What Exactly Are Dreams?

Have you ever been curious about what dreams are or where they come from?  It has been said that people who have studied both myths and dreams have become aware of the similarities between them.  For example, both situations involve narratives about a hero.  In the myth of the creation stories God is seen as the “creator” who creates the world and life as we know it.  This can relate to our everyday dreams where we are seen as the creator.  As the creator of our own dreams we are allowed to create anything that we want, even those things that go against the law of physics.  So with this said, what really is a dream?

So I ask you: Do you believe that dreams are similar to myths?  If so, why?  Do you ever feel like the hero in your dream?  Do you ever feel like you create an alternate life in your dreams because they may not be appropriate?  

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dream-catcher/201202/myth-and-dream

What's wrong with me?

Have you ever felt a cold coming on after a long week and instead of going to a doctor you self diagnose yourself with the flu? Or do you have a friend that has all the signs of being depressed

but refuses going to a psychologist? In the article "The Dangers of Self Diagnosis", it talks about the ups and downs of people being self diagnosed vs diagnosed by a doctor and their fear of being labeled by others.

Have you ever not went to a doctor for something and what happened? Do you think self diagnoses is a dangerous thing? Have you ever self diagnosed yourself and if so what happened?

http://www.psychologytoday.com/collections/201202/the-dangers-self-diagnosis/how-labels-help-and-harm

You Don't Have To Be Popular

Have you ever watched a TV or a movie and right away figured out the "popular cliché?" In the article You Don’t have to be Popular, talks about how an adult reflects on her childhood  to figure out she was that "popular" kid in high school. Everyone always wants to fit into society. Nobody wants to be the outsider, especially in school. It says that like beauty, popularity is in the mind of the beholder. There was also a study done that showed that kids who felt good about their social life believed that they were "popular."

Do you agree that popularity is actually defined to that person by the beholder or the peers around them? Can you think back to middle school and remember the "popular" cliché and if so, what were they like? Have you ever done anything that was against your beliefs just to fit in? 

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/valley-girl-brain/201003/you-dont-have-be-popular

(Posting for Jessica because her's does not work)