Why a person doesn’t have dreams: reasons and how to fix them

Do some people really not dream?

Long-term observations of psychiatrists, somnologists and neurologists allowed us to formulate the conclusion that absolutely everyone dreams .

For example, the famous somnologist Patricia Garfield, one of the founders of the International Association for the Study of Dreams, wrote in her bestseller “Creative Dreaming” about the results of research confirming that every person sees 4-5 dreams per night .

Garfield notes that a person who says that he does not have dreams simply does not remember them. These statements are proven by the results of encephalograms of dozing patients. The devices did not detect the “presence of pictures” only in people with head injuries.

The expert of the European Society of Sleep Research, Alexander Kalinkin, shares the same opinion. He believes that all people see dreams, but not everyone remembers them.

Do you remember your dreams?

Yes

38.31%

61.69%

Voted: 201

Discussions on this topic continue, since the functioning of the brain, especially during sleep, has so far been little studied.

Esoteric view of the problem

Esotericists have their own opinion regarding the state when people never have dreams. According to their theory, a dream is a kind of memory of a person’s spiritual body about travel and movement through astral versions of reality. Esotericists are convinced that night visions do not visit people whose soul has not traveled through the astral worlds for a long time without a physical body or has simply lost contact with consciousness.

The last reason why a person does not dream at all lies in the secrets of the human mind, when in the morning he cannot remember the movements of the soul.

Trying to explain to a person what it means if you don’t have dreams, experts in this field appeal to problems of the spiritual plane, advise them to understand themselves and try to fulfill karmic tasks.

Only the subconscious can tell a person what to do to sleep productively and dream. It is this that represents a kind of thread connecting human consciousness and its astral projection, capable of traveling in parallel worlds.

It is important to understand that the phenomenon of sleep and dreams currently remains not fully understood. Therefore, no one can explain exactly why dreams do not occur. Perhaps the esotericists are right, and night visions are a kind of portal between the real world and its astral projections.

The mechanism of dreams: when do they occur?

Some dreams help our brain store information and process thoughts, feelings and events of the day. Others may simply be the result of normal brain activity and mean little or nothing.

Scientists have not yet come to a common answer to the question of why people dream. But it is known at what moment dreams arise.

Let's start with the fact that a person's sleep period is divided into five phases, four of which are occupied by slow-wave sleep , and one phase by fast sleep (REM phase) .

REM and NREM sleep alternate throughout the night.

First, you fall into slow-wave sleep and go through all its stages, then the REM sleep phase begins. And this happens several times a night. This cycle is called the sleep cycle.

The number of cycles per night can vary from 4 to 6. Moreover, with each cycle the proportion of slow-wave sleep decreases, and the proportion of REM sleep gradually increases. A complete sleep cycle takes on average 90 to 110 minutes.

Scientists have found that a person dreams not only during REM sleep, but also in the slow-wave sleep phase. But the most vivid, lasting and memorable dreams come in the REM sleep phase.

Main phases

Scientists have conducted many studies in which it was found that a person does not begin to dream immediately after he falls asleep, but only in certain states of his brain. There are 4 main phases:

Falling asleep. At this stage, the adjustment to relaxation occurs; it is simply impossible to dream. If a person tries to focus on his closed eyelids, he will notice various patterns, these could be triangles, lines, grids, all kinds of shapes. Such pictures can remain stationary or rotate, sometimes they change color. Looking at your closed eyelids helps you calm down and is an excellent way to combat insomnia. An illusion of falling may appear; such sensations are caused by muscle relaxation.
The slow-wave sleep phase is characterized by deep tranquility and inhibition of all body processes. Through the closed eyelids of a sleeping person, you can see how his eyeballs rotate in a circle. Slow sleep allows the body to rest. The duration of this stage is from 40 minutes to several hours. If this phase remains unexplored, you will not dream anything.
Paradoxical or rapid eye movement sleep. This period can be characterized by sharp surges in brain activity and increased muscle tone. The body's processes return almost to the level of wakefulness, but sleep does not stop. It is during this phase that the phenomenon of sleepwalking is observed. The stage lasts no more than 20 minutes, at the end of which the body relaxes again.
The awakening phase is characterized by the return to normal activity of all vital processes of the body. The ability to recall night scenes seen in memory primarily depends on the moment and quality of awakening. So, if this did not happen abruptly at the stage of REM sleep, a person will easily remember all the smallest details of the watched plot. If the process was interrupted in the slow phase or the alarm rang loudly, the impressions will immediately be repressed.

It must also be said that most often people remember better precisely those dreams that they saw in the morning.

Why I don’t have dreams: the main reasons

We have already found out that in a normal state, people see several episodes of dreams during the night. But there are reasons that can deprive a person of night dreams or prevent him from remembering them.

Fatigue

Physical or mental fatigue requires complete relaxation. A person usually “switches off” as soon as he finds a comfortable position, falls into deep sleep, and does not wake up until he has fully recovered.

In such a state, it is unlikely that you will be able to remember even some excerpts from your dreams.

Sleep problems

Frequent waking up and short drowsiness do not allow you to fully fall asleep and enter the rapid phase. In such a situation, the night's sleep either passes without pictures, or the person completely forgets about what he dreamed.

The picture becomes more complicated with nervous breakdowns, stress, constant anxiety, depression, when a negative emotional background contributes to sleep disturbances.

Taking certain medications

Sleeping pills and sedatives relax the body's muscles and block nerve impulses.

Pharmacological effects can prevent entry into the REM sleep phase , in which a person sees the most vivid and memorable dreams.

Alcohol or drug intoxication

Alcohol and opioids have a powerful effect on sleep regulation, and in a fairly wide range - from constant drowsiness to persistent insomnia (insomnia).

Systematic use of various natural and synthetic stimulants destroys the architecture of sleep, suppressing the rapid phase , reducing or increasing the transitions between stages. Unhealthy sleep is accompanied by a lack of dreams.

Uncomfortable position, pain

If, due to circumstances, a person wants to take a nap in an unusual environment or an uncomfortable position, the body will not be able to relax, and the brain will control the situation.

Frequent awakenings and increasing fatigue will lead to the fact that a person either does not see dreams or does not remember them in the morning.

Modern science explains the lack of dreams in humans for several reasons.

Severe physical or mental fatigue, when the body, after prolonged exhausting exercise, plunges into deep sleep, which it needs for normal recuperation. In this case, the person sleeps without waking up, and therefore does not remember what he dreams about.
Receiving a traumatic brain injury or other damage to the central nervous system (cerebrovascular accident, development of a subepidural or subarachnoid cyst, etc.). If such a patient does not dream for a long time, he should seek help from a neurologist.
Severe psychological fatigue when a person has experienced an emotional shock. With this scenario, consciousness “turns off” the imagination, and with it the ability to see or remember dreams.
Psychiatric diseases. For example, people suffering from schizophrenic disorders and living in a fictional reality often complain of a lack of dreams. In a state of deep depression or neuroses, patients find it difficult to sleep, so they dream less often. Since the body throws all its strength into fully resting and recovering.
A state of severe alcoholic intoxication. After drinking large quantities of alcohol, it is simply very difficult for a person to remember what he dreamed. Therefore, it seems to such people that they cannot have dreams. With chronic alcoholism, patients may complain about their absence for months, or even years.
The reason why a child does not have dreams may be hidden in the insufficient formation of his mental sphere or in a state of absolute happiness, when the baby does not need to warm himself with dreams of pleasant things during the night's rest.
It has been proven that males dream less often than females. This is due to the physiology of the body of both articles. Women and girls have a very developed imagination, they tend to show emotions in public, and are more attuned to their inner world. Therefore, their subconscious mind tends to generate night visions every day.

The most common answer from a psychologist to the question of why dreams are rare is the statement that each person has his own biological rhythms, which set the frequency of night visions. In this regard, you should not worry about the lack of dreams, as this may simply be a manifestation of the body being well rested without waking up and dreaming in the morning.

What to do to have dreams: how to correct the situation

The founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, believed that dreams are a person’s subconscious desires and intentions, processed by the mind into visual images and symbols.

If a person stops having dreams, you need to determine the reason. In the absence of serious health problems or bad habits, the situation can be corrected on your own. For example, reconsider your lifestyle: organization of day and night routines, daily diet, level of physical activity, and so on.

Dreams will return gradually as soon as a calm, measured life without emotional turmoil is established.

Useful tips on how to get your dreams back

People often ask psychologists how they can get their dreams back and make life more colorful.
And this is not surprising, because many of us believe that dreams are some kind of messages from the subconscious that, if interpreted correctly, help us understand the true meaning of existence and even predict the future. The following recommendations from experts will help you ensure proper rest for your body and at the same time begin to enjoy fascinating night scenes of a fantastic or more realistic plan again:

If you want to have dreams, create a special ritual of immersing yourself in the world of dreams. It should consist of doing a series of sequential actions at the same time every day. For example, a person needs to teach himself to perform a number of actions before going to bed: read a book or periodical - think about plans for tomorrow - wash and brush your teeth - go to bed.
Remember the dream when you wake up at night. To do this, take a few minutes to analyze it, and then go back to sleep. Thus, a person will be able to train his memory and increase the chances of restoring night visions in the morning. You can keep a notepad with a pen near your bed so that, if necessary, you can immediately write down your dream, and in the morning, thanks to the text you read, you can recall it in your memory.
Try not to drink alcohol in large quantities. Alcohol addiction leads not only to loss of dreams, but also to other health problems in the form of damage to internal organs.
Alternate mental activity with physical activity. It should be remembered that even seemingly insignificant fatigue or emotional stress can lead to sleep dysfunction. Therefore, you should not immerse yourself in a monotonous work environment for a long time, but alternate periods of work with rest breaks, which will allow the body to replenish energy losses.
If necessary, contact a psychologist or psychotherapist who, during advisory visits, will help you harmonize your inner world, get rid of anxiety and complexes that interfere with finding mental peace.

In any case, if a person does not dream, he should not give up. After all, science has proven that you can always return them to your life. To implement your plans, you must first understand yourself and determine the true causes of violations.

Only understanding the depth of the problem and finding ways to resolve it will allow a person to again immerse himself in the world of colorful night visions, remember them after waking up, enjoying the amazing reactions of his subconscious.

Why a person does not remember dreams: 4 reasons

It is normal to forget the plot of a dream. But why does this happen? In addition to the reasons that we wrote about above, scientists put forward several more theories on this topic; let’s look at the most popular ones.

Harvard Medical School sleep researcher Robert Stickgold believes that some people don't remember dreams because they wake up to an alarm clock . The fact is that the sound of an alarm clock causes a sharp jump in the level of norepinephrine (“rage hormone”), which interferes with remembering dreams.
Scientists from Monash University in Melbourne came to the conclusion that a person does not remember dreams because the hippocampus - the area of the brain responsible for moving memory from short-term to long-term - does not immediately start working after waking up . This is why the brain cannot retain information about dreams.
Ernest Hartmann, professor of psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine, wrote in Scientific America that we forget unimportant dreams . A person remembers only what has emotional significance, what he thinks about. That is, the brain removes unnecessary information so as not to “clutter up” the memory.
Researchers from Italy have concluded that the ability to remember dreams declines with age . This is why older people are not often able to talk about what they saw in their dreams.

How to remember dreams and whether you need to write them down: rules and recommendations

Within 5 minutes of waking up, a person forgets 50% of his dreams. After 10 minutes he will barely remember 10% of his dreams. If you want to remember your dreams, you need to follow certain recommendations. And you can’t do without records. But first things first.

To begin, tune in before going to bed so that you will remember your dreams . Professor Robert Stickgold recommends repeating the phrase “I will remember my dreams” three times before you fall asleep.
Set two alarms. To minimize stress, focus on dreams and write them down, the first alarm clock should have a melodious sound. The second alarm clock is needed in order to finally wake up, so here you can set the sound that is familiar to you. The time difference between alarms can be 5-10 minutes.
After waking up, you need to write down what you saw in your dreams . Therefore, before going to bed, place writing utensils or a mobile phone nearby (depending on where you will enter the information).
When you wake up, do not talk or make unnecessary movements , otherwise you risk forgetting about your dreams. For a few seconds, focus on what you saw in your dream and, without getting out of bed, write it down in a notebook or phone.
Don't overthink it. Don’t choose words, don’t pay attention to mistakes, don’t give events a sequence - write what comes to mind.
Keep a notepad (or phone) nearby throughout the day . Notes taken after waking up can help you remember other parts of your dreams. If you remember something new, write it down.

And, of course, don’t forget about sleep hygiene:

give up gadgets an hour before bedtime;
do not overeat before bedtime;
exercise throughout the day;
maintain a sleep schedule;
sleep in a cool and dark room.

Try to follow all the recommendations for at least a week and you will notice that remembering dreams has become much easier.

What are dreams and why are they needed?

During the night, a person goes through the stages of slow and fast paradoxical sleep 5-6 times. They replace each other every 20–40 minutes. Being in a phase accompanied by eye movements and intermittent breathing, a person sees images. In this case, one quarter of the total blood volume passes through the brain. Increased blood circulation is necessary to ensure a high level of brain activity during dreams.

Hundreds of studies have been written about dreams and their interpretations. Sigmund Freud believed that dreams are a path to the unconscious. Everyone sees a variety of scenes when they sleep. But not everyone remembers what they see. Therefore, it is impossible to say that there are people who do not dream. Most likely, they forget their dreams.

During the night's rest, the consciousness processes the amount of information received during the day and analyzes it. The results of the day's activities are carried out by the brain while we sleep. That’s why solutions come to us in the form of stories. In addition to real events, fantasies are also found in dreams.

The figurative execution of night visions is associated with the high sensitivity of the nerve cells of the eye, the visual analyzer. The role of dreams in replenishing the energy reserves of the nervous system is great. If you stop dreaming, this is due to a reduction in the paradoxical phase of night rest.

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Why write down dreams: what is the use of a dream diary

Now you have already set the alarm clocks, put a notepad next to you and are determined to remember all your dreams. But why remember dreams?

Recordings help study the subconscious. During sleep, the subconscious sends us encrypted messages in the form of vivid images. Such messages help to identify hidden desires and anxieties, understand a difficult situation, and can motivate you to take actions that will change your life.

Keeping a dream diary also has a positive effect on your emotional state . Does it often happen that you wake up in a bad mood?

Perhaps it is due to negative dreams. If you do not remember such dreams, you will never understand why you are in a bad mood all day. With the help of recordings, you can analyze the cause of anxiety and get rid of the consequences of night dreams.

Like any diary, a dream diary helps you understand yourself, restore mental balance and overcome a difficult life situation.

Try to wake up in the rapid phase of dreaming

If you no longer have dreams, then you should experiment, setting yourself the task of catching awakening in the fast phase:

Get up at different alarm times and go to bed at the same time. Observe when you remember the dream and when you don’t.
Ask your family to wake you up if there are any unusual movements or night conversations that they notice from the outside. There is a high probability that you will remember the night story.

External factors also contribute to your not having good dreams. Room temperature, bed hardness, ambient sounds and smells. Any critical deviations of these parameters negatively affect dreams.

Could the absence of dreams be a symptom of a disease?

If you haven't had much dreams before, most likely you simply don't remember them. This is your feature, it does not affect your health in any way. Listen to the tips we wrote about above, and maybe you will be able to remember something.

When should you worry? If you have often had dreams in the past, but have not had night dreams for the last few months, you should think about it.

The reason for the lack of dreams may be due to ordinary lack of sleep or insomnia. Depression can also be to blame. In these cases, it is worth contacting a specialist.

Reasons for lack of dreams

Why don't some people dream? It seems that each of us must “look through” the pictures that the brain produces at the peak of its activity. But many people complain that they never experience dreams, and a night’s rest itself may not bring the relaxation and restoration that they experienced before.

Lack of dreams can be due to several very real factors.

Fatigue. Chronic or prolonged, it simply turns off our brain. He is already so exhausted that he is not able to be too active. The person feels overwhelmed and nervous. But after some time the cyclicity of the phases should be restored.
Incorrect body position, pain. When we fall asleep in an uncomfortable position, the body cannot relax properly. The brain spends its resources on controlling the body, so a person seems to fall asleep, but immediately wakes up.
Alcohol intoxication. If you drink too much, your brain seems to shut down. This also happens when taking drugs or sleeping pills. Nerve impulses are blocked, they are practically impossible to restore, so the person sleeps soundly, not hearing or seeing anything.

Nervous conditions. They always have a negative impact on the quality of dreams. Disturbing dreams are possible, with vivid and not always pleasant pictures. The sleeper also experiences negative moments and emotions. In some cases, this condition can lead to severe mental disorders.
Diseases. Physical and mental fatigue, lung diseases, heart problems or apnea force you to wake up at certain short intervals. As a result, it is simply impossible to dream.