bye bye recall

the last week or so, my dream recall has been absolutely terrible except for one day. despite the fact that my dream pillow came, which is supposed to have "dream enhancing herbs", and the fact that i've been listening to certain audio clips that are supposed to help, i'm having the hardest time remembering things.

i'm quite sure it's linked to how much sleep i get. i usually get 7-8 hours per night, and sometimes i remember things, other times i don't. but this weekend, on one of the nights i had 11ish hours of sleep, and i remembered a few dreams and all long and in great detail. i hope this is not a permanent or even long term thing... i tend to have a hard time falling asleep, and i usually am too busy to get to sleep before i do.

so it is common that even with 7-8 hours of sleep (which seems like plenty to me), my dream recall can be impacted that greatly? i wouldn't think that only 3 more hours can make me remember dreams that much better, longer, and more vividly.

help!

I wouldn't have thought so mate to be honest! If you recall was good why change what you were doing with this other stuff? Like the saying goes "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Hey there,

The reasons for lack of recall can be many, and to really trace the exact origin you'd need to be really specific about your habbits and what not, but two things immediately caught my eye here:

a) You're using dreamherbs and audio clips that are supposed to help? Help with what? Dream recall or lucidity? It's quite possible for people to get so fixated on lucid dreams they forget to pay attention to their regular dreams, and as a consequence see their recall evaporate. Perhaps try giving a break to the methods and techniques you've been trying for a few days, and just go to sleep normally, and focus solely on the dreams you'll have that night.

b) You used to sleep 11 hours? Now 7-8? Well the first thing to remember is that any time you sleep more, or less, you're basically changing your body's natural rythme. This means that the first few nights (probably the first week or two weeks) of any sleep habbit change, your body is going to be more tired simply because it's not used to this new rythme. More tired means more deep sleep, which in turn makes it harder to recall dreams. Its quite possible that after a week or two, when your body is adapted to the new sleep rythme, things return to normal.


Additionally, as I always recommend, pay plenty of attention to your dreams. Don't be dismissive of them, and don't make a judgement based on what is a good dream and what isn't. Even if you wake up remembering only a single image, or a sound, or even just a feeling, write it down in your dreamjournal, think on it a bit. Even if you wake up with just an idea 'I think I dreamt about a circus but I'm not sure', then write that down, think on it a bit. Work with what you have, start from the ground up, and build your recall by appreciating what you do remember, not by getting frustrated over what you don't.

Hope that helps!

-Redrivertears-

Hey this happend to me man and it is a horrible feeling, my suggestion TAKE A BREAK! All I did was stop with my DJ stop with everything dream related one week later my dream recall came wooshing back like crazy! Just calm down and dont let dream related stuff stress you it will come eventually!

The Question is right. You were mentioning about how hard it is to fall asleep and how you are always rushing and such... get your life in order first and THEN try your recall.

Also, getting more exercise will help you with getting to sleep better and easier.

yea that sounds like a good idea. I'll just get it off my mind, fall asleep like i normally would, just listening to music, and not focus on anything in particular, just take some time out to relax!

thanks everyone :D

Good luck my friend!