Anybody else 'rarely dream'?

[Dahmerqueen]

Hiya,

My question is this..Does anybody else 'not dream'?..I dont seem to (or at least I very rarely remember them)

I am 28 and I think I have had about 2 dreams in the past few years. both of which have been little more than vague recollections ("umm....I was in a swimming pool") 

I have never had a nightmare either (which I find quite daunting as I'd be totally unprepared should I ever have one)

So, I just wanted to know, does anybody else have this (or NOT as the case may be)

Bit unfair really, hearing other peoples vivid recollections of the fantastic fantasy lives they lead when they sleep..I just go to bed......then I wake up.

R   x

[MargeB]

Are you mad? If not, then you probably do dream. You would just go mad if you didn't have REM sleep. You need the dreaming, for some reason that is not understood. It may be the integration of memories without the distraction of outside stimuli.
It IS possible (possible) that your brain functions slightly better than most and that this causes you not to remember the dream. The memories have become well integrated, and then when you wake, your inhibitory functions (necessary for a good memory, in that you recall what is necessary and not irrelevant junk) are working very well and you don't recall the irrelevant dream.
There are ways of manipulating this through a little self-experimentation, using special glasses that detect REM and then give out light pulses so that you become conditioned to know when you are dreaming, can control it to some extent, and have much better spontaneous recall of the dream event.
Dream on dreamer!
*REM: Rapid Eye Movement, before someone gets WILDLY confused.

[Lillabet]

As MargeB says all people need to experience REM sleep which seems to be the stage of sleep in which we dream. I would guess that you are someone who tends to wake naturally rather than being woken by an alarm or somesuch. The uninterrupted sleep pattern tends towards us waking in a non-Rem period. When this happens you are much less likely to remember what you were dreaming about. If you wake close to or in a REM period you are likely to be able to recall your dreams much better. I too rarely remember my dreams unless I am stressed out or having to get up earlier than normal. I guess I sleep more lightly then and am more likely to be woken by my alarm clock.

[kick3m0n]

you do dream, you just don't remember them. I rarely remember dreams  - tho wow, when I was pregnant I had the most vivid memories of my dreams!!!

[Top totty]

My husband also never dreams, or does not remember them. In all the years I have been married to him I have never known him to have a dream story to tell.

I on the other hand have such weird and wonderful dreams and remember every detail and often bore him to death going into full detail.

[Octavius]

I hardly ever dream (or remember dreaming or dreams).

My gf has dreams every night, sometimes recurring.  I don't think it means anything, I am the more creative, daring and imaginative out of the two of us, maybe she has hidden ambitions... 

[Hamish]

I think it is a case of remembering. I often dream & remember. I can  still remember some from years ago and my sister and I had the same night mare when we were younger! At the moment I am very bussy and find I dont tend to remember dreams, I sleap very heavily most of the time.

[David H]

Dreams can be recalled with practice, and once you start, you should find you do have a more active dream life. There are a couple of ways to help, first write down any bits of a dream you do remember on waking. If you were really determined after that you can set an alarm at random times, as if you wake up in a dream you will remember it. Sleep clinics can do this during REM so you only have to do one session.

Anything that happens during the day similar to it will also remind you of a dream the previous night, and once you get used to the process you should get a more active dream life. But apart from a few special ones most of my dreams are pretty pointless and I would be quite happy not to remember most of them.

[Dahmerqueen]

.....well...

What can I say? what great responses...

MargeB - Fascinating thought thay my brain may dismisss 'irrelevant' dreams, My memory tends to be more geared towards thigs that generate an emotional response than anything else (I have looked it up, Its called an emotive memory apparently)

In that I have trouble remembering what I did yesterday However I LOVE Film & Music and can learn song lyrics / film scripts in no time.

Lillabet - Thank You. No I am woken by an alarm, though I do tend to have only about 5 hours a night...maybe this also has an effect?

Kick3m0n - I find that truly fastinating and would love to know if your dreams faded once you had given birth?

TopTotty - Oooh so cruel ha ha - My friend Clare does the same to me, has incredible drems and just relishes detailing every minute back to me :)

Octavius - yay, someone else!!! - Are you a more outgoing in normal life then. I am. Maybe the quieter types have more dreams then..?

Hamish - Thanks, My sleep is quite erratic, I sleep quite deeply but have been known to open my eyes and talk to people. I can also be woken up 10 times and people will say I was awake and spoke to them but I will argue till eternity that I hadnt been woken as I have absolutley no memory of it

DavidH - Thank You - This is definitely worth investigating....I would love to have my sleep patterns monitored. Oh and I wouldnt care how dull they could be...I just want one..

Thanks everyone for you help

R    x

[xxlizziexx]

exactly the same here!! i never rember mine, i guess you do dream just you dont remember it hm, the onyl dremas i remember are ones that *** true, not like world peace etc just little things at school or something but i dont rember many at all,

[mikeypr]

Look around for some Melatonin.

I hardly ever dream, but now it's 3+ vivid dreams a weak. AT LEAST.

 

Mike

[Dahmerqueen]

Hey

xxlizziexx - Yay, another one, I have been asking at work and one of my bosses doesn't remember dreams either - cheers for that  :)

MikeyPR - Thats fantastic, I have just looked on google, this looks very interesting, not sure I like the idea of taking hormones just to see if I dream, I will definitely be asking my GP the next time I go. cheers bud.

R   x

[mikeypr]

You can't get Melatonin in the UK anymore.

It used to be sold in health food shops as a dietry suppliment.

I buy it online and even with delivery it's cheap.

Works a treat. Dreams are more Lucid too; and more than one a night.

With a little practice I have heard that you can learn to contol your dreams too.

How much truth in that I don't know.  One thing is sure. I'm now havine some whicked dreams.

Be good to hear how you get on.

ALL THE BEST

Mike