Day Dreaming, Awake or Asleep?

I am sure everyone has done it at least once in your life; you gaze off into the scenery around you and find yourself so lost in thought that someone would have to literally tap you to arouse your attention. Have you actually fallen asleep, even for a brief moment and immediately gone into a dream state or are you truly awake and just lost in thought? Don't jump into an immediate response, instead really think about it for a few minutes.

In times of feeling overwhelmed I have found myself staring at, really nothing, and just blanked out. Thinking of absolutely nothing and yet a person literally has had to tap me to come out of it. A form of self hypnosis? A brain break, like going on a mini vacation? A dream state without the visuals, sound, smells, etc? All I know is that after a very short session in this state, I come back refreshed and relaxed, with thoughts reorganized. The only issue is that it doesn't always happen at the most appropriate times. For example, at work during a meeting, in the car, or at the dinner table with family. The "blank stare", when you can be accused of being upset when you aren't, miss several exits on the very familiar highway going home, or appear to be very antisocial. I swear everyone has done it, so why is it that we don't recognize when others do it? To wrap up this paragraph and thought; Scientific literature I have read and disagreed with, has stated that dreams are merely your brain's way of sorting out your daily issues in life. If there is any merit to that, then maybe this IS just a blank dream.

In a similar situation, you are awake, sitting somewhere like in a boring meeting and you find yourself on the verge of falling asleep. While awake, your vision and hearing block out your surroundings and replace it with a very real dream sequence. All of a sudden you snap out of it, look at your co-worker next to you and whisper, "was I just asleep"? To which they respond," you didn't look asleep, your eyes were open". You continue to sit there, trying to pay attention, but all of a sudden you are back into the dream sequence right where you left off before. The "storyline" hasn't changed, it was like you took a commercial break when you talked to your co-worker and mentally rejoined the meeting. This time, your co-worker nudges you and says that you were asleep that time and about to slump forward. I have had this happen to me on so many occasions that I can't quantify them. I mentioned my dream from being awake to its continuation while being asleep because I didn't want you dismiss my theory right away. That dreaming can happen while fully awake and continue after you fall asleep. I have also been awake at my desk staring at the computer only to start one dream and then fall asleep and start a completely different dream.

So can we dream at will while awake? Do we have the skills to continue that dream on demand after we fall asleep, minutes or even hours later? Are we born with these skills, are they acquired, and can we strengthen and fine tune them? I do know that I have started a dream whilst sitting at work, found it very compelling, and before falling asleep that night I recall it so that it continues after I fall asleep. I can go days between different dreams and recall one that I want to finish.

In conclusion, I know that there are many questions in this posting but my main questions to you are the following. Can we dream while awake and if so, what is it called, "Day Dreaming"? What skills can one learn and master to take control over dreams and what are they? Finally, the blank stare senerio; is it a blank dream state?

I am new to discussing dreams and am new to the different dreaming periods and techniques. So please be kind in your responses to me. I just may not know the many terms, etc., that you educated dream enthusiasts do. Please forgive my ignorance to it all. I am a dream enthusiast with passion, now I just need educated. I love learning and also a good debate!