It seems you may be asking yourself the wrong question. Here’s what you need to know about dreams – and why it feels like you’re not experiencing anything.
Where do dreams come from anyway?
“Dreams are flashes of images, sounds and memories that occur during sleep,” says Joshua Tal, PhD in New York. “Science has not found a definite reason for dreams, but dreams seem to be controlled by emotional and memory parts of the brain, suggesting that it helps with emotional regulation and memory consolidation.” This explains why some dreams can be downright bizarre and can include a myriad of memories and emotions.
The underlying messages of dreams can also be helpful in processing your feelings. “When a client tells me they had the ‘weirdest dream’ and shares the details, my first question is, ‘How did you feel during the dream?'” Says psychotherapist Jennifer Hoskins-Tomko, LCSW, owner of Clarity Health Solutions in Jupiter, Florida. “While the details are interesting and often symbolic of other things, it’s the emotional content that gives me insight into how I can help my client or how they try to help themselves through the dreams.” can also provide insight into what stresses you in your waking life.
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Alex Dimitriu, managing director, a double-board certified psychiatry and sleep medicine and founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine, adds that dreams are probably the brain’s way of working through problems, past events and for the future plan. “Dreams enable us to connect loose concepts and ideas, and can also be a source of creativity and ingenuity,” he says. “It can also be a form of self-therapy, as the brain is able to process experiences and emotions and make sense of life events.” He says there has also been a recent increase in research that supports the belief that dreams are a kind of psychedelic experience, which explains why dreams are powerful in emotional healing and growth. “Interestingly enough, the dream brain looks a lot like the psychedelic brain,” he says. “Both are capable of making loose connections and coming up with creative solutions.”
Okay, so why do I not have dreams?
Sleep stages occur throughout the night in cycles, and dreams usually occur during REM sleep (rapid eye movement). “It involves intense brain and eye activity,” says Dr. Tal. “Your muscle tone shuts off when you’re in REM sleep, so you don’t work out your dreams.”
If you wake up in the morning without dreaming, think again. “Most people have dreams, but do not remember them,” says Dr. Tal. “You have a better chance of remembering your dream when you wake up in REM sleep, but if you do not pay attention to your dreams, you will be less likely to remember them.” In other words, it’s mostly a problem that can not be remembered, but not a problem that does not dream.
There are, of course, exceptions. You may be one of the few people who does not actually dream. The reason, according to dr. Numerous, is because their REM sleep is interrupted by a drug (such as alcohol or marijuana), medication (such as antidepressants) or a mental health condition such as depression.
If you have a series that does not remember your dreams, it could be a sign of sleep apnea, a condition in which your throat muscles relax during sleep, which can cause breathing pauses and thus interrupt your sleep. “Apneas are highest during REM sleep when you naturally turn off muscles,” says Dr. Tal. “So if you do not dream, it could be a sign that your sleep quality is being broken up by breathing events.”
One more thing to note: sleep quality does not depend on dreams. So if you wake up and do not remember your dreams, it does not necessarily mean that your quality of sleep was remarkable.
How to remember your dreams
To sum up: if you are in the “why do I not have dreams?” camp, chances are you do not remember it. But fear not, there are some scientific strategies to better remember your dreams – and all that you are trying to tell.
1. Write it down
The best way to remember your dreams when you wake up is to record the practice as soon as you open your eyes. Dr. Tal recommends keeping a dream journal by your bedside and writing a detailed description while the dream is fresh.
2. Talk out loud about your dreams
If you are not a journalist or have always rushed in the morning, Tomko suggests that you tell someone like your partner about your dream when you wake up, or even record a quick voice note on your phone.
3. Improve your sleep quality
“The quality of sleep affects your ability to achieve REM,” says Tomko. So if your sleep quality decreases, you will be less likely to experience dreams. “Once sleep is good throughout, some people may realize that they are dreaming – these are called lucid dreams, and it is possible to learn with exercise,” says Dr. Dimitriu.
According to Dr Dimitriu, there are many factors that can contribute to poor quality sleep, including:
- Look at screens before bed and wake up right after
- Go to sleep and wake up every day at different times
- Drug or alcohol use too close to bedtime
How to improve your sleep quality
It is one thing to know that you need to improve your sleep quality; another thing entirely to do. Here are some suggestions on how to look or get an appointment for antique items.
1. Create a ritual before bed
To make your lock up most effective, you can create a ritual before bed, for example a hot bath, meditation and a dispenser that releases relaxing scents. Because irregular bedtimes also affect your sleep quality, it is a good idea to jump into bed at about the same time each night in your ritual.
2. Keep a sleep diary
Keep a sleep diary (slightly different from your dream journal) so you can adjust your routine to find the best one for you. Dr. Tal suggests paying attention every day to how different factors (such as how dark the room is, the temperature in your bedroom and if your sheets are cool) affect or do not affect your sleep. Make sure you include it when you go to bed and wake up, which can also affect sleep quality, says Dr. Tal. For example, if you woke up late the night before and did not usually do so, it could slow down your schedule. Other factors you need to report are substances, medication, medical health, chronic pain, stress and mental health.
3. Use sleep technology to determine your sleep pattern
If you are serious about increasing your sleep quality (and you have extra money to burn), it can also be helpful to invest in sleep technology. There are a variety of handy items available, such as the Apple Watch ($ 380) and the Oura Ring ($ 300) that keep track of various statistics, including your heart rate, body temperature, and how many hours you sleep each night.
4. Sleep in your birthday suit
One of the easiest (and sexiest?) Ways to improve your sleep quality is to ditch your sleepwear and sleep naked. ‘Being naked keeps you cooler and avoids rubbing the skin [and the] to put on pajamas, ”Felice Gersh, MD, an OB / GYN and founder of the Integrative Medical Group of Irvine, told Well + Good earlier.
5. Eat a bedtime
If you are struggling to get the look, you can help a healthy sleeper at bedtime fall asleep. The key is to keep it light and small. Peanut butter and a banana and Greek yogurt are perfect examples.
6. Use aromatherapy
Dreamy scents (no pun intended) can also help your mind and body relax and sleep better. Aromatherapist Amy Galper’s best fragrance recommendations include sage, lavender, rose, chamomile, incense and surprisingly the scent of your partner.
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