The 3 Layers of the Mind: Freud’s Theory Explained

Drawing of a person's head split with one whole and two halves (left and right) illustrates three layers of the mind

How does your mind store information you can’t currently recall? What happens to thoughts that are too disturbing for you to face directly? In his book The Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud describes three layers of the mind: the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious. These layers differ based on how easily you can access the thoughts within them—from your immediate awareness to deeply hidden feelings. Read more to learn how these mental layers shape your daily experiences and influence behaviors in ways you might not even realize.

Autoimmune Disease and Genetics: What’s the Link?

Strands of DNA

What’s the link between autoimmune diseases and genetics? What other factors contribute to autoimmune disease development? Amy Myers, functional medicine physician and the author of The Autoimmune Solution, explores the causes of autoimmune diseases. While many physicians attribute autoimmune conditions to genes, Myers says there’s a lot more at play. Here’s why genetics is only a small piece of the autoimmune puzzle.

The Myers Way: Amy Myers’ Autoimmune Solution

A hand holding pills with a plain, dark background

What is The Myers Way? Is it possible to reverse autoimmune disease? What lifestyle changes does Myers suggest? In The Autoimmune Solution, Amy Myers shares her method for preventing or reversing autoimmune disease, which she calls The Myers Way. The method includes several lifestyle changes and strategies for improving your immune system. Below, we’ll discuss Myers’ method in detail.

Freud’s Theory of Mind (The Interpretation of Dreams)

Sigmund Freud’s theory of mind is illustrated by a sepia photograph of the psychologist

What’s the true driving force behind all of our thoughts and actions? How do our unconscious desires affect our everyday lives, even when we’re not aware of them? In his book The Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud writes that wishes form the foundation of all mental activity. Freud’s theory of mind explores how these wishes operate across three distinct layers of consciousness and why some desires become repressed. Read on to discover how your unconscious mind influences your behavior and why the thoughts you’re actively pushing away might still be shaping your mental health.

Freud: Dream Work Turns Unconscious Thoughts Into Dreams

A sleeping woman surrounded by clouds illustrates dream work

Do you wonder what your dreams really mean? How does your mind transform raw unconscious desires into the strange narratives and symbols you remember when you wake up? In The Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud writes that our minds try to disguise our hidden wishes. According to Freud, dream work is a process that helps transform deep unconscious material into the dreams we experience. Read more to discover how you might uncover the hidden meanings behind your dreams.

Latent Content of Dreams: Freud’s Theory & Common Desires

A woman sleeping in gray pajamas and gray linens illustrates latent content of dreams

Why do people so often dream about sex? Have you ever wondered why certain images and scenarios appear in your dreams? In The Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud explains manifest and latent content of dreams. He contends that dreams aren’t random—they’re coded messages from our unconscious mind revealing our deepest desires and unresolved conflicts. Keep reading to learn how childhood experiences shape your dreams and why sexual symbolism appears so frequently.

Curing Autoimmune Disease: Medication Isn’t the Answer

doctor holding stethoscope

What’s wrong with traditional medicine’s approach to autoimmune disease? Why isn’t medication the solution? Amy Myers, a functional medicine physician who reversed her own diagnosis of Graves’ disease, believes that traditional medicine has it all wrong when it comes to autoimmune disease. She lays out what they have wrong and the approach she believes is more effective. Continue below for Amy Myers’ take on autoimmune disease and medication.

Freud’s Theory About Dreams: How Our Desires Find Expression

A sleeping woman with a thought bubble over her head illustrates Freud’s theory about dreams

What do our dreams mean? Do they actually reveal our deepest, unconscious desires? In The Interpretation of Dreams, Sigmund Freud writes that our dreams express unfulfilled wishes from our unconscious mind. Freud’s theory about dreams explains how these desires get distorted as they pass through our mental censor—appearing as symbols, condensed images, and displaced emotions. Read on to discover why even nightmares might represent wish fulfillment and how scientists view Freud’s revolutionary ideas about our dreaming minds.

The Autoimmune Solution by Amy Myers—Book Overview

A man with cells floating around him, representing the human immune system

How does the immune system work? What are some of the causes of autoimmune diseases? Is it possible to prevent or even reverse autoimmune disorders? Millions of people suffer from autoimmune diseases. Millions more are on an unhealthy trajectory to an autoimmune diagnosis. While genetics influence who develops autoimmunity and there’s no known cure, Amy Myers believes that those suffering are far from powerless.  Keep reading for an overview of The Autoimmune Solution by Amy Myers.