Freud's theory of dreams says that we have a "censor" that protects us from realizing threatening and unconscious desires or wishes, especially those involving sex or aggression. To protect us from having threatening thoughts, the "censor" transforms our secret, guilt-ridden, and anxiety provoking desires into harmless symbols that appear in our dreams and do not disturb our sleep or conscious thoughts. Current psychoanalysts agree with Freud that dreams have meaning and can represent past, present, or future concerns, fears or worries.

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