I believe that dreams are symbolic and can have significance if we know how to interpret them. I have a recurring theme in my dreams that is most distressing. I call it the dirty bathroom dream.

I am a bit of a germophobe in real life and have an aversion to poop. (Like most people don't?) But I am overly sensitive to imaginary bacteria on surfaces. Fecal contamination is most disturbing to me. I will wash a spatula 3 times while cooking hamburger to prevent Ecoli contamination.

I often have dreams that I need to use the bathroom (usually because I have to piss in real life but can't wake up enough to actually go) and I roam a public building looking for the john.

In the dream, every toilet is in plain view of the public and/or is filthy. I search and search trying to find a private place to do my deed but poop stains cover the walls. There is an ammonia smell of urine and the walls are just imposing enough that I am touching the stalls that are jumping with bacteria and nasties from fecal splatters and urine spray.

I believe that the environment or setting of a dream represents the state that we perceive our lives to be in. I don't see a shrink but if I did I bet he would have a hayday with me. Why can't I just dream of naked ladies like normal guys?