#1 Brain Surgeon: What Your Dreams Are Trying To Tell You About Yourself | Rahul Jandial

Have you ever woken up from a vivid dream and wondered about its meaning? Or perhaps questioned the purpose of dreaming altogether? It’s certainly a fascinating topic and one which I have never covered before on my podcast.

This week, I’m delighted to welcome back Dr Rahul Jandial, a dual-trained neurosurgeon and neurobiologist. He is an expert in brain health, a world-renowned brain surgeon who routinely undertakes complex cancer operations and he’s also the author of the brand-new book, ‘This is Why You Dream: What Your Sleeping Brain Reveals About Your Waking Life’.

During our conversation, Rahul explains his belief, that we sleep, in order to dream. When we are asleep, our brains are not resting but instead shift into a different state where areas linked to imagination and creativity become more active.

While dreams remain a largely unexplained phenomenon, Rahul shares his insights into common dream themes, the importance of dreams in childhood brain development, and the highly personal nature of dream interpretation. He also covers practical techniques for remembering dreams, the concept of lucid dreaming, the potential links between dreaming and future brain health, and also shares some profound insights about the brain at the time of death.

Throughout our conversation, Rahul emphasises that although dreams have captivated humans for centuries, they remain a mysterious and intensely personal aspect of our lives.
However, if we approach our dreams with curiosity, they have the potential to gift us valuable insights about the contents of our minds and our emotions.

The topic of dreams clearly resonates with many of you - I received over 1,000 comments and questions about dreams when I announced this upcoming episode on my Instagram page. And, I’m happy to say that Rahul answers some of these questions throughout our discussion, offering his unique perspective as both a neuroscientist and a neurosurgeon.

So whether you're a vivid dreamer or someone who rarely remembers their dreams, this episode offers a captivating glimpse into our sleeping minds.

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Connect with Rahul Jandial:

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

[DrChatterjeeRangan]

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[Mithras]

When I was pregnant, my doctor said my belly was big because I had a baby and a tumor, but I said in my dreams my other baby is telling me he is not a tumor! So I went to another doctor and got a sonogram and there he was my other baby! His heart rate was very low but it was twins not a tumor! They were also in the same sac which is rare and very high risk. The one with the low heart rate was a problem according to the doctors and they wanted to abort him, but I did not because I knew through my dreams both babies were talking to me and one twin would kick the other so his heart rate would go up. I signed papers so they could share this case because it was really unbelievable. You could watch them during a sonogram play this out. Anyway my dreams changed the direction of my pregnancy! My twin boys are 23yrs old now, I am VERY blessed!❤😊

[aubrey]

I am totally blind, and some of my favorite dreams are when I can see, and I can walk through forest and run through parks and browse bookstores without any assistance from anyone. I love being able to dream about being able to see

[RRonco]

I woke up laughing uncontrollably, total church giggles with my brother, one of the best dreams I'd ever had. I don't know when I realized I was dreaming, but my abdominal muscles shuddering with laughter woke me up.

I reached out for my phone to call my brother. I had to know, what was so funny? What were we laughing about? He'd be able to help me tease it apart

I had my phone unlocked and was dialing before the kaleidoscope of reality slivered into my brain

My brother passed away 4 years ago

But what a gift that dream was! He and I were in the same space at the same time again, it was so real, so tangible

It was as though he was telling me 'it's OK to laugh again.'

We need The Funny in our lives.

[CroftSurvivesEver]

I had a dream that I was able to hug my son again. I'm so grateful for dreams I really am. I woke up sobbing but it was so nice to have my son back in my arms again.

[bofslcj]

I have had dreams where I wake up, go back to sleep, and dream part 2 of it, even 3 parts.

[Matowix]

Sleeping is more enjoyable than life, which is progressively getting harder and more expensive

[irinasiren]

Anyone else have the same dream where your back in university and fall behind on your courses and fail and just feel so lost and stressed ? Only to wake up and remember you graduated uni 15 years ago 😮‍💨 😅

[craig]

I often wonder if we are tapping into an alternate reality. Like looking through a window and seeing our lives unfold in varying dimensions we exist in.

[kathydinneweth]

My dreams are so detailed. Nothing I can relate to in my awakened life. It’s like watching a movie. I love to go to sleep and dream. Sometimes I wonder if it’s another life I’m in.

[marikrum]

I don’t need to go on vacations, I just go to sleep. Each night, a different adventure!

[moonlightwolf]

Three months ago, I had a dream. I'm from India and a veterinary doctor. I received an acceptance letter from a prestigious university in the USA for a PhD program. I had never been to the USA before. One night, I dreamt that I was shot by gunfire in a church in the USA. The dream was so detailed that I could feel the pain and stress. In the dream, I was praying in that church, which is ironic because I am not a Christian. Two weeks later, I received news that I was no longer accepted to the university due to funding issues. Usually, one would feel sad, but I felt relieved.

[craftpea]

I’m always fascinated at how, within a dream,
my brain can conjure up the faces and personalities of new people I’ve never seen or met before in real life.

[patriciamedaris]

Shortly after my mom died i had a dream she came to visit me. She was wearing her favorite dress and asked me to look after my sister. About 6 months later i was with my dad, brothers, and sister and mentioned the dream, but only the part about her standing at the end pf my bed in the dress. All of them immediately said they had the same dream and they gave more details...all of which were the same as what i didn't tell them about mine. We were all in a bit of shock that we all "dreamed" the exact same thing.

[bxxmb]

A few months after a medical termination due to abnormalities.. I had a dream that the funeral directors had taken out the tiny white coffin and put it next to another coffin the same and said they would put both back in the same grave... 2 weeks later I found out I was pregnant again... Forward 5 months I had to have another termination due to same genetic abnormalities... Day before the burial the funeral directors called and said if I wanted to bury the second baby in the same grave plot as there was only one space left!
My dream played out months in advance!!
P. S. I had a healthy baby boy the following year who is now 21yrs old

[woodcutterdave]

There are people who are born blind that claim that they're dream's contain visual content. This makes me come to the conclusion that we are more than just a body, that we are spiritual beings. And our consciousness goes beyond the physical body.

[ljones]

Anyone else have reoccurring dreams, about surviving, stratigizing, and outsmarting scenarios of alien invasions, tornados, and apocalypse... teeth falling out, can't run, can't find my car, problems trying to use my cellphone, can't get to food or vivid eating, being able to double jump like Mario Bros, 😊driving off a cliff, and a weird, particularly distinct house that I've never seen in this life before...

¯\_(ツ)_/¯


I've also had accurate prediction or premonition dreams... or having to go to sleep in my dream in order to wake up in "real" life...👀🤔

[lyndaproper]

When I was in highschool I was taking Geometry. For homework we had to construct a proof every evening. I would stare and stare at the problem and the theorems, etc. for an hour or two, but I never could construct the proof at night. I would go to bed and sleep, and, when I woke up, I would know the proof which I had to quickly write down. I LOVED this magical process and I was astounded by it; it tickled me! I've tried to remember to use it as I've gone through my life. I'm 78 1/2 now.

[sandihunter]

I love dreaming, I go so many places and meet new friends and visit with old friends and family. Every night is an adventure.

[ML-jwcd]

I literally dream so vividly every single night that I feel like I live a whole extra life...I am always so tired as I never get "time off ". I related to that show ' Severance' so much!