When writing in dream journals...

**bobberski** · 08-07-2012 12:37 PM

Do you have to write every single thing you can remember? Tis s only my second entry and the dream I remember from last night is a nightmare (obviously because it was my last dream). So when I woke up I kept my eyes closed and just thought about it so it wouldn't get away (bad choice for a nightmare lol). I basically wrote the whole dream word for word down in my journal. Was that necessary? I didn't right my feelings either because I thought I was self explanatory when you read it.

**TwoCrystalCups** · 08-07-2012 12:40 PM

In my opinion you have to write everything you can remember, plus what you felt. It will help you on other future dreams and you might want to look back in your journal and see if any other dreams might be identical or similar and figure out what your dreams is telling you.
Trust me it's good to write feelings down, because you won't remember them in a week from now.

**paigeyemps** · 08-07-2012 01:14 PM

Agreed. Upon waking, it's okay to just write keywords that remind you of the dream, especially if you plan on going back to sleep. Buy yes, it would be really great if you wrote every detail you can remember. As what hathor said, you will forget those memories slowly as time passes by. Not only is it helpful in finding recurring dream elements, it is also very rewarding when you read it again after quite some time. Reliving those memories is a really awesome feeling! And definitely write those emotions down too!

**bobberski** · 08-07-2012 01:22 PM

Alright, thanks guys

**jblb2424** · 08-07-2012 07:42 PM

I second what the other posters said. If i am extremely tired or i have to get up for school, i would only write key notes on my dream. If i have time, i will write down everything that occurred in my dream.

**SpykeTheGamer** · 08-08-2012 11:40 PM

Well, I try to write literally whatever I can remember from the dream. Although I find it strange that sometimes I remember my dreams after a certain amount of time after I wake up. So it gives me time to get to my computer and to DV. So yeah, if you have time to write down every detail, it is a good idea to do so.

**Batch** · 08-09-2012 12:29 PM

You never know when something might trigger a sudden memory of a dream ... I remember one day I woke up, and couldn't remember any dreams from the night. I spent something like 45 minutes just laying there, trying to remember any dreams, running through lists of all the people, places and things I most frequently dream about, and ... nothing! Then I got up and headed out to work. The first time somebody beeped me on my Nextel, *bang* an entire dream popped fully into my mind in full detail, because there had been a small use of the Nextel radio in my dream. I sometimes remember dreams weeks or months after I dreamed them because another dream reminded me of them. But you can't count on that, so better to write them down as quick as possible.

On it being a nightmare, I know they are a lot more unpleasant to remember and write down, but there are probably psychological reasons why it is better to remember and 'get it out' than to try and forget it. And by getting it out there you may learn things that allow you to better deal with it if you dream it in the future. That said, your dream journal is about you. Anything you do or don't decide to include is your choice, and is neither right nor wrong. Though some choices may be more or less helpful in reaching your goals.

**faceonmars** · 08-09-2012 01:56 PM

Upon waking up from a dream I try to be as detailed as possible but I also have a digital recorder next to my bed so I don't even have to open my eyes to make a journal entry. I transpose it the next day to my journal.