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Dream recall troubles
Recently I've been having some issue with my dream recall. Upon Awakening from my sleep I won't be able to remember anything about what I dreamt. Although if I am to come acrossed a specific detail or setting in my Waking Life I'll have a good chance of remembering some of the dream I had. What I'm hoping for is some insight on why this could possibly be so I can figure out how to make it stop happening and keep it from happening as well.
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Hi WinterAlpha,
I had a hard time with this at first as well.
What ended up working for me was not doing anything when I first woke up, don't move, don't start your day, just lay there. Lay there and think, what was I just doing? Look for anything that was in your head, pictures, feelings, colors, anything related to the dream you were in. Once you remember something try to work backwards slowly.
When I first started recalling dreams I would just write down how I felt, and anything I could remember at all. Any colors, or people or places. Once you start doing this you will be able to go backwards further and further in your dream and remember more and more.
You will start with only a few sentences, but with practice you will be able to write pages and pages. Focus on details!
Good luck.
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No see I don't think that's the problem because I do that already and it's not like I'm just starting out on doing this. I have been doing this for a solid few months with decent success this is more of a recent problem.
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Hmmm, maybe there is something else on your mind that you start thinking about first.
Did anything change recently? New relationship? Job? Also if you are drinking alcohol or using ambien it makes for less rem and deep sleep.
Any of that?
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I read somewhere on this forum that it helps to go through your day before you go to sleep. So you will go to bed. And in bed you try to remember your day. Maybe this helps.
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No the only thing that comes to mind is that i recently picked up a coffee habit. Albeit just one mug in the morning and that's it.
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Thanks for that advice. Did they say why this helps.
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The caffeine might do it because what is happening could be that you are in withdrawal from caffeine when you awaken from the dream. So your brain won't work. I don't trust caffeine one bit and haven't touched it in 4 years.
A cup of coffee is a heavy dose and might provide a big high in the morning. But over night your body will be in some level of caffeine withdrawal so it will make you mentally impaired. Also the caffeine itself might even weaken your dreams to where you sleep more like a "log" (IE total black out sleep) instead of sleeping more dreamfully like I do without caffeine.
The reason thinking back through your day before falling alseep works is it trains a muscle in your mind that has to do with "episodic memory". Just like how you would wake up froma dream and try to picture the dream, do the same with your day. Like for me I will lay down to bed and sort of pretend I just woke up from a dream. Then I will be like, "Oh, what idd I dream about?" and usually images will come to mind. Images from my walk or a drive or things I saw on line. And I will think it though and play the day in my mind as if I were attempting to remember a dream. Sometimes it also helps for me to do this in writing.
I will pretty much guarantee the caffeine is the problem. But a lot of poeple will say it isn't because they too are afraid to address their caffeine addictions.
this is why I think building a connection with my dreams has been a great guide. I know what blocks my connection to my dreams and anything that blocks my connection to my dreams I give up very willingly.