Dreamlessness

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

It occurs to me that I haven't remembered any of my dreams in ages. I'm talking like a year or more.
According to researchers, I am indeed still dreaming at night, but I just think it's curious that I don't recall ANYTHING from my previous nights reveries. I also know that it's possible to actively make yourself recall your dreams, and there's various methods for going about this. Dream diaries and the like.
It's no big deal, and I sure don't miss waking up from some horrid nightmare or other, but it still strikes me as odd that I've gone so long without so much as a telegram from La-La Land.

Anybody else experience this? Did it go on for awhile and then eventually change, so that you began to recall your dreams? Can you point to any causative factors? I'm interested in any and all input anyone has to offer.

Thanks,

Rick T. 😱wl:

 

[PurpleStyle]

I usually only dream during times when my life settles down. Right now, I'm not dreaming because I'm just back in school today. Other than that, drinking sometimes makes me dream.

One thing I wish I could do was have more lucid dreams. That's one of the most fascinating things I've ever experienced in my life - but so rarely. 🙁

 

[kopfhorer1]

I think I had one or two instances of lucid dreaming when I was a kid. I've also had instances where I had no dreams, where I thought I never went to sleep at all.

 

[MaxDragon]

When I used to smoke pot ALL NIGHT LONG I couldn't remember my dreams at all. Do you, perchance, smoke pot?

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

When I used to smoke pot ALL NIGHT LONG I couldn't remember my dreams at all. Do you, perchance, smoke pot?

Well, if you're smoking pot all night long, you're not gonna get any sleep/dreams.
But seriously, I tend to concur with your line of reasoning. I've been herbalized again(on & off) since late October of last year and I do recall much more memorable dreams prior to picking up the pipe again. Hmm. Strange trade-off.

 

[melanie2]

Consider yourself lucky..i remember my dreams from years ago at times..they suddenly pop into my head..and i do remember my dreams from every night..some just not as vivid as other nights...some so vivid i could write them down and sell them as horror stories..sighs..

 

[GroovyBaby]

I think most people go without remembering dreams, mostly because they don't think about it at all. Dreams have a short span in your memory anyways. So it only seems like you haven't had any. If you thought about it every morning, you would start remembering them.

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

I usually only dream during times when my life settles down. Right now, I'm not dreaming because I'm just back in school today. Other than that, drinking sometimes makes me dream. (

Just out of curiosity: Do those "after-drinking-dreams" tend towards enjoyable or not-so-enjoyable(even nightmarish) qualities?

Oddly, I think I may be the opposite, in that I seemed to be remembering more of my dreams when I was under alot more stress from school and stuff.

 

[PurpleStyle]

They seem to be generally pleasant, if not somewhat odd. Many of them involve me being able to fly under my own power, but some of the scenery is off, yet it doesn't seem odd to me at the time.

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

They seem to be generally pleasant, if not somewhat odd. Many of them involve me being able to fly under my own power, but some of the scenery is off, yet it doesn't seem odd to me at the time.

I LOVE THOSE! I think I know exactly the kind from the way you described them, even though it seems like a mighty long time since I awoke with any memory of one. Like Isabeau says above, certain dreams can really stay with you.

I've had both both pleasant and unpleasant flying-type dreams. I don't miss not remembering the later type these days.

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

I think most people go without remembering dreams, mostly because they don't think about it at all. Dreams have a short span in your memory anyways. So it only seems like you haven't had any. If you thought about it every morning, you would start remembering them.

I'm thinking you're right, ArFArF. I tend to just sorta "lunge" into the day. The first thing immediately on my mind upon awakening is BEAN. By the time I'm up brewing coffee, I'm already instantly immersed in whatever the new day hold for me.

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

Consider yourself lucky..i remember my dreams from years ago at times..they suddenly pop into my head..and i do remember my dreams from every night..some just not as vivid as other nights...some so vivid i could write them down and sell them as horror stories..sighs..

Oh, definitely. I recall many dreams from years back quite vividly. Well, given the passage of time and the minds way of "elaborating" on things, anyway.

It's this curious lack of dream memory that puzzles me for the moment.

I feel you on the bad dreams. Whew, I've had some doozies, too. I'm fairly sure I've either visited Hell, or a close approximation, on one occasion. No fire and brimstone. A much more quiet, dreadful place. I was quite shaken upon awakening.

 

[kopfhorer1]

I've had similar dreams. One was about this horrible school I once went to.

 

[chicag0]

I think people tend to remember their dreams more when they're stressed out. I think stress can possibly cause dreams to be more vivid, thus a higher chance for the person to remember them upon waking up.

Aside from that, I have no other theories.

 

[James Brown]

Last night I dreamed about filming several small tornadoes followed by a pool party on a very precarious and rickety back porch high up on a hill.

Don't usually remember dreams much but I'm off work for a while with a fairly serious injury so maybe I'm less stressed than usual...

Just thought I'd share 😉

 

[Tickleslave83]

I usually remember my dreams because I give myself a mental note to do so as I'm going to sleep. When I forget to, like recently, I forget my dreams quicker or don't recall them. I keep a dream journal and often recall dreams from long ago.

 

[myfeet4youAZ]

With a few exceptions, I haven't remembered any of my dreams since grade school. Part of it is because I struggle with insomnia, so I don't always get to that deep stage of sleep. As far as not remembering them when I do sleep, I really don't know why I don't remember them. Maybe I have really boring dreams?

 

[PlutoBum]

i tend to recall dreams less after having a long day. not stressed, exactly, but being exhausted puts me in a dreamless sleep. i also tend to dream about things i've been thinking about as i'm falling asleep. read a good book, and you'll have good dreams! lol

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

read a good book, and you'll have good dreams! lol

There may be something to that. I'm in the midst of two, and have been having all sorts of vivid, crazy dreams of late.

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

With a few exceptions, I haven't remembered any of my dreams since grade school. Part of it is because I struggle with insomnia, so I don't always get to that deep stage of sleep. As far as not remembering them when I do sleep, I really don't know why I don't remember them. Maybe I have really boring dreams?

I've been fortunate in that I don't have issues with insomnia. I've had bouts of it when I was really stressed, but (thankfully) it later goes away. Which isn't to say that my circadian rhythm isn't completely out of whack. I mean, I AM typing this at 2am. That has more to do with crap work hours than anything, though.

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

In psych class, I was taught that some experts say that dreams are mental "trash" that the brain eliminates during sleep and that it's better not to try to remember them.

Seems a shame to simply dismiss them out of hand, though. Mental trash or no...

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

Last night I dreamed about filming several small tornadoes followed by a pool party on a very precarious and rickety back porch high up on a hill.

Don't usually remember dreams much but I'm off work for a while with a fairly serious injury so maybe I'm less stressed than usual...

Just thought I'd share 😉

Interesting. Were any of the dream-locations familiar to you? I ask only because mine have run the gamut over the years. Dreams about places I've been, places there's no way I could have ever seen, and all points in between.

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

I usually remember my dreams because I give myself a mental note to do so as I'm going to sleep. When I forget to, like recently, I forget my dreams quicker or don't recall them. I keep a dream journal and often recall dreams from long ago.

I always assumed it was the other way around. i.e. - Upon awakening, to try to recall as much as you could of your dreams. I will make a point of actively trying to recall my dreams before I go to sleep tonight.