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Nocturnal Emissions – "Wet dreams"


Anastasios D. Kalantzis, Surgeon Urologist-Andrologist

 

In the 5th PANHELLENIC ANDROLOGY CONVENTION held in Divani-Caravel hotel, Athens, in 2002, Dr. Theodore Dolatzas, Physician – Artist, President of the Hellenic Association of Physician Artists, presented his works titled "Testosterone, source of power and creation".

 

In one of his creations, "Dirty Thinking", A 30x40cm composition on a cerebral X-ray, he says "Dirty dreams, wet dreams, are due to increased testosterone levels".

 

The female figure in Dolatza's piece of art reminds me of the "Myth of Lillith"

 

The majority and the most important information of the origins of the mythical symbol of Lillith are found in Zohar, the Bible of Splendor; an old, Jewish, Kabbalistic work which first appeared and was published in Spain in the thirteenth century and was ascribed to Yochai, a rabbi of the 2nd century BC. However, with its primordial characteristics, that is the features of the beautiful female demon with the long black hair, Lilith, this symbol-creature, or at least sperms of it, exist also in the Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Persian, Arabic, Teutonic and, naturally, Jewish mythology. In Sumeria, around the 3rd millennium BC, it is referred to as Lil, the spirit of wind, but also as a destructive wind. In the Mesopotamian Semitic mythology it is clearly named Lillith. Later, this name will be combined and merged with the Jewish word Layil, which means "night", and Lilith will acquire her final and definite characteristics. She will become this particular aforementioned female demon of the night, who enslaves men and women who sleep alone, inducing sexual dreams, nocturnal orgasms and tormenting nocturnal emissions. However, the basic myth of Lilith starts in Genesis A 27.

 

The Greek word for nocturnal emission (ονείρωξη) derives from the ancient Greek word for dream (όνειρον).

 

With the term "nocturnal emission" we refer to the sexual arousal of a person during sleep, which most of the times is accompanied with sexual dreams. In case of men there is ejaculation during sleep, while in women there is an increase of vaginal secretions.

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) clearly states that sexuality is an integral part of the personality of every person, woman, man or child.

 

According to Freud and his book "The Interpretation of Dreams", the interpretation of our dreams demands immediate quest of sexual symbols.

 

At the beginning of their puberty, we should prepare both boys and girls on the matter of wet dreams, so that they won't be terrified thinking that they are facing a health problem. Through interaction with the opposite sex, the child will start exhibiting interest in sex.

 

In men, nocturnal emissions are most common in adolescence and between 20 to 30 years of age, while in women they are most frequently observed in the fifth decade of their lives (40+).

 

The famous sexologist Alfred Kinsey refers that 90% of men have experienced nocturnal emissions, while only 40% of women have been aware of it.

 

The causes of this phenomenon (nocturnal emissions) have not yet been fully determined or clarified.

 

In any case, our sexual dreams, no matter how strange or inappropriate they may seem, they are totally normal, according to psychiatrists. They may just occur in periods of intense stress, regardless of our sexual life, providing mind relief through the world of dreams.

 

In their majority, besides, these dreams are pleasant, stimulating, satisfying and have a lot to teach as about our sexual nature.

 

alas to the wise of any world

who fear the endless pleasure

of the millions of delights of an ambiguous world

-their world-

alas to the philosopher and the poet

who hasn't learnt to laugh.

VLASSIS RASSIAS