By Laura Snyder

Before you write off that steamy - if strange - dream as the effects of a spicy dinner, you should know that naughty nocturnal fantasies are more than just a way to blow off sexual steam. Could be your subconscious is trying to tell you something.

Dreams pick up where your conscious thoughts leave off, say psych experts. They can suggest things you can benefit from recognizing, or let you safely explore ideas you may not have even thought of.

Here's how to read into your dirty dreams so you can enjoy better relationships - when you're actually awake!

The Common Reverie: Celebrity Sex
The Reality: No, unfortunately, a dream about sex with a celebrity does not mean that you and Angelina are meant to be. Dream analysts say that it's not the person you desire, but a quality they represent - intelligence, sophistication, romance - that you'd like to develop in yourself.

The Common Reverie: The Inappropriate Lover
The Reality: Cast your fears aside if you've ever dreamt of sex with someone entirely inappropriate. You're not harboring any secret desires to bed your annoying boss, creepy co-worker, or your uncle (ick!). This dream represents your relationship with this person. If you enjoyed yourself, it may be your mind's way of telling you it's okay to try to develop a better relationship with this person. If you didn't, maybe you want to keep your distance.

The Common Reverie: The Faceless Stranger
The Reality: This is standard sex-dreams stuff, experts say. It may be that you're trying to figure out what you want in a partner or even in yourself. Pay attention to the qualities about this mystery figure that appeal to you.

The Common Reverie: The Same-Sex Partner
The Reality: This is a common dream even among those who aren't interested in exploring same-sex partnerships. Often, it just means you want to get to know - or are getting reacquainted with - a part of yourself you'd lost sight of or hadn't been aware of.

The Common Reverie: The Ex
The Reality: No need to feel guilty, either, if you dreamt of seducing an ex. Your dream ex may represent some aspect of your partner. Or you see similarities between an old relationship and a new one.

The Common Reverie: Public Nudity
The Reality: In this classic sex dream, you're naked in school, on a bus or somewhere else you shouldn't be. Again, dream analysts say you should think about how you felt in the situation and what it might represent. If you felt great about being buck naked, it might mean that you can open up to a situation that you've been afraid of. If the situation made you mortified, it means that you're probably feeling vulnerable.

The Common Reverie: Use of Force
The Reality: This can be a disturbing dream, especially if your dream partner is someone you trust in real life. But analysts say it doesn't mean you should avoid someone. This dream usually just reveals a sense of powerlessness and loss of control in your waking life.

So, it seems many times, sex dreams aren't about sex at all. Of course, sometimes, that's all they're about. And, in case you were wondering, most experts say women orgasm in dreams about as often as men. It doesn't change the significance of the dream, just tells us that maybe we needed a release.

How's that for realizing your dreams?