled with symbols. For instance, seeing a lion in a dream may symbolize strength and courage; seeing water may symbolize compassion; seeing a dog may symbolize a search for trust or friendship. These interpretations appear in dream interpretation books. However, these symbols do not carry the same meaning for every individual. What is important is interpreting the dream in a way that suits the person's own psychological structure.”

The rate of being influenced by dreams is very high in our society

Tarhan emphasized that people with negative mindsets generally create negative scenarios about their dreams, while individuals with a more positive nature tend to interpret their dreams more positively. He continued, “However, in our society, the rate of being influenced by dreams is quite high. According to research, this rate can reach up to 85 percent. This means that many people are influenced by dreams and may make incorrect decisions, even damaging their relationships because of them.”

Dreams are never meaningless...

Tarhan stated that dreams are never meaningless and speak through symbols. He said, “However, if you do not understand the language of these symbols, it is not possible for you to understand the dreams. Moreover, these symbols are not universal; they are personal. Dreams are nourished by personal experiences and emotions. They do not use a universal language; they are shaped according to the inner world of the individual. Therefore, if you want to understand a dream, you need to determine what the symbol means for that person.”

Although dream interpretations can be an important tool during the analysis phase, Tarhan noted that they do not always demonstrate the same success in the treatment process. He added, “For this reason, the current evolution of psychoanalysis is referred to as neuropsychoanalysis. Today, recognizing the subconscious is easier than in the past. Thanks to developing techniques, it has become possible to reach the subconscious through many methods.”

Inspiration may appear either while awake or during dreams

Drawing attention to the concept of prophetic dreams, Tarhan said, “A person sees someone in their dream, and the next day that person actually appears before them. In society, the rate of people who have such dreams is around 50 to 60 percent. Almost everyone has had an intuitive, meaningful dream experience like this in their lives. What is really important is being able to interpret these dreams correctly. If a person does not interpret the dream they have seen, sometimes this can lead to problems. When a person becomes excessively focused on a subject, this is called creative thinking, and as a result of this intense concentration, inspiration suddenly arises. This inspiration may appear while the person is awake or during dreams. Therefore, there may be a dimension of meaning in the universe that we have not yet fully understood. Dreams can at times be considered one of the ways to connect with this dimension.”

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)