At a Glance

It’s normal to have trouble remembering your dreams.

We all dream at night, but most of us forget these nighttime imaginings shortly after we wake up.

If REM sleep occurs, the vivid dreams associated with it may not be recalled.

Woman lying in bed cannot fall asleep suffers from insomnia

fizkes / Getty Images

Alcohol may also act as a REM sleep suppressant, at least until it wears off.

Why Am I Remembering My Dreams Lately?

It is even possible to fall asleep andre-enter the same dreamexperience repeatedly.

This happens to everyone regardless of how good their memory is.

As a general rule, dreams fade quickly after waking.

The electrical signals and chemical signatures that constitute the experience of the dream may disappear as wakefulness ensues.

Particularly memorable dreams may create an impression that persists for decades.

Recounting the dream to another person may help to stabilize thememory.

Theamygdalais an area of the brain that may help to elicit these emotion-laden dreams.

For some, this may lead to increased dream recall (including dreams of drowning or suffocation).

People withnarcolepsyalso experience sudden sleep transitions that contribute to dream recall, sleep-related hallucinations, andsleep paralysis.

Poor sleep habits, stress, and psychiatric conditions may also fragment sleep and increase dreaming and recall.

If you are interested in improving your dream recall, consider a simple change: keep a dream journal.

You’ll be able to write them down before you get going to forget them.

Writing down your dream may encourage improvements in dream recall.

Focus on going to bed and waking at the same time each day.

Limit Distractions and Stimulation Before Bedtime

give a shot to reduce the number of distractions before bedtime.

Plus, the blue light emitted by your devices can alsodisrupt your brain’s ability to settle downfor rest.

Sharing these details can help cement them in your memory more.

Is It Good to Remember My Dreams?

Dreams often reflect your conscious thoughts, memories, and concerns.

It’s not necessary to remember your dreams, but it can be a helpful source of insight.

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