Interpretation of Dreams, published in November 1899, presented Freud’s revolutionary theories stating that, although unconscious, a part of the human mind exists which affects a person in profound ways. Freud observed that it was his fate to "agitate the sleep of mankind," and that he did! Today, we all speak "Freud," casually referring to oedipal conflicts, sibling rivalry, narcissism and Freudian slips. Freud theorized that dreams are vital keys to unlocking the mysteries of an individual’s personality, motivations, and overall psyche.
Dreams are NOT meaningless or random events. All dreams have causes, generally from emotionally charged life events. Themes and issues experienced in dreams are so emotionally charged and threatening to the ego that the individual cannot deal with them directly. Dream content is mostly composed of sex, aggression, wish fulfillment, and childhood memories. The dream is a façade disguising anxiety or guilt. To understand the dream, you must attempt to look past the façade to discover the real issue. Psychoanalytical techniques, including free association, can be used to interpret dreams. Dream analysis is difficult because of the dreamer’s resistance and the dreamer benefits from professional guidance.