Dream Stage of Sleep

I did a little searching on this topic and didn't really find what I was looking for, but feel free to guide me in the direction of a different thread if one already exists.

I am very interested in dreams, not just lucid, but all dreams. I think they are so fascinating and every time I see something about dreaming on tv, I watch every second of it. Every time we talk about dreaming in my psychology classes, I am at full attention. So my point is, I know a lot about dreams.

So here is my dilemma: In every class, and in every show I've seen, they claim that dreaming does not begin until the REM stage of sleep, which does not occur until about 90mins of sleep on average. Ever since I can remember, I have begun dreaming immediately after falling asleep. I usually even start dreaming before I am completely asleep, when I am still completely aware that I am falling asleep. (unfortunately I usually lose this awareness shortly afterward.) This immediate dreaming is even recognized by the WILD technique, etc.

So what I'm wondering, is why do most scientists and psychologists claim that dreaming doesn't occur until REM, when it is clear to me that it can happen as soon as you are falling asleep? Sure they say that sometimes you can begin dreaming sooner, but this happens to me on a nightly basis. Anyone have some insight?

It is possible to dream outside of REM sleep, a lot of textbooks and shows are outdated. Either you are one of the few that automatically dreams in N-REM, or maybe your memory blanks out during those minutes before REM kicks in.

Either way, it sure must be easy to WILD!

yes, I try WILDing all the time. Unfortunately though, I have a really difficult time maintaining awareness once I'm fully asleep.

Although slow-wave sleep is frequently called “dreamless sleep,” dreams and
sometimes even nightmares do occur during slow-wave sleep. The difference
between the dreams that occur in slow-wave sleep and those that occur in REM
sleep is that those of REM sleep are associated with more bodily muscle activity, and the dreams of slow-wave sleep usually are not remembered. That is, during slow-wave sleep, consolidation of the dreams in memory does not occur.
(Quotation from Guyton & Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology)

AFAIK, majority of dreams do still occur in REM though :)